Page 104 of Wingless Crow: Part 1

She flicked her wrist with a shrug. “He’s tied to my bed.”

“He is? Why?”

She grinned. “He finds it sexy to make love that way. And I don’t mind. He wanted to surprise me with a new position he’s been practicing.”

“While being tied up?”

“Mhm.” She nodded, tousling her curls. “I better go before he twisted his neck or broke something. Well…” She drew me into a hug, wrapping both her arms and her wings around me. “Stay alive, little Sparrow. Send me a message when you’ve settled down, and I’ll let you know how it’s going in the palace. Sooner or later, things will calm down. You may come back still.”

I doubted it would ever be safe for me to come back or even to send Dove a message without compromising her safety. But I couldn’t think that far into the future. I simply tried to keep my head on my shoulders for a day longer.

“Thank you so much for everything, Dove.” I let go of her reluctantly, then watched her take off into the air.

Her white wings moved gracefully. Her skin shimmered over her delicate curves, gloriously nude and dark like the starless night that eventually took her out of my sight.

ChapterTwenty-Six

VORON

He’d barely gotten off his horse in the courtyard of Elaros when Alcon landed softly in front of him.

“Greetings, High General. Glad to have you back. Her Majesty, Queen Pavline, demanded to see you the moment you return.”

Voron tossed the reins to the approachingsnakanagroom, then took off his riding gloves.

“Demanded,did she?”

Alcon shifted his weight to another foot uneasily. “‘Bring him to me the moment he arrives,’ were her actual words.”

Voron entered the palace and made sure they were a fair distance away from the guards before asking. “Where is she?”

“In the king’s chambers?”

“Really?” He paused.

It’d been a while since the queen had stepped her foot into her husband’s bedroom or since the king had visited hers.

“Did she say why I’m needed?”

“No, my general, but…” With a cautious glance around, Alcon leaned closer and lowered his voice. “It must be about Lady Sparrow. She’s gone.”

The mere sound of her name sent a surge of thrill through his system, that specific mix of agitation and delight he’d been experiencing in any situation where Sparrow was involved.

This time, however, worry pinched his heart, too.

“Gone where?”

“No one knows. The queen ordered a thorough search of the palace, but we couldn't find her. The royal guards are combing through the streets of Elaros City right now. So far, no results.”

“What happened? Did she leave by herself or was she taken?” He sped up, rushing up the stairs on his way to the top tower.

Alcon barely kept up with him, using his wings to give him a lift over the steps that Voron skipped over without flying.

“We… I don’t know, High General,” Alcon panted.

Voron growled in disappointment. He’d trained his people better than that. They were supposed to knoweverything.

“Lady Sparrow retired for the night after the dinner with the king.” Alcon gave Voron a sideways glance, as if gauging his reaction to the news. “The king took her to his bedroom. That was the last time she was seen by the guards.”

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