Page 47 of Caged

His furry brows knit. “A nest.”

“He means we need somewhere to stay.” Alex shoves my wing aside and steps forward. “We have credits.”

Boran skitters on the floor, unable to contain himself. “A human! Your mate is a human.”

I growl and unsheathe my claws. Alex stands beside me, pressing her small body into mine and sliding a hand into my feathers.

The effect is instant. I don’t want to kill anyone. I just want her.

“Have you met other humans?” she queries of Boran.

“I talked with one, a female, like yourself, in Sartak,”

“The weapons city?” Alex queries. “There was a human in the weapons city?”

“My larvae cousin has met other humans too,” Boran says.

“Slaves?” Alex’s voice rises in pitch.

“I don’t think so…” Boran replies. “Not all of Trefa is like Tatatunga.” He smiles widely. “You are very welcome here, without fear or favor, mate of Sylas.”

“Alex,” Alex says holding out the hand not buried in my feathers.

Boran stares at it. I release a snarl at him. Alex’s hand belongs to me and only me, so only I get to hold it.

“I am Boran,” Boran says. “I manage this community such as it needs managing. Anything you need, I will do my best to help.”

He gives us both a sweeping bow. It doesn’t stop the low-level growl I’m making, but Alex’s magic touch does, and I tune his voice out as I enjoy what she’s doing wholeheartedly.

“So, that’s you fixed for a dwelling, providing Sylas is happy with it,” I hear Boran say. “Is he well? He’s drooling.”

Alex smiles up at me, her little face alight, wreathed in what I know is joy. “He does that,” she says.

“What did I miss?” I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand.

“Boran has found us somewhere to live. We can go check it out now.”

Boran holds out a small screen with a direction finder displayed. “I think you’ll like it, Sylas,” he says gently with the hint of a smile.

I swipe the screen from him.

“I will determine if the dwelling is suitable for my mate,” I reply, stretching out my wing to enclose Alex.

Outside, I check the screen and then hand it to Alex.

“I’m terrible with directions, Sylas,” she says.

“This is easy. We just follow the arrow. You’re going to be a great navigator.”

“And what are you going to be doing?”

I lift her off her feet and into my arms.

“I’m going to be flying.” I open my wings and start running.

After a few paces, I have us in the air, and beating my wings hard, have us rising over the canopy. There is a warm wind, and Alex throws her arms around my neck with a laugh of joy.

“You’re supposed to be navigating!” I say in her ear, but all she does is kiss me on my jaw.

---