Big Flight (4 page)

Sneaking out of Damon’s room in the early hours had been cowardly, but it had been the only thing that her mind had come up with.

With dawn only newly acquainted with the day, she eased her door open and headed downstairs. One flight would do her good, and then, she could try and find a way to leave the Crossroads.

She slipped past Teebie with nothing more than a quick wave. Down the stairs and out to the shifters’ field, she kept her focus on the flight.

The changing cabanas were empty, and she swiftly removed her clothing, folding it for the re-dressing as all good shifters did.

She pulled on her vulture shape and hopped out into the morning light. While she had been changing, another cabana had become occupied. Shrugging, she widened her wings to catch the sun and stretched her fleshy neck.

Molly ran and flapped, taking off with steady beats until she was in the sky again. If she could have, she would have cried. It was beauty and grace, air and sunlight. There was nothing like flight.

She flexed her wings and circled the Crossroads, seeing another bird in the distance. She didn’t blame them. There was nothing like a dawn flight.

As she completed the circle, she suffered a pang of shock. The other bird was a king vulture, just as she was. The wing tips were far blacker than hers were, but there was no mistaking the pale feathers and vivid wattle on the head.

She grunted and clacked; her bird form otherwise mute.

She heard an answering grunt and clack, and they began to fly together.

She and the only one of her kind that she had ever met made a final, slow spiral that landed them on the grass near the cabanas.

Molly shifted and got to her feet, and to her shock, a very surprised Damon was standing across from her.

He walked to her in three strides and caught her in his arms, kissing her wildly.

When he paused in his marauding, he said, “I knew there was a reason we were drawn together.”

Her heart was pounding, her soul was singing and she just stood there. “You are a king vulture.”

He grinned. “Just like you are. You can’t say you are surprised.”

“I have never seen another one.”

“Not even your family?”

With the mention of her family and the other stresses she was under, Molly burst into tears. To Damon’s credit, he pulled her in, naked and sobbing and held her until the storm had passed.

“I am guessing there is a story here.”

She nodded and sniffled. “I think it would be best if we got dressed.”

He escorted her to the transformation cabana and then left her to get his own clothing on.

She wanted to hurry but her hands fought her. They were clumsy and awkward as they always were after she had used her wings.

Finally, she was dressed with her shoes on the correct feet and she emerged to face Damon.

He tucked her against him and kept one arm around her as they walked back to the Open Heart.

Teebie took one look at them and escorted them into a quiet room toward the back of the building. It was a small breakfast room, and their host quickly summoned everything they could need for the meal before she left, closing the door behind her.

He poured, buttered, finally set her breakfast in front of her. “Now, eat and tell me why you freeze up when I mention family.”

She sipped at the hot coffee, nibbled at a rich, buttery blueberry muffin and nodded. “Right. Well, you know that young woman you are looking for?”

He nodded warily.

“It’s me. Agathe Wexler was my birth name, but my parents disallowed the use of Agathe because it was my great grandmother’s name and she was a condor. I am not. Oh, and they also registered me as a condor and refused to let me meet or mingle with anyone in case the shame of their faulty genetics was discovered.”

He stared with wide eyes. “Repeat that?”

She explained it again and tried to break down the recipe for the muffins in her mind. When she nibbled at the bacon, she was in heaven.

“So, you are the woman I was set to retrieve. Why didn’t they tell me you weren’t just a teen?”

“They would have had to explain why, since I obviously wanted a mate, I hadn’t come out in society and yet my younger sisters both had. One married and pregnant, and one engaged.”

He frowned. “I have been to the Wexler house for dinner. You were not there.”

She shrugged. “I wasn’t invited. My schedule at the family teahouse was worked so that I could never attend a meal with any of the other shifter families that were invited over. I got to come over for drinks and family gossip afterward, when work was over.”

Damon nodded and then said, “One final question for now while I work this out in my mind. Why did they want me to bring you back before you found a mate?”

