Nyree brushed her nose against his in the taniwha form of ahongi.
Then, she backed up and propelled herself upward, her black wings flapping slowly and gradually increasing in speed.She lifted with a sexy twitch of her tail, and Tawera’s heart went with her.This woman slayed him with her beauty, her generosity, her selfless help to a confused Maori warrior.
Tawera stretched his neck and moaned softly at the arc of pain that darted toward his tail.He swallowed hard, every one of his instincts telling him to curl into a ball and give in to the torment.He fought with his mind while scarcely daring to breathe.
Was it the curse again?Was he going to lose everything?Lose Nyree when he’d just found her?
No.
He refused to let that happen.Tawera forced himself to move in small increments.He gritted his teeth and attempted to center his mind as he used to do when he was shifting.The agony didn’t lessen, but it didn’t become worse either.He continued to pull up a screen, brick by brick, until the wall surrounded him.The instant he completed the barrier, the pain deadened, and he took a deep, sustaining breath.
Next, Tawera focused on pushing out the walls and giving himself more space.
He needed to fly and join Nyree as she soared through the sky.A sliver of determination jumped into the gap where the discomfort had been.
Tawera expanded his lungs, focused his mind once again, and leaped into the air.He ignored the flash of soreness as he beat his wings.The pain continued, jabbing at his confidence and pushing him to return to land.No stopping because he suspected after a halt, he’d have difficulty trying again.
“Tawera, move your wings faster,”Nyree instructed.“Push yourself harder, or else your body won’t lift.”
Tawera focused on her sweet voice and attempted to follow her instructions.It hadn’t been thisdifficult last time.He increased the speed of his wings and almost cried out when his bulky body rose.Every flap of his wings brought a wince, but at least he was flying, and he was with Nyree.He focused on her scent and the friendship they’d forged since they’d met.He recalled the conversations they’d had, and most of all, he remembered the way she’d fit in his arms.The way her mouth moved against his and how much he wanted to hold and touch her again.
His body rose, and with this came relief.
Nyree, his lodestone.
His everything.
The more effort he put into flying, the easier he pushed back against the torture in his bones and muscles.He soared toward Nyree, his heart still full of that determination and now joy because he was beating this sudden handicap of his.
With Nyree at his side, he could do anything.He firmly believed this, which meant he must fight for her, fight this stupid curse and walk with confidence into the future.
“You’re doing great,”Nyree said.“Is the pain gone?”
“No, it’s still there, but it’s more manageable.”Thanks to Nyree.
“Are you ready to fly farther?”
“Yes,”he said, confidence shading his words when he wasn’t sure he had the strength to swat a gnat.
“Fly at my side.I want to make sure you’re okay before I soar at will.”
“Go.I will fly for a bit longer and wait for you by our clothes.”It might take him a while to shift again—he needed to find his nerve after this disaster.
“Are you certain?”Once again, concern filled her words.
“Go ahead.”He forced out the words when he wanted to demand she stay with him.It was what Rawiri would’ve done, and immediately, Tawera fought the impulse.Without warning, he dropped.A startled roar escaped him.Flames shot from his open maw even as he struggled to control his plummet.
“Tawera!”
Nyree’s voice forced through his panic, and he pulled out of the plunge seconds before he collided with a wall of rock.
“What were you thinking?”Her shout slapped some sense into him, and he directed his body away from the rock face.
Tawera shook his massive head, shocked by his near-miss.His thoughts scrambled as he admitted he wasn’t himself.“I think I have flown enough.My energy has faded.”
“I’ll come back now too,”Nyree said.“We can fly again tomorrow.”
Tawera made a noncommittal sound through their mind-bond while he battled his worry.He’d thought he’d escaped the curse, but something was very wrong.
