I’m so grateful to have this fiery Fae on my side. “When do you need these by?”
“Tomorrow,” Leslie mumbles.
“They’ll be ready to pick up in the morning. 5am at Warwick’s Wicked Bakery. If you’re late, I’m putting them out for sale.” I turn on my heel and face Wren. “Now, I’d like to get back to my date.”
Mother’s nape feathers ruffle, and I hold off my laugh. Of course she doesn’t like it when I stand up for myself. She nods and they both disappear.
Wren watches them shimmer from sight from beside me and his face falls. He can’t walk between the veils anymore and they just rubbed in his face that griffins can do it at will. It’s an ability we’re gifted at birth and hone as soon as possible. When we’re young, we have to shift to teleport, but the more you practice, the better you get and you can do it without the shift.
“I forget griffins have the gift. I’m not very special.” He looks up at me with a small smile.
“Fae don’t usually have the gift, soyou’respecial.” At least to me and I’m sure to his brother as well.
“We can still fly, right? Or do we have to start the pastries now?”
“I’d still like to share my griffin with you, but if you’re anxious about?—”
“Fuck the baking. If I get to see your griffin, the treats can wait.” He grins and all the sadness washes from his pretty green eyes. That’s how I want to see him always.
“Close your eyes,” I say.
17
WREN
I turn my back to Talon and cover my eyes with my hands. The rustle of clothing falls to the ground, and the sounds of his body changing makes me curious. I can’t wait to see what his griffin looks like. I am a tricksy Fae, and I peek through my fingers to watch the shadows behind me grow bigger and bigger as Talon shifts from man to griffin.
His tasseled lion tail brushes against my shoulder right before his giant eagle head nudges the back of my head.
“I’m guessing that’s a yes to turning around?”
There’s this ear blistering majestic cry behind me, and I cover my ears with a wince before turning to face him.
I suck in a breath and look up, up, up. He’shugeand magnificent. I never would have guessed thatthiswas the size of a griffin. Perhaps his family just grows huge, but he’s bigger than what I expected.
I knew Griffins were bigger than a regular sized lion, but Talon’s the size of a house, his house. I just can’t comprehend the size of him.
My wings snap out, and I fly up and up to see him from above. To take in the span of his wings and the length ofhis body and the shape of his head. The sheer size of him is overwhelming.
“You’re magnificent.”
He eyes me, but he can’t talk in this form. At least I don’t think he can. We didn’t discuss telepathy. Not that I’m really comfortable with having someone in my head that’s not me, but for Talon, I’d do it.
He lets me fly around him, taking in every single inch of him. I even fly under his body to take in his furry underbelly, and he chuckles as I tickle his sides. His tail wiggles and his wings snap. He cries out.
“Catch me if you can,” I say, before sprinting backwards to watch him chase me.
He races across the field, then lifts off. Before I can even blink, he’s by my side.
“You are a lot faster than I expected, especially with how large you are.”
He chuffs and I just have to laugh.
I want to reach out and scratch between his eyes, but I have to wonder if it’s rude to pet your potential love interest.
Instead, we play chase and fly for hours. As soon as I get far away from him, he sprints closer and closer. He’s so fast, I wonder if it’s magic or griffins are just that fast.
I wish we could do this for days. It’s the most fun I’ve had in so long.
