Page 15 of Finn's Solace

The house I lived in was close to the town center, and as I walked down the street, I admired the eclectic architecture of the place. Some of the buildings looked centuries old, while others had that 'just finished' quality. I'd seen afew under-construction buildings around town, which told me I'd have a fair share of work for a while.

While plants were my first choice, always, as an earth mage I could handle most anything that connected to the earth itself. I could make sure a building's foundation was properly set, sense any decay or problems within walls, and basically make sure the building wouldn't topple because of shoddy work.

I wondered what Amelia was up to. Like me, she was an earth mage too. Unlike me, she hadn't been born in Ravenshire. I didn't know exactly what her story was, but I was curious what she was doing now. Did she have a job that required her magical skills too?

Finn had told me she'd been adopted by the dragon who guarded this town, and I had to admit I was a tiny bit jealous.

If I hadn't run away, would I have ended up with a family too?

I'd rarely missed my family after I ran away from Ravenshire, even when I'd been captured by those dark-magic hungry supes. But that didn't mean I didn't sometimes wish I had one. Not the one I'd left behind, but a real family that actually loved me and cared about me.

A wave of comfort and love washed through me, and I smiled down at Greta as she rubbed her head against my leg.

"I know, sweetie. You're my family too."

Exhaling softly, I eyed the house I'd stopped in front of. It was dilapidated, but clearly under construction. A board near the front proclaimed it was going to be a giant, all-year-roundhaunted house, which, yeah. Count me out of that one. Ghosts were not for me.

On my way home, I picked up dinner from a food truck run by a human and a gargoyle, amazed yet again by just how many supes lived here. I wondered if so many different supernatural beings living in the same town caused issues. What happened if they fought? Or caused trouble? Did the dragon step in?

I'd have to ask Finn about that tomorrow. If he still stuck around after I told him we were mates, that was.

Seven

Finn

I tapped my foot against the floor as I waited for Levi to show up. He'd said there was something he needed to tell me. He had to be talking about the mate thing, right?

Had Dad been right? Was Levi my mate?

Wait. What if he'd assumed I already knew because I was a supe too? And he thought I hadn't told him becauseIhad some issue with it? That would be bad.

My basilisk side had had no reaction to Levi, and I had no idea why that was. Could it be because he hadn't seen Levi with 'his' eyes? My glasses kept me from using my powers on anyone, but did they also stop my basilisk from recognizing Levi?

Fuck, I needed to stop worrying myself into an anxiety attack. It'd been a while since I had one of those, and I'd prefer to keep it that way, especially when Levi was going to be here at any moment.

"Finn."

My head jerked up, and I smiled automatically as Levi grinned at me, his blue eyes sparkling in the overhead lights. He was wearing another of his pun t-shirts—did he even own any other shirts?—this one with a picture of a tea bag with the words 'tea shirt' written on it.

"Nice t-shirt," I teased as I stood up, and he glanced down at it, his grin notching up a few degrees.

"You like it? It felt apt."

Laughing, I waved him toward the counter. "Come on—let's order first."

Brittany was at the counter, and I smiled at her, then waved to Levi. "Levi, this is Brittany, the best tea-brewer in Mistvale. Brittany, this is Levi. He's an old friend."

"Nice to meet you, Brittany," Levi said with a tilt of his head, and Brittany smiled.

"Nice to meet you too. I like you."

Levi chuckled, then eyed the menu on the screen behind her. "Hmm so many choices. What would you recommend, Finn?"

"You want me to pick for you?" I asked, surprised.

"Yes, please."

Iris stuck her head out of the back, and smiled when she spotted me.

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