Fuckboy:Touché brother.
Playboy:Don’t push her into ne thing Knox.
Seeing JP hop into the chat calms me a little. If anyone can keep Rez safe and talk sense into Knox, it would be him.
Beast:I'm not. She wanted 2 meet my gryphon & name him. Following her lead here. There’s no way I’m fuck’n up this chance.
‘See. You’ve already lost your chance,’that voice says in my head, pushing against the flimsy barrier I have erected.
It’s like a switch has been flipped as all the anger and emotional turmoil I’ve been holding inside flows free.
“Well who needs them?” I say, throwing my phone up on the altar. “Obviously they aren’t concerned about me.”
‘Us!’he corrects me. ‘You only need me. I will always take care of you.’
Shifting in my seat, my skin starts crawling as the urge to let go of my restraints becomes almost painful.
‘I have never left you behind, nor will I. Let us leave this shell behind us where pain is a constant reminder and free ourselves.’
He makes sense. He has always been there for me and I’m tired. I’m so fucking tired of fighting this invisible demon. Taking in a deep breath, I slowly exhale and let the darkness consume me.
ChapterTwenty-Four
OVER THE RAINBOW
Rez
After sending off a text to Moni and JP letting them know I’m going flying, I take one last look in the mirror.
Oh my God. Am I really doing this?
I’m terrified of heights. What if I fall? I’m sure Knox or Baron will catch me. I’m torn between running for my life and just letting go and enjoying my time with Knox. It’s the first time I’ve been able to spend one-on-one quality time with him without any animosity between us. And so far, I'm enjoying it.
Taking a chance, I walk back outside where Baron lets out a booming caw, bows down, and extends his wings.
Okay then. Jumping right in.
Taking in a shaky breath, I climb on top of him and situate myself behind his wings so my legs are pinned underneath, but the bastard starts shaking, jostling me out of place.
Damn it! This damn beast should come with a saddle.
Once I’m away from his wings, the big goof starts bucking. “Ahh! What the hell, you big chicken! Stop!” I yell, frantically trying to grab ahold of anything to help keep me stable. The only thing that’s not blurry is his fucking head so I reach forward and hold tight, pulling myself closer. With my deathgrip, I bring my legs up and in front of his wings, tightening the grip with my thighs as I would riding a horse bareback. Squeezing around the front of his wings, the cracked out turkey suddenly settles down.
“Seriously. What is wrong with you?” I ask as my body relaxes against him. He wiggles, but I’m locked in place as my feet catch on the underside of his wings. Narrowing my eyes at Baron, I yank hard on his feathers, causing him to squawk in annoyance. “You could have waited until I came out before changing, bird brain. Knox could have given me some instructions on how to do this instead of me winging it. I’m already nervous as hell, I don’t need the fury bronco on top of everything.”
Feeling a lot better after my rant, I lean into his body and wrap my arms around his neck. Or at least try to, since he’s massive. “With that being said, I still think you’re magnificent and I trust you to keep me alive. Because I don’t know what I would do if I fall.” Before I can even contemplate sitting up or letting go, Baron takes off at a run and propels his body into the air, flapping his powerful wings. All I can do is hold on for dear life as my scream is swallowed up by the rushing wind.
There’s something different between flying and being out in the open when it comes to heights, at least for me. For example, I’ve been on airplanes and I have no problem flying in them. I always assumed it was because I was in an enclosed capsule. Because put me up on a damn ladder to clean the fucking gutters or help replace roofing tiles, and I’m a complete mess.
The warring voice in my head is going back and forth telling me to open my eyes and take a look around, but my sweaty palms beg to differ. The sounds of the woods and life pretty much disappear as the chilly air starts to register. Deciding this is a once in a lifetime experience, I crack my eyes open and see unicorns flying ahead of us.
Without thinking, I reposition my hands like I’m holding onto a horse's reins. Tightening the grip of my thighs further, I give Baron a little nudge with my heels and he increases his speed to catch up.
Flying unicorns? Wait. Are they called pegasus or are they alicorns? My knowledge comes from watching My Little Pony with Tenley and Ayla, a set of twins I used to babysit, so I’m not as well versed as some. I do know that Moni is a total Pinkie Pie though. Either way, I’m in awe as we get closer. Their bodies are all a shimmery white, but it’s their wings that are mesmerizing. Each of them has different colors, and it’s like seeing a living rainbow. As Baron weaves between them, I find myself reaching out to a young one with purplish wings. She neighs and comes closer so I can run my hands along her velvety coat. A laugh bubbles up out of me as she snorts and veers off to join her momma.
As we fly along with them, my nerves settle down enough to actually look around. Glancing below us with my death grip still tight, I get a glimmer of trees, and with the pegasus flying underneath us, it actually looks like we are flying over a rainbow.
“Eeek! This is amazing,” I shriek, leaning into Baron. Squeezing him a little harder, I raise my voice to make sure he can hear me over the wind. “Thank you so much, Baron. I’m scared of heights but you’re making this fun.”
