The 13th Mage Read Online Free

about what they had done, what they had done three times already. Irish boys must be the only boys in the world to be virgins in their twenties, she thought.
    At first, when he said he didn’t know what to do next she thought he was joking, but by his face and tearful eyes she realiz ed it was true. Fancy that, her of all people teaching a man how to make love. Good job she’d read about it. She had also read it would be an experience she would never forget, but she felt bad now. It wasn’t that she didn’t love Sean, she did, she was head over heels for him, but making love with him just felt wrong, like kissing. She wondered if there was something wrong with her, maybe she didn’t have enough female hormones or something. She’d get a book about it.
    He jumped on the bed and held her tightly.
    “ This is like a dream ,” she said hugging him back.
    Monday morning was clear and warm, Jennifer had some cereal and went to get her bike from the shed, she’d collect ed it from her mother’s shop the day before, it was her job to clean the shop on Sundays, and she was able to spend all afternoon away from home without her mom batting an eyelid. She smiled to herself. S he would be meeting Sean again at lunchtime.
    But Sean was waiting for her outside the shop when she got there, he looked very upset.
    “I have to go to an interview today,” he said quickly, taking her hand in his, “I was wondering if you would lend me your ring for good luck,”
    His sense of urgency worried her. He looked so nervous, he’d been looking for a part time job for a while now, and this was his first interview. She smiled and handed him her ring, she wished she could kiss him, but Mrs. Laire was staring at them from the clothes shop across the road.
    “I love you,” she whispered loud enough for only him to hear.
    “Oh, Jennifer, my love,” he said and reached over to kiss her. She pulled back and tried to look casual.
    “Sorry,” she whispered, “I want us to be a secret for as long as possible. Y ou have no idea what it’s like, living in a small town.”
    He looked down at the floor, he was clearly very distressed. S he regretted her thoughtlessness and took his face in her hands. She was about to kiss him but Sean moved away this time.
    He kissed each hand in turn and stroked her face. Then turned and left.
    She lo oked across the road and saw a large grin on Mrs. Liare face.
    She watched him as he disappeared dow n the street, he was very upset. I f only she could have given him a good luck kiss , she thought as she walked into the shop, after all the cat was out of the bag now anyway. Hopefully her mother wouldn’t start planning the wedding yet.
    Sean turned the corner, broke down and cried. It had been a long time since he had cried and he felt quite foolish, but he loved that girl and couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing her again.
    He cried for the life they wouldn’t have, he cried for his broken heart, he cried for the contemn she would feel for him when she realiz ed he had gone. When she realiz ed she was pregnant. He cried for not being strong enough to fight them, keep her safe. He cried for the baby he would never meet.
    He sat by the curb and cried until there were no more tears to cry, he then got up and put the ring on his little finger.
    He wanted to take a lock of her hair but the Old Ones might take it off him and then they would be able to locate her. No, he would take her ri ng, they wouldn’t take her ring as it was made of metal and they couldn't go near metal .
    He breathed his last breath of freedom and disappeared into a tree.
    Jennifer looked at her watch, he was late. Day trippers had already gone. The only people left in the beach were some of the locals taking their evening walk. The sun had set and twilight bathed the sand, Jennifer had read somewhere that twilight was the gap between the worlds. She looked up and down the beach once again. Her mother would be closing the shop soon and