Lae's face scrunched up, a deep, raspy moan rumbling from his throat. My heart jumped, but I forced myself to remain still, squeezing my eyes shut as though I were asleep. I felt his arm shift away from my waist.
But then I sensed it-his gaze lingering on me, heavy and piercing. My pulse quickened as his warm breath brushed against my skin. The air felt thicker, charged with something I couldn't name. His fingers softly brushed my hair aside, a heat rushed to my cheeks.
"You can stop pretending now," he murmured, his voice low, smooth, and dangerously close.
My eyes fluttered open. I hesitated before raising my head to look at him, my voice coming out quieter than I intended. "How did you know I was pretending?"
He hummed softly, almost teasing. "You make faces when I touched your hair."
Embarrassed, I averted my gaze, my eyes settling on his chest instead. Heat crawled up my neck. Lae stood then, moving toward the entrance of the cave. My attention followed him instinctively, and his massive wings unfurled. They stretched wide, their dark, iridescent surface shimmering faintly in the sunlight. They were breathtaking-majestic, even-and covered nearly half the cave opening.
I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and pushed myself up. As I stood, Lae turned back, extending a hand toward me.
"You should come with me while I hunt," he said, his voice calm but firm.
I hesitated, furrowing my brows. "Wouldn't that be dangerous?"
His lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. "It's safer when you're close to me."
My chest tightened at the weight of his words. Reluctantly, I placed my hand in his, and before I could steady myself, he pulled me close. Without warning, his arms slipped beneath my legs, lifting me effortlessly off the ground. I yelped softly, heat flushing my face at the intimate gesture. My position in his arms felt... unfamiliar. Embarrassing. Like a bride being carried across the threshold.
He didn't seem to notice-or perhaps he didn't care. Lae strode confidently toward the cave's entrance, the sunlight streaming in, blinding me for a moment. As I raised a hand to shield my eyes, my stomach dropped at the view below. The cave rested high above a dense, mutated forest. Its canopy stretched far and wide, vibrant hues of green and purple glinting under the sun.
Lae's wings rustled behind him, drawing my attention back to him. He smirked faintly, amused by my nervous grip on his neck. Then, with one powerful beat of his wings, we shot into the air.
The wind rushed past us, whipping through my hair. I clung tightly to him, my arms wrapped securely around his neck. My breath hitched as we soared higher, the trees below transforming into a sea of shimmering leaves. The forest was unlike anything I'd ever seen before-otherworldly, vibrant, almost alive.
Lae angled toward a clearing up ahead. The open space was calm and inviting, with soft sunlight filtering through the gaps in the twisted branches. He landed gracefully, his feet barely making a sound as they touched the ground.
I loosened my grip on his neck and slid down, landing on the soft, spongy earth. The grass beneath my feet seemed to sway faintly, as though reacting to my presence. The air here was thick with life, the sounds of the forest harmonizing around us-distant howls, soft rustling leaves, and the strange chirping of unseen creatures.
The tranquility didn't last.
Something stirred in the shadows of the brush ahead, a faint movement that sent a shiver down my spine. I glanced at Lae, whose body had already tensed. His sharp, Evergreen eyes were fixed on the dense foliage, his wings partially unfurling in a subtle, protective motion.
I moved closer to him, my fingers instinctively brushing over the handle of my gun.
The brush rustled. Lae's arm shot out in front of me, a silent command to stay behind him. His posture shifted-ready, coiled like a spring.
For a long moment, there was only silence. Then, the snap of a twig cut through the air like a gunshot. Lae didn't hesitate. In a flash, he surged forward, his movements a blur.
A guttural scream echoed from the bushes, sharp and unnatural. Moments later, Lae emerged, dragging the body of a massive, mutated mountain lion. Its horns twisted unnaturally, like spiraling goat horns, and jagged spines jutted from its back and tail. Its mottled green-and-brown fur blended perfectly with the forest around it.
"I guess we'll eat this," he said casually, tossing the creature to the ground.
I blinked at it, my stomach turning slightly. "Is that... edible?"
"Anything that moves is edible," he replied with a faint smirk, crouching to inspect his catch.
I couldn't help but laugh softly. "If you say so."
He stood and grabbed the mountain lion by its legs and he extended a hand to me again, and I took it without hesitation this time. He pulled me close, his arm wrapping securely around me.
"Ready?" he asked, his wings spreading wide behind him.
I nodded, and we were airborne once more. Lae held me in one arm, the mountain lion dangling from the other like it weighed nothing.
As we flew, I let my eyes wander to the sky above us. The clouds were soft and golden, their edges shimmering in the sunlight. My chest tightened with an ache I couldn't quite suppress. Neal used to love clouds-he would point them out to me and talk about how he loved them. I swallowed hard, trying to push the thought away.
"We're close," Lae said, pulling me back to the present.
I refocused, seeing the jagged, towering mountain where the cave rested. Lae landed smoothly, setting me down on the stone floor before carrying the mountain lion inside.
The familiar scent of moss and stone filled my nose as I gathered wood for the fire. Once the flames began to dance, I looked up to see Lae carefully carving the mountain lion with precision.
"The fire's ready," I called.
He glanced over his shoulder and gave a small nod. "Thanks."
Soon, the meat sizzled over the fire, filling the cave with a surprisingly rich, savory aroma. It smelled like a mix of beef and something unfamiliar.
Lae handed me a bowl, and I bit into the cooked meat cautiously. Its flavor was strong, earthy, and oddly satisfying.
As we ate, I found myself staring at him, curiosity tugging at my thoughts. Before I could stop myself, the words slipped out "What kind of clouds do you like?"