Page 17 of Moth to Her Flame

Riven sways slightly, and suddenly the few inches between us feel like too much. My hand finds his before he gets any weaker. Our fingers interlace naturally, as though we’ve done it hundreds of times.

The effect is instantaneous and overwhelming. His wings unfurl to their full capacity and explode with golden light, bathing us in warm radiance. A small sound escapes him—part gasp, part something deeper that makes heat rush to my face… then lower. His fingers tighten around mine, skin impossibly warm, sending tingles up my arm.

Somehow, he manages to ask the caller technical questions in a remarkably steady voice, thumb tracing hypnotic patterns on my palm. Each small movement sends shivers darting through me. My own fingers explore the fascinating texture of his skin—not quite human, smooth but slightly textured.

When the caller hangs up, I reach for the ad button with my free hand. “And now, truth seekers, a word from our sponsors…” The familiar jingle for Dragon’s Breath Mints—now with extra charcoal, fills the silence.

Neither of us moves to break contact. His thumb is still tracing lazy circles on my palm, each sweep sending sparks of electricity up my arm. His other hand cradles our joined ones, creating an intimate nest of warmth. The contrast between his slightly rougher skin and the gentleness of his touch makes my breath catch.

“I need to tell you something.” His voice drops lower, serious, with a resonance that vibrates through me. “After the show. About the caller, about Apex… about everything.”

“Okay.” I know something’s wrong—I’ve watched him all week, seen the weight settle heavier on his broad shoulders, noticed how he grows weaker by the day, his worry etched deeper with each passing hour. “After the show.”

He wraps his wing around me, the gesture tentative yet somehow profound. The golden membrane filters the harsh studio lights into something softer, more intimate. Being cocooned in his protection, his essence, makes me shiver fromthe sheer emotional force of it. His wing’s warmth seeps into my skin, and the subtle glowing patterns etched across its surface seem to pulse in time with our heartbeats.

“Uh. Sorry.” He starts to withdraw, uncertainty clear in the way his antennae flatten against his hair.

“No.” The words “I like it” burn on my tongue, unspoken but undeniable. This feeling—this perfect sense of sanctuary—is pure bliss. My body acts without conscious thought, nestling closer until I’m tucked against his side. His t-shirt is soft against my cheek, and I’m acutely aware of how his chest rises and falls with each breath. The thick hair that Vs down from his neck is hidden, making it easier to forget what he is—or maybe I’m finally seeing who he is beneath his otherness.

His wing tightens around me fractionally, and his thumb resumes its hypnotic patterns on the back of my hand. Each stroke feels more intimate than a kiss, mapping unknown territories of sensation across my skin. His other fingers interlace with mine more firmly, as though he’s afraid I’ll pull away. As if I could.

The realization hits like a thunderbolt: as much as he’s been attracted to me since that first electric touch, I must be drawn to him, too. Every moment of fear and hesitation has been fighting against this inexorable pull. This… rightness.

His antennae quiver, mirroring my quickening pulse, and he draws in a shaky breath that matches my own unsteady breathing. The golden light from his wings intensifies, creatingpatterns across our joined hands that look like constellations—as if we’re holding a piece of the night sky between our palms.

The sponsor’s jingle fades, warning of the show’s imminent return, but for these precious seconds, we exist in a pocket universe of amber light and shared breath. His warmth, his scent—something wild and electric, like ozone before a storm—surrounds me. The steady rhythm of his heart beneath my cheek speaks louder than words, telling stories of protection and possession, of boundaries crossed and barriers crumbling.

The countdown timer turns red. More calls await—the usual mix of conspiracy theories and supernatural encounters. But nothing feels quite normal anymore. Not with his hand warming mine, his wings creating a private cocoon, his presence both thrilling and somehow right.

Questions press against my mind. About Apex. About the mate bond I pretend not to understand. About why this simple touch feels like coming home.

But for now, there are stories to hear. Mysteries to unravel. And the warmth of his hand in mine, anchoring me through it all.

Some revelations can wait a few more hours.

Some truths are better spelled out in touch than in words.

And some boundaries, once crossed, can never be rebuilt.

My fingers tighten around his as another caller begins their story, his answering pressure a promise and a warning all at once.

Chapter Fifteen

Chelsea

“And that’s all for tonight, truth seekers.” The familiar sign-off feels different with Riven’s wing still curved around me, his warmth seeping into my bones. “Special thanks to our RF engineer for lending his expertise. Until tomorrow night, remember—the truth isn’t just out there, it’swayout there.”

My finger hovers over the cut-off switch, as I’m suddenly reluctant to end the show. To break this magical bubble. Finally, I power down my soundboard, leaving us in the soft glow of Riven’s wings.

“Come on.” Standing, I tug gently at our still-joined hands. “The couch is more comfortable than these chairs.”

He follows with fluid grace, our fingers only separating when we settle onto opposite ends of the worn leather couch. The loss of contact should make his wings dim, should weaken him like before. Instead, they maintain their ethereal glow, casting dancing shadows across the room.

“You’re stronger,” I observe.

“The touch helped more than usual. It was prolonged… and more freely given.” There’s no hint of censure in his voice, though he has every right to scold me for how stingy I’ve been with something so easily granted.

Before I can apologize, his tone changes as he says, “About Apex…”

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