Page 13 of Rings and Wings and Stardust Things

Heat crept up my face as flashes of that intimate moment replayed in my mind. The firm strength of his embrace. The spicy, musky scent of him surrounding me. The molten heat in his gaze. I shivered, my fingers trembling as they brushed against the sensitive skin of my neck.

Get a grip, Savannah. You’re a professional.

I tore my eyes away from Ryon’s retreating form, blinking rapidly to clear the haze of desire clouding my thoughts. Focus, Savannah. Job first, flirt later. Smoothing my hands over my rumpled clothes, I willed my heart rate to settle and my flushed cheeks to cool.

Movement in my peripheral vision caught my attention. Sharlar and Helko strode into the square, bickering like an old married couple with their arms full of shopping bags.

“How could we have lost?” Sharlar teased, her feathers puffing up in mock indignation. “Aren’t we the natives here?”

Helko tilted his head, looking down at Sharlar with a smirk. “Maybe I was just too distracted by your charming presence to focus.” He dipped into an elegant bow. “I apologize for letting you down. It won’t happen again.”

Sharlar’s eyes flashed with a mix of surprise and something softer, warmer. She opened her beak, probably to deliver a sharp retort, but then her gaze landed on me, and the words seemed to die on her tongue.

I watched, holding my breath, as her eyes flicked between Ryon and me, assessing. Had she seen our little moment? Panic gripped me, but her next words brushed aside my fears.

“Well, it seems the human was a worthy ally after all,” she declared, her expression settling into one of begrudging approval. “You fought valiantly, Savannah Mendell.”

The knot in my chest loosened as I exhaled slowly. “I had a good partner,” I replied, my voice steadier than I felt. I risked a glance at Ryon, but his back was turned, his body stiff with tension.

“Indeed,” Helko agreed with a nod toward his brother. “Ryon has always been resourceful.”

An awkward silence fell over the group, and I seized the opportunity to clear my throat. “Looks like tonight’s activities were a hit,” I began, trying to sound casual. “You both seem a lot more at ease with each other.”

Twin looks of surprise greeted my words as Sharlar and Helko turned to regard each other. Some unspoken understanding passed between them before Helko inclined his head.

“You’re quite perceptive, Miss Mendell,” he said at last. “I’ll admit, this... unconventional approach has done more to help us get properly acquainted than I would have guessed.”

“Perhaps.” Sharlar’s gaze drifted to the elegant fountain, her expression unreadable. “Tonight has been… almost enjoyable.”

Finally.

For all the confusion and chaos stirred in my heart by Ryon’s actions, I’d still managed to achieve my goal. These two stubborn individuals were finally starting to see each other, to connect on a level deeper than obligation.

It was a start.

I stretched out on the ridiculously soft bed, the sheets whispering against my skin like they were sharing secrets. Even after a full night’s sleep, the memories of the previous evening clung to me like a second skin. Ryon’s smoldering gaze, the way his firm body pressed against mine, his wings wrapping around us like a private cocoon. And oh, the way his tongue left a trail of tingling desire wherever it touched.

Heat crept up my neck as I replayed the dizzying moments, then I scolded myself.

What was I doing? I couldn’t let myself get swept away by a fleeting attraction, no matter how intense it felt.

A soft chime snapped me out of my reverie. I sat up, the sheets pooling around my waist as the door slid open with a faint hiss. In walked Ranna, Ryon’s younger sister, balancing a tray that looked like it could topple her over any second.

“Good morning!” she chirped, her voice bright and cheerful. She bobbed into the room, her iridescent feathers rustling with eagerness. “I brought you breakfast!”

I yanked a throw over my shoulders as she set the tray on the low table with a flourish. Up close, I could see the curious assortment of dishes—a steaming bowl of something that might be porridge, a plate piled with vibrant fruits and what looked like flaky pastries, and a tall glass filled with a thick, purplish liquid.

“I looked up traditional human breakfast foods,” Ranna explained, her feathered crest bobbing as she spoke, “but I’m not sure if I got everything right.”

I bit back a grin as I surveyed the spread. It was clearly an attempt at mimicking a human breakfast, but the result was...unique, to say the least.

“This looks amazing, Ranna. Thanks so much.” I kept my tone warm, not wanting to squash her enthusiasm. “I'm sure everything will be delicious.”

Ranna's eyes sparkled with delight. “I can't wait to hear all about human cuisine. And your planet! What's it like living on Earth?”

As she settled down cross-legged on the plush rug, a wave of homesickness washed over me. How do you even begin to describe the sheer diversity of Earth’s landscapes and cultures?

“Well,” I began, picking up a piece of the violet-hued fruit, “Earth is incredibly vibrant, full of variety...”

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