Page 12 of Rings and Wings and Stardust Things

“There’s only one place left,” Savannah said, panting, determination etched on her face.

I followed her gaze to a dim, sketchy-looking alcove with a hunched-over figure behind a rickety table. It was the apothecary’s stall, and it was so rundown that it was practically invisible amidst the market’s chaos.

We weaved through the crowd, and Savannah’s hand found mine. Her touch sent my heart racing, her skin warm against my feathers.

The apothecary was an ancient Draen, his feathers faded to a dull gray, eyes cloudy with cataracts. He squinted at us, his beak clicking in a tired greeting.

“Good evening,” Savannah began, her voice soft and polite. “We’re looking for an echo pearl. Do you have one?”

The old Draen stared at us for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, with a creak of ancient joints, he bent down, rummaging beneath the table. He emerged with a tiny pouch in his gnarled talons.

“No one wants these toys anymore,” he rasped, his voice barely audible. “I hope it brings you joy.”

Savannah accepted the pouch with reverent fingers. “Thank you,” she whispered, turning to me with her eyes dancing.

But our triumph was cut short. As a theater emptied, the crowd around us swelled, bodies pressing in from all sides.

And Savannah’s hand slipped from mine.

“Ryon!” she shouted, panic clear in her voice.

I spun toward her, my heart lurching at the sight of her struggling against the mass of people. Without a second thought, I surged forward, wings outstretched to shield her.

She collided with me, her soft form pressing into my chest. Instinctively, my arms wrapped around her, pulling her into safety. Her heartbeat pounded against mine, her breath warm against my feathers.

Time seemed to freeze. The market’s noise faded to a distant hum as I focused on the feel of her in my arms. Her scent—a mix of exotic flowers and something uniquely hers—was intoxicating. I had to fight the urge to hold her even closer.

Eventually, the crowd parted, and we stood in a rare moment of calm amidst the chaos. I didn’t want to let her go, savoring the feeling of her in my arms.

She looked up at me, her eyes wide and luminous. A silent question hung between us, charged with tension.

With great effort, I loosened my grip. But one of my wings stayed curled around her, shielding her from the world.

“Are you okay?” I asked, my voice rough with emotion.

She nodded, lips parting as if to speak, but no words came out. The air between us was thick with unspoken feelings.

At that moment, I knew I was totally lost to this remarkable, entrancing human. And there was no turning back from the edge I was standing on.

SAVANNAH

Ryon and I burst through the entrance to the central square, laughing and practically tripping over each other in our giddy celebration. Our team had won the scavenger hunt, and the thrill of victory coursed through me like an electric current.

“We did it!” I exclaimed, throwing my arms up in triumph.

Before I knew it, Ryon had scooped me up, his powerful wings beating the air as he spun me around. The world blurred in a kaleidoscope of colors, and my stomach fluttered with a mix of exhilaration and something else entirely.

As he slowed to a stop, our eyes locked, and time seemed to stand still. His golden irises burned with an intensity that took my breath away. Instinctively, I reached up, my fingers tracing the curve of his beak, marveling at the smooth texture.

My breath hitched, feeling the heat radiating from him, his unique scent of spice and sky flooding my senses.

Ryon’s beak brushed my neck, sending shivers down my spine. Instinctively, I tilted my head, my pulse hammering beneath my skin where his touch lingered. His breath, warm and soft, whispered across my flesh, igniting a fire deep within me.

Then, something warm and wet traced a path along my neck. Ryon’s tongue, thick and textured, left my nerves tingling in its wake. A breathy moan slipped from my lips, desire coiling tight in my core. His wings wrapped around me, pulling me flush against his firm chest. I melted into his embrace, completely lost in the sensations overwhelming me.

And then, just as abruptly, he was gone. Cool air rushed in as he set me down, his wings snapping back. He spun away, leaving me standing there, my skin still tingling with the ghost of his touch.

I stood frozen, my chest heaving as the world slowly came back into focus. What the heck just happened? Ryon’s touch had ignited a fire within me, a yearning so intense it left me dizzy.

---