Thief (48 page)

“My husband, you have things to teach me also. The courage and will to endure anything, in order to do what is right. The cleverness to do them well. We will share our knowledge and learn together. We will serve together.” He sank into the clear blue oceans of her eyes, lost because he wanted to be. He so wanted to be lost in them and never be found. He simply held her tight and let his heart sing.

A sudden tickling drew him back to Sherial, and he found she was stroking his wings, arousing sensations he couldn’t have described in a million years, but which he could get used to rather more quickly.

“They’re nice wings.” And he couldn’t help but smile. He wondered if it felt like that to her when he had stroked her wings. He stroked her back, and discovered they shared that much in common. But at least he didn’t coo in response. On the other hand, he couldn’t speak in her language either, only the sadly limited tongue of human speech. Perhaps he would learn.

Using reflexes he didn’t know he had, he stood, lifted her up high in his arms, and then wrapped his wings around her tight, binding her to him as they both desired. He might be neither human nor angel anymore, he might never be allowed to eat meat again, he might be bankrupt, he might even be a bird scared of flying, but he was in love, he had wings and he knew what to do with them.