“Don’t you get it? If I found a mate, it would be publicised and eventually get around to the gossips that one of the Wexlers was a random. Their precious bloodline of solid condors would be ruined.”

Damon pinched the bridge of his nose. “This is sending my plans for the future spinning.”

Molly felt an icy lump of lead where her stomach used to be. Last night he had wanted a future for them both, but now, he was reconsidering.

She swallowed. “I understand. You have a position to uphold. You need someone with the proper background and pedigree. I am just a random with nice eyes.”

He gripped her wrist tightly. “Don’t say that. My plans with you have not changed, but my thoughts on moving your family closer to our home are definitely altered.”

Damon smiled and relaxed his grip on her; he rubbed his thumb on her wrist. “It was your hair that attracted me to begin with. Mother Nature compensated for the particular lack of grace and beauty in our other forms by making all king vultures stunning in their human forms. We cannot help it, we are just amazing.”

She was startled into a giggle.

“Molly. I am yours if you will have me. Never doubt it for an instant.”

His serious words were confirmed when he went down on one knee.

A squeak came out of her throat.

He smiled. “I came to bring a woman out of the Crossroads and I never dreamed it would be the woman who holds my heart. Together, we can fly, tear and shred anything we find. Will you be mine in life and carrion?”

She giggled. “I will. I will take what you offer and return what I can to honour your words. As you raise me up, I will support you, and together, we shall climb to greatness.”

He grinned. “Now you are getting it. Remember that by the way. We will have a fancy wedding in front of all the clan leaders. I think we should write our own vows.”

“So, you are going to drag me into the daylight in the most direct way.” She wrinkled her nose. “That is going to cause some friction.”

He reached up and stroked her jawline. “When I see you, friction is uppermost in my mind.”

She blushed and he leaned in to kiss her. As his lips met hers, a suspicion was planted that he enjoyed making her turn bright pink.

Molly stroked his jaw and returned the kiss, parting her lips and sliding her tongue along his with light flicks.

He pulled her into his lap, and she landed with a thud. Damon tilted back and landed on the floor.

Molly apologized. “Sorry. I was caught up in the moment.”

He chuckled. “No worries; now, I know how a carcass feels when I misjudge a landing.”

She pressed her forehead to his chest. “Thank you, but living flesh is nothing like a carcass.”

Molly slowly ran her hands over his shirt and then up and under the waist of the fabric, urging it upward.

She lifted her head and resumed the kiss with single-minded intensity. Her mind pushed away thought for the future and enjoyed the moment in his arms.

He rolled with her until he was on top and she was pinned to the floor of the small morning room. Damon’s smile was wide. “So, would you care to complete the registration today and return to my home?”

She bit her lip. “It is going rather quickly.”

“Do you think you will meet a better match?”

Molly shook her head. “No, but I am a little afraid of facing reality again.”

“Don’t worry. My sister and aunt will take charge of you. Reality will be a distant memory. When they plan a party, they go wild and take everyone with them.”

“Will they talk to me?” She looked up at him, and she knew her vulnerability was in her gaze.

“They will love you. You have spunk, a sense of humour and amazing physical grace when you are not tackling me to the ground.”

With her mate looming over her, she said the most adult thing she could come up with. “You started it.”

He chuckled and the laughter rubbed him against her, “And I intend to finish it.”

Chapter Six

Molly held her bag tightly as they arrived in Damon’s home. Her knuckles were white, but she was mollified by Damon’s arm around her shoulder. He had promised her that he would not leave her until he was sure that she had full acceptance from his family.

A woman ran up to them and skidded to a halt. She was striking and lovely beyond words. “Is this her?”

“Deane Suel, this is my mate, Molly Wexler. Molly, this is my sister Deane. My Aunt Lea is around here somewhere.” Damon removed his arm from her shoulders just in time for the incoming hug that Molly was receiving from his sister.

Molly stood and closed her arms around the woman out of reflex. “Thank you for the welcome, Deane.”

