That was a load of horseshit and we both knew it, but if he wanted to play games then I would happily oblige. “Okay. Stand up then.”
We faced off for a second, neither of us blinking. The stranger made no attempt to move, as if staring into my eyes was more important than trying to prove me wrong. After a long moment, a wide grin spread slowly over his lips and his dark eyes sparkled with mirth. Finally he let out a small laugh that was carefully tempered to prevent another burst of pain.
“It’s Orpheus,” he said. He still hadn’t ripped his focus away from my eyes.
“Interesting name,” I remarked. I vaguely remembered hearing about a human tale featuring a character of the same name who ventured to the underworld. Since ravens were often considered messengers of the dead, I figured it was a fitting name for a shifter of his kind.
Orpheus wagged his finger at me. “I know what you’re thinking. But I’m not like the character in the tale.”
“Oh? And how’s that?”
“I never look back.”
That comment took me off guard for a moment. Was he joking or serious? Beneath his teasing and confident persona, I sensed true wildness in him. He was a bird shifter after all. But I couldn’t imagine being so carefree. There were far too many things I regretted in my past for me to live without looking back on them. I probably spent more time reminiscing and fantasizing about different outcomes than a person ought to, but I couldn’t stop myself.
“Did I lose you there, foxy?” Orpheus asked when I didn’t respond.
I shook off my thoughts. “No. Just thinking about what we’re going to do with you.”
“You make it sound like you can eat me.” He craned his neck a little, trying to sneak a peek out of the alcove. “My sense of smell isn’t the best, but do I detect a hint of dog?”
“That would be wolf,” I replied. “There’s a whopping six of them around here.”
Orpheus’s brows shot up. “Six? What is this, a wolfpack?”
“Well, we just call it the pack, since I’m no wolf and some of the others aren’t, either.”
“The others? What kind of ragtag group did I stumble into?”
“You have no idea.” I grinned. “Just wait till you meet the shark.”
He shot me a look of utter disbelief. “You’re pulling my tailfeathers.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it. Do I look like a liar to you? Actually, don’t answer that.”
That made Orpheus laugh again. “Trust me, I have no prejudice towards foxes. Shifters and humans alike aren’t such big fans of ravens—and crows, which I get mistaken for all the time, which makes no sense because I have amuchmore handsome nose profile—so you’ll get none of that from me.”
I smiled. His attitude was refreshing. Back when I first met the pack, there were definitely a couple fox-related comments, which I didn’t think I deserved even if I was acting in a way that deserved criticism.
The longer I spoke with Orpheus, I got the feeling that we would get along tremendously. I couldn’t remember the last time I hit it off with someone instantly. It was probablynever.
“You have to stay until you’re healed,” I said.
Orpheus winced and I had a feeling it wasn’t from physical pain. His eyes darted around the alcove. “Didn’t I already tell you I’m fine? A meal and a little nap will solve everything, just you wait.”
I pointedly raised an eyebrow at him.
“Nothing will keep me down, not even a crash landing,” he said, bursting with determination.
I put my eyebrow down and then pointedly raised the other one.
Orpheus could tell I wasn’t convinced in the slightest. “Okay, since you don’t believe me, I’ll prove it to you right now.”
With a tremendous surge of effort, Orpheus tried to propel himself upwards into a standing position. He grunted and strained himself, but he was barely halfway up before his legs buckled and he stumbled back with an undignified yelp. I rushed in quickly to catch him before his ass hit the ground because the last thing he needed was one more injury.
As I wrapped my arms around his midsection, I felt the pleasant warmth of his body. I didn’t want to let go. But all good things must come to an end, and I knew I had to let go of him before it became creepy. I gently eased him down to the ground while trying not to look too smug that I was right and he was wrong.
Orpheus sighed in defeat. “Fine. I’ll admit my body needs a little more than just a nap, even if my mind is raring to go.”
