Page 20 of Rings and Wings and Stardust Things

Stealing a glance at her, my heart clenched at the sight of her pensive expression. What thoughts occupied her mind? Had I pushed too far, too hard in my pursuit of her? The fear that I had somehow damaged the delicate bond between us gnawed at me, leaving me uncharacteristically anxious.

The flight back to the Zorax estate was enveloped in silence, the only sound the soft hum of the flitter's engines. I longed to reach out to her, to reassure her—or perhaps myself—that our actions were natural, right, a celebration of the connection that had blossomed between us. But the words eluded me, and so I piloted us home, my mind a whirlwind of doubt and desire.

As we touched down on the landing pad, I pulled myself together.

I knew what I wanted. But what was important to Savannah?

I could be ready for anything, but I wasn't prepared for the sight that greeted us in the main entry hall.

My parents stood side by side, their gazes thunderous. And beside them, her feathers bristling with barely contained fury, was Bhelenia Lukrok. The air was thick with tension, and I felt Savannah tense beside me, her fingers tightening around mine.

“Where have you been?” my father demanded, his voice a rumble meant to compel obedience. “And where are Sharlar and Helko?”

What? Wasn't Helko taking care of a business meeting? I opened my beak to respond, but Bhelenia cut me off, her words laced with venom.

“This is your doing, isn't it, human?” She spat the word like a curse, her eyes narrowing as she fixed Savannah with a withering glare. “You were supposed to be overseeing this union, and instead, you've allowed my daughter and your brother to avoid their responsibilities. They've been missing for hours.”

Savannah flinched, and something inside me snapped. I stepped forward, placing myself between her and Bhelenia's wrath.

“That has nothing to do with Savannah,” I said, my voice low but firm. “Sharlar and Helko are grown adults, capable of making their own decisions.”

My father's beak clicked in dismissal, his eyes hard and unforgiving. “Enough of your excuses, Ryon. This behavior is unacceptable, a blight on our family's honor. If you cannot see that, then perhaps it's time you faced the consequences of your actions.”

A cold knot of dread formed in the pit of my stomach, his words ringing with an ominous finality that chilled me to the core. Mother stepped forward, the fluttering of her wings torn between concern and disapproval.

“Your father is right, Ryon,” she said, her voice strained. “This situation has spiraled out of control, and we cannot afford any more distractions or scandals. Not with the Kenii breathing down our necks.”

I wanted to protest, to argue that my relationship with Savannah was hardly a scandal, but the words died on my tongue. I knew, deep down, that they would never understand. Not really. To them, tradition and propriety were sacrosanct, and anything that threatened the established order was to be quashed without mercy.

Bhelenia's feathers rustled, and she fixed me with a look that could have frozen fire itself. “I should have known better than to trust a Zorax,” she spat. “You're all the same—selfish, reckless, with no regard for the consequences of your actions.”

Alget's beak snapped open, no doubt to deliver a scathing retort, but I held up a wing, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Enough,” I said, my voice rough with barely contained emotion. “What do you want from me, Father? From us?”

Alget's eyes bored into mine, cold and unyielding. “It's simple, Ryon. You will end this dalliance with the human, immediately and without question.”

And then the words he always used, cracked over my head like a whip. “Do your duty.”

SAVANNAH

The beak of Alget Zorax opened wide, his voice booming through the ornate entry hall. “This is all your fault, human!”

My stomach lurched at his accusation. I'd just gotten started, but I'd thought Sharlar and Helko were making progress. But now they were gone, disappeared without a trace.

Alget's feathers bristled, his wings flaring out in a display of aggression. “I never should have agreed to let an outsider handle such an important event.”

Bhelenia, standing tall beside him, clicked her beak disapprovingly. “Sharlar insisted on having this... human involved. Against my better judgment.”

Varie, Alget's wife, stepped forward, her feathers sleek and composed. “Now, now. Let us not place blame prematurely.” She turned her falcon-like gaze toward me. “Savannah, do you have any idea where they might have gone?”

I swallowed hard, my mouth dry. “I... I don't know. They seemed to be getting along better after our activities together.”

Ryon moved to my side, his presence reassuring yet also sparking a confusing flutter in my chest. “Savannah did everything she could to help them connect. This isn't her fault.”

Alget scoffed, the sound harsh and grating. “Of course you'd defend her. Your dalliance with this human has clearly clouded your judgment.”

Dalliance? My cheeks burned at the implication. What Ryon and I shared went far deeper than a casual fling.

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