“Thank you for seeing past Damon’s penchant to be a pain in the ass and far too serious. We wanted him settled and you might be able to manage it.”

Molly whispered, “I hope so. He is my one chance as well.”

Deane leaned back. “Looking like you do? I doubt that.”

“My looks mean nothing if no one sees me. It is complicated but we will explain it later.”

“You are still amazingly beautiful. I am shocked that no one has snagged you up before now.”

Damon cut in. “Deane, leave it. Molly and I are registered mates. Your matchmaking should find another target.”

“Really? I have always wanted a sister. Brothers can be rude.” Deane made a face at her sibling.

“I have always admired families that had fun with each other. We will both be getting what we want.” Molly inclined her head.

Damon cleared his throat. “I will show Molly to our rooms, and then, we will meet you and Lea in the dining room for tea and snacks.”

An older woman came in and she was shaking her head. “You are not going to share rooms until the community gathers and you are formally wed in the human manner.”

Molly felt Damon stiffen as he said, “She is my mate by the rules of the Crossroads.”

The woman gently parted them and stood between them with her arm around Molly’s shoulders. “I know, but we live in a human community and a human world. She is your fiancée until such time as you marry. You can fool around all you like, but for the sake of her reputation, she will be known to have a separate room here in the family home until that date.”

Deane was grinning. “I have set apart the blue room for her.”

Molly blinked. “How did you know I was coming?”

The woman who had to be Aunt Lea gave her a squeeze. “A little bird told us.”

Molly blinked and looked at the two women who were each as stunning as Damon. “Pardon me, but that doesn’t really narrow it down.”

Deane giggled and Lea chuckled.

The older woman smiled and nudged her along. “Come on. We will get you sorted and Damon can scowl at me over tea. Deane, tea for four please.”

“Yes, Auntie.”

Molly was steered by the arm around her shoulders down hall after hall until they reached a door that was carved with roses and daisies tinged with blue. “Where are we?”

“We are at your room. The blue room.”

Molly sighed. “I mean the location. I can feel warm, dry air, but I can also feel ice on the wind.”

“Very good. We are in the low mountains. It provides us plenty of room to fly and hunt without interfering with air traffic.”

Molly was hopeful. “When is it best to fly?”

“Anytime the urge strikes you. If you have any friends or family you would like to invite to the ceremony, start thinking of names now. I have the inkling that Damon is going to push the arrangements to go as quickly as he can.”

Molly blushed. “Right.”

She opened the door and blinked at the four-poster covered in a thick coverlet, piled high with cushions and in a swirling blue pattern. There was a carved wardrobe and dressing table and a wide window that looked out over the mountain range.

Molly went to the window and opened it; the Juliet balcony let the wind touch her legs, and she breathed deeply. She tasted desert air, ice on the mountaintops and the freedom of the open sky. She closed her eyes and drank in the scents of nature. In the distance, she saw the flicker of dark wings and her beast rose to the surface, clawing to go and lead the feast that the turkey vulture in the distance was closing in on.

Lea pulled her back gently. “Tea first then carrion.”

The ridiculousness of the statement struck them both, and they giggled their way through the halls and into a dining room where familiar tiered trays were set out and pots of tea were waiting.

Damon was on the phone, and he quickly hung up when Molly appeared.

“How is your room?”

She smiled and went to sit next to him. She took his hand. “It has a window.”

Molly felt his fingers squeeze hers. He leaned over and pressed a kiss to her lips before facing his family. “So, how soon can we get this done?

Molly laughed. “Romantic.”

He lifted her hand to his lips. “I can prove my romantic nature to you every day for the rest of our lives. I just despise the strictures keeping us apart right now.”

Deane rolled her eyes and Lea grinned.

Lea walked to the sideboard and brought out a laptop. “Let’s check the schedule. I bought you a week, but you are due at the monthly council meeting on the weekend. With protocol adhered to in the strictest manner with no wasted time, you can have the wedding four weeks from today.”