Page 6 of Xarius (Shunned Mages #1)

Xarius

I had been driving for three days, the locket glowing brighter as the hours passed.

I had to pay for a motel room yesterday, needing a shower and somewhere to wash my clothes.

They luckily had a laundromat I could use while I refreshed myself.

I’d decided to clean my sheets, too, not knowing when I would get the chance again.

After filling my belly with some quick take-out, I was on the road again, feeling my skin vibrate with excitement.

I was closing in on them .

Four hours later, the locket glowed so much I knew they were within a mile now.

Driving down a forested road, I turned and parked at a gas station, looking around at the cars curiously.

Could they be here? I couldn’t see any other buildings nearby on the map, at least not in a mile radius.

Maybe they lived in the woods? Not daring to face civilization just yet.

I rubbed over my heart, desperate to find them, to help them.

I exited my van and walked inside the station.

An older man was behind the register so it couldn’t have been him, my soulmatch would be eighteen.

I decided to browse as I watched the locket glow the same incessant brightness.

I was definitely at the right place. Deciding not to look like I was stealing, I grabbed some chips and a soda and went to pay.

I might as well fill up on gas, too, I thought as I paid the man.

I went outside feeling empty. I hadn’t found them.

But they had to be close. I refueled my van and contemplated what to do.

I could stay and lay in wait. From the cover of my van, I could sit comfortably, and people watch for hours.

I parked my car so it faced the parking lot, and then sat and waited .

Fifteen minutes later, the man from inside came out.

He walked towards a parked van, likely grabbing something he needed.

He knocked on the van, a weird thing to do, but then it opened and a red headed guy appeared, smiling softly at the man.

It had to be him . He was my soulmatch, but just to be absolutely certain, I would stay and watch him a little while longer.

I couldn’t just run up to him and tell him I was a shunned mage, too.

What if I were mistaken? No, I would sit here and simply observe him.