Page 3 of Sprite Wedding
I wanted more with Zoe. I’d asked her if she wanted to move in together that magical night months ago when we’d bonded as mates. We’d made love, and she’d let me bite her, leaving a mark near her shoulder that sealed our connection. She’d said we shouldn’t rush our relationship, but savor how it developed. Since we worked together, moving too fast might put additional stress on a fairly new relationship.
Zoe had a valid point. She was the sensible one, whereas my dreams could lift as high as I could fly in dragon form, which might not always be practical. That’s one of the things I loved about her—she was smart and practical, which helped balance my spontaneity. Moving in together might be too much, too soon. I understood. It didn’t mean I wasn’t itching for more.
I approached a section of roses, their enticing smells entrancing me. Beyond it was a variety of foliage and flowers in vibrant colors. I examined an arresting violet flower and then a beautiful pink bell-shaped species. I could lie here and drink in the succulent sights and scents all day but had to return to the ship before it sailed to Boston.
In the distance were flowers I’d never seen with pink and purple petals of various shapes. How fascinating. I had to see those beauties. After I trekked down a mulched path, I carefully stepped into a space amid surrounding foliage to get a closer look. Something flew out from beneath one of them and right at my face.
“What the?” I exclaimed. It was a mighty size for an insect.
Hades’ crazies, that wasn’t an insect. This creature appeared humanoid, less than six inches tall with green skin and tiny wings. It flew to my face and reared a tiny hand before punching me in the nose.
“Hey, why did you do that?” I covered my nose.
This little being had large eyes compared to the size of its face and masculine features.
“Get out of here!” it demanded in a low and grouchy voice, one similar to my vampire roommate when he woke from his undead slumber.
“Why? I was looking at the flowers,” I explained.
The little being hovered before me, and his tiny wings buzzed like a low motor. I stared at them, fascinated. They were so different from mine in dragon form, which I’d stretch wide and propel with long swoops.
“Buzz off somewhere else.” He scowled. “There are plenty of other places to go.”
“What’s wrong with being here?”
A similar creature flew from beneath a bush. This one had softer features that weren’t scowling at me.
“Cut it out, Marty,” she said in a feminine voice. “The human wasn’t doing anything.”
“Human?” I repeated.
“Are you not human?” She gazed at me.
Before I revealed anything to an unfamiliar species, one of whom had punched me, I wanted to find out what they were. “What are you?”
More of these flying creatures ascended from beneath the foliage below and glanced at me with curious expressions, which were likely mirrored on my face.
“Don’t tell him anything,” the surly one named Marty said. “You know we can’t trust humans.”
“I’m not human,” I countered. “Not one-hundred percent.”
The female one asked, “What are you?”
I gave her an easy-going smile. “I’ll tell you if you tell me.”
“Don’t tell him.” Marty wagged a tiny finger.
“Youlookhuman,” she pointed out.
I slanted my head and grinned, not revealing anything until they did.
She glanced at the others before returning her gaze to me. “We’re sprites.”
The grumpy goose Marty smacked his little forehead. “Why would you tell him?”
“Because I want to know what he is.”
“I’m half dragon,” I admitted with a proud smile.
