The sky will find you,
even when you're on the ground.
Feather warm, feather slow.
Rest your weight upon the wind.”
As I sang, I was comforted too. My aching wing eased, tingling sensations flowing through the broken bones. I could feel connections forming. How foolish of me to forget that I could heal myself. But how wondrous it was that I healed the King as well. Under my stroking fingers, his wound leached color. By the end of my song, it had flattened into his skin, vanishing as if it had never been.
“Feather warm, feather slow,”I trailed off, my hands going still.
As I slid my hands away, the King shuddered. I looked at his face. His head was down, resting on his cheek, and his eyes were still on me, wide now. I looked away and moved to sit back.
The Dragon King sat up and stretched his back with a sound of amazement. “Eliel! This is wondrous! I feel revived!” He took my hand and pulled me back to him. “Have you sung to yourself?”
“I didn't think of it until now,” I whispered, holding his stare. “It has helped. My wing feels better.”
“Why didn't you think of it sooner?”
I shrugged. “I forgot about the song until you needed it.”
Raven's turquoise eyes flashed. “You forgot when you were in need, but my need reminded you?”
“Yes.”
Raven pulled me into his arms, his knees opening so I could press my chest to his, once more tucked in against his heart. “My sweet, gentle foundling. My miracle. Every day I find more to admire in you. Thank you.” He leaned back to meet my gaze. “Thank you for remembering for me. Thank you for the gift of your song.”
“It helped me too.” I stretched my wing. “I think I'll fly again.”
“I told you, you would.” He cupped my cheek.
I leaned forward, needing more. With a pleased rumble, the Dragon King met me halfway, his warm lips easing mine apart. The feel of his flesh slipping inside me, even this small piece of him, made me ravenous. I fed at his mouth, my handssliding into his long hair to pull him closer. Lust shot down my spine, shocking me in its intensity and its timing. We had nearly died, both of us, and yet I wanted to bed him. But maybe that was the very thing that inspired this raging need. I reached for his pants.
The King jerked back. “No!”
Gaping at him, I fell back, my wings curling against the opposite bench.
“Don't be upset.” He retrieved my hand and pressed it to his chest. “I'm stopping us both.”
“Why?” I whispered. “I'm ready. I finally think I can make love to you without my past coming between us. Why would you stop this?”
“Two reasons, my foundling.” Raven stroked his thumb over my hand. “First, this is too sudden. You need time to absorb this progress before you act on it. I think perhaps the battle has emboldened you, but it is a false courage. And two, our first time together will not be in a moving carriage. You deserve better than that.”
Panic drove me forward, and I clutched at his shoulder with my free hand. “No, I don't! I deserve this. I want you now, Raven!”
“Shhh.” He eased me down, bringing my head to his chest, and stroked my hair. “Be still now. Let your blood slow. The urgency will pass. Then you'll be able to think more clearly, and you'll realize I'm right.”
“I don't want to think,” I grumbled into his chest. “I want to feel you inside me.”
The Dragon King let out a wounded cry and shuddered.
I pulled back to look at him. “Are you alright? Shall I sing again?”
Chuckling, he pulled me back into his arms. “The pain is of your making, my foundling. I want you even more than you want me. But I refuse to disrespect what is growing between us. I want our first lovemaking to be something we'll both remember for the rest of our lives.”
“I will remember this. I swear it.”
Raven burst out laughing. “I will too. But I want more.” He clasped my face in his hands. “You will not deny me this. I have been patient for you. Now, you will be patient for me.”
