Page 2 of Light and Shadow
“Shite!” Grabbing my tire iron, he pushes my bag to the side and sits in the passenger seat. “You’ve done it now.”
I cover my head and brace for the blow.
“Do you think I’d strike you?” Indignation fills his voice, as if I’m out of line.
Peeking under my arm, I’m ready to open the door and run. “Don’t say that as if I’m the crazy one. You came through a solid wall, have pointed ears, look like Thor, and you’re trying to kidnap me.”
He blinks several times. Touching his ears, he smiles.
I’m not going to lie. That smile could melt the most bitter woman’s—or man’s—heart. I have to push that aside because I’m probably having some kind of psychotic episode, though the idea that I’m dead is still on the table.
With a shake of his head, his hair hides his ears. He mutters a few words I don’t understand, and he almost looks normal. “I suppose those will stand out here. Who is Thor?”
I don’t mention that he’s too beautiful to not stand out, even without pointed ears. “Thor is the god of thunder.”
Cocking his head, he taps his fingers on the dashboard. “I’ve not heard of that deity, nor am I a god, and my name is Aaran Riordan. Your vehicle will start now. We’ll need to go to the Labrador Coast.”
When exactly did the world go mad? Oh right, when Thor jumped out of a hole in the wall at the DMV. I grab the strap of my purse, give it a hard tug until it’s free, get out of the car, and head back inside.
Before I reach the double glass doors, he grabs my arm. “Where are you going?”
I give his hand a long look.
He must see the fire building inside me because he lets go.
“I’m going to get my driver’s license renewed, then I’m going home. I’m sure the fuck not going to Newfoundland with a crazy man who can’t possibly exist. I’m willing to accept that I’m having some kind of psychotic break, but I’m not going along with the fantasy.” I step inside and check the number, 173. Good, at least I didn’t miss my turn. I sit on the last chair in the back row.
Several people are picking papers up off the floor and everyone looks a little confused by the state of the room. The wall is solid again.
Doing my best to keep my breathing steady, I ignore Aaran when he sits next to me. His sword is gone, and that probably means I left my car unlocked and there’s a fucking sword in my Corolla.
At least three women, including boobs and lipstick, turn to give him a good look.
I don’t blame them. If he were real, he’d be gorgeous, but he can’t be real because people don’t show up in vortexes and demand I go with them. People don’t freeze as if time has stopped. I’m not insane. All is well.
Repeating these things over and over in my head helps, but the impossible man is still next to me.
When my number gets called by a lady with long spiral curls and thick glasses, I jump up and run to her little window. Digging in my pocket, I come up empty. “I lost my ticket, but I’ve been here for hours.”
“Yeah, whatever wind blew through, everyone lost their tickets, hon.” As if rogue winds blow through central New Jersey buildings all the time, she takes my paperwork and looks at each paper one by one, then types something into her computer.
Unable to resist, I look over my shoulder. Aaran’s chair is empty. He’s standing near the door, leaning against the wall. In brown pants and a white shirt, he could be anyone coming off a hard day’s work.
“Okay.”
The clerk startles me. I spin back to her.
She gives Aaran a look and smiles, then hands me back my paperwork. “It’s twenty-four dollars. Will that be cash or credit?”
“I have cash.” I pull the money out of my purse and hand it over. I can feel his eyes on the back of my head. Why doesn’t he go away?
“Okay, Miss Craig, here’s a dollar change and your new license. Thank you for your patience and sorry about the mess.” She smiles.
“Thank you. Have a nice day.” I walk away, barely hearing her say, “You too,” as I tuck everything in my purse and rush to the door.
“Did you get what you need?” Aaran follows me out.
At my car, I turn to him. “You are not real. I don’t know what you are, but you are not real, so go away.”
