He arches a brow. “I had thought tales of what you are were common amongst the humans.”
I stare at him.
I press my lips together.
I droop and sigh and go to my mate. “Castor?”
“What?” He stiffens, tone tense. “Why are you saying my name like that?”
Cupping his cheeks, I murmur, “Love…you haven’t told me what I am.”
His mouth opens, and closes, then he fully deflates. “My darling…why have you not asked or mentioned it before now?”
“Women love a little mystery, I guess.”
As though hundreds of statues aren’t silently filling the space all around, Castor finally offers me the barest hint of a smile. “Shall I let you revel in your mystery, or shall I tell you?”
I contemplate those options for a second, and come to the obvious conclusion. “You may tell me.”
“As you wish, my feather.” His fingers trace the shape of my cheek. “You…are a phoenix.”
?
“So I actually do have wings hiding in my back?” I ask, as I—poorly—knead the lump of dough Castor divvied up for me. He’s busy shaping his seventh roll. I’m still messing about with my first.
“Yes.”
“I thought I was a salamander. You know. So we couldbothbe reptiles.”
He chuckles. “No.”
“I’m a bird. You’re a snake. Doesn’t that mean I eat you?”
His lips curl. “I’d not be opposed, but I’m fairly sure depending on species, birds and snakes eat one another.”
My face heats. “Mind your manners, Castor.”
His smile broadens as his cheeks also tint. “Forgive me my foul mind.”
I don’t think I will. I am, in fact, quite certain that I will be enjoying it to the fullest within a matter of days. Which reminds me. “What do we need to plan for our wedding? Should we let the group know at movie night tomorrow? Since we have asolution in sight, we can get married as soon as you learn to control your power. I suspect that likely will take about three days.”
He ruffles. “You believe I’ll have myself together enough to have unlocked the ability to undo my stone curse within three days?”
I finally get the stupid roll to sit right and add it to the pan. “Well, yes, Castor. If marrying me is being dangled like a carrot in front of you, I have genuinely nothing but faith.”
His mouth opens, but he doesn’t say anything as he shakes his head and scrubs the back of his hand over his crimson cheek. “You know what, my dear? I believe you have made the most remarkable of points. As it is, I consider your role in this whole thing to be, plainly, mymotivation.”
That is a role I can do very well, I think. “I know you said that the marriage itself is generally private, but do we plan a reception with our friends?”
“Not normally. To my knowledge, you just find out one day that two soulmates you know decided to get married. Most often, marriage is assumed.”
Interesting. No public display. No public party. You just make the decision, swear it to one another, and then you’re done. That really means that the only thing wehaveto do now is figure out how to undo the stone statues.
I gasp.
Castor startles. “My love?”
“The only things we have to do now to get ready for marriage are figure out how to get you confident enough in yourself to control your powers,andcut my wings out.”
