Page 37 of Sticks and Stones and Broken Bones

Hawk walked over to me, a soft smile curling his wicked mouth. “I will always carry you, draguta. But I think you have wings.”

His hand stroked the space between my shoulder blades, sending shivers trickling down my spine. The muscles in my back quivered, sensing something changing.

Something wanting to break free.

“Do you trust me?” Hawk asked, his amber eyes warm and serious.

“Yes,” I replied simply.

“Good.” Then he pushed me off the ledge.

I plummeted towards the ground at an alarming speed, my arms and legs flailing as I tried to find purchase in the air. I screamed, then prayed and screamed some more.

Come on, Raevyn! Do something!

“Fly, Raevyn!” the voice from my dream shouted. “Spread your wings and fly!”

“Easy for you to say!” I hurled back at him, whoever he was.

“It’s easy for you. Don’t think. Just do.”

Okay. Spread my wings.

Oh, fuck. That was the ground. When did it get so close?

I closed my eyes and squealed.

I have wings.

I have wings.

I HAVE WINGS!

Pain ripped through my back as something exploded from beneath my skin. Muscles, tendons and bones worked in ways I’d never felt before and when I opened my eyes, I found myself levitating about five foot off the ground. Air whooshed around me as giant feathered wings held me aloft.

They were fucking beautiful.

Midnight black feathers with purple tips stretched wide, my wings spanning at least six foot either side. They were absolutely breathtaking and holy fuck I had wings!

I shot straight into the sky, whooping with delight as I went. I swirled and spun through the clouds. Was there ever a more breathtaking feeling?

A cloud of shadow shot past me, a dark rumble like thunder echoing in its wake. I could just make out Hawk’s large body in the dark mist and I flew after him, my large wings cutting through the air with ease.

“Hey!” I shouted. “You pushed me off the edge!”

“Yes, draguta. And look at you now.” He pulled to a halt in front of me and I had to spread my wings wide so that I didn’t collide with him. “You are beautiful.”

“What if I didn’t have wings? What then?” I asked slamming my hands into his chest – fuck, his pecs are firm!

He grabbed my wrists and laughed. It was so deep and rich, so wicked, that I forgot I was flying for a moment, and I fell a few feet. Hawk pulled me into his arms, wrapping his large arms around my small waist and tucking my body close to his.

“I would have caught you.” He buried his nose in my hair and took a deep breath. “I love the way you smell. Like lilies doused in death.”

“Um… thank you?”

Hawk tucked my hair behind my ear. “There is a beauty in death, not just decay. You smell like lilies, candles, roses and…” He took another deep breath. “Almonds.”

Oh. When he put it like that, it sounded almost… well, pretty.

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