A Court of Shift and shadow

XXIII

Katies POV:

"How long have you known?" I asked. My hands traced his arm up over his broad shoulders.

"I think I have known it for a while, but I was sure when you left..." he said, the hand on my back pulling me closer.

"I knew on the bridge..." I whispered. "But I got scared, afraid of what it meant for us, our courts our..." My voice failed me.

"Hey... It's okay, we will figure it out. That day is still far off. And a lot can happen in that time." He took a step back holding my hands in his. "You said that there was one more thing you wanted to do after all of this was over..." He smiled, summoning his wings. "Fly Katie, Fly." And I did. Shifting to my Falcon and took off. My Mate, behind me.

I could hear his joyful scream, and I answered, soaring upwards over the city. The air filled my lungs, making me realise how long it had been since I had flown in joy. Last time it was with him, and after that... I hovered in the air, letting the winds keep up. I had always flown to get some space, to be free, now... I was never gonna be trapped again, not like I had been. Galad came up to my side, my Mate... The bond stretched, and I let my mind be open for him, and only him.

Are you gonna do a freefall again? A smile,

Maybe... I said back, tucking my wings at my side and dive down. The Falcon moved like a spear through the air. I could see how he did the same, following me. The wind roared around me, as the city came closer. I saw how fae walk the streets, celebrating that there High Lord and his cousin was back to health. Flags decorated the streets music played. As the city came closer I spread my wings, catching the wind and soared back to the house. Galad doing the same. We landed at the balcony, I shifted and a tear was falling from my eye. Galad stood behind me, his arms wrapped around my waist.

"I am starting to see why you like doing that." He whispered, his words sending shivers down my spine. "They are all waiting for you..." his hand rested on my hips and his lips rested on my neck. "We can stay here, for just a moment..."

"This is why I said that we needed to wait..." I turned around, putting my arms over his shoulders. "So we could figure things out and not be distracted..." His hand rested on my behind, and I became painfully aware that I needed to tell him that he was my first kiss, and everything else... I wanted to enjoy every moment with him, and for as long as things were not fully figured out, I would not be able to do that. Or atest not and feel good about it.

"Waiting makes it special." He whispered.

"It is not just that... I..." I was cut off when Belinda came.

"We are all waiting for you!" She said,

Don't tell them... I need to figure things out... I sent it to him, his hands moved up my back.

Is something wrong?

"You too, are you coming? Mor wants to meet you."

You where, and are, my first kiss... His eyes widened

I understand... "Tell them that we are coming." He said to his sister, we can take it slow, for you.

It is not that, I just don't want my first time to be in the shadows of a crisis. I gave him a smile. I want to have time, and not stress...

I can see that... his hands left my back, I won't say anything about the bond, but I will not deny any feelings.

I didn't ask you to. I kissed him. "So, how is Mor, how prepared am I to meet her?" He smiled.