Until Darkness Ascends

CHAPTER SIX

She quickly realized that Altair touched her far more than anyone ever had before. As the only female Voltulorian, bound by tradition forced upon her by a monarch, she was starved for touch. But having this male, beautiful male, constantly touch her, made her realized just how starved for affection she was.

Malachi returned shortly with riding breeches and a shirt that was far too large for her, but she didn't see anything inherently wrong with it. She didn't realize that this attire was not exactly appealing. She was thrilled to wear something humans wore.

"What are these?"

"Shoes, Cordelia. They go on your feet," Malachi explained.

She made an enlightened expression before slipping her feet into the buckled black shoes. They didn't feel sturdy. They felt like they didn't fit. "Are they supposed to be big?"

"No, I had to guess your size in everything."

"Size?"

"Of your clothing," Altair explained. "We have to get you away from the water edge before Voltulorians start searching land."

"How do we get to Olympia?"

"Flying."

"Flying!" She exclaimed. "Like...in the sky? I-I can't fly."

"One of us will carry you," Malachi added. It was quickly followed by an "Altair will carry you."

"That's so exciting! I've read in the history books that archangels can fly for hours at a time without breaking unless their wings become damaged. But I was never sure what could damage an archangel's wings."

"More questions will be answered when we get Olympia. For now, we need to teach you how to walk."

"Why do I need to learn how to walk if we're going to fly?"

"She's right. It would be best just to get to Olympia quickly and teach her there. But Altair, I don't think you've thought all of this through."

"I've already explained Zeus won't take offense and whatever punishment he wants to give, I'll accept."

"Nay, not Zeus." Malachi glanced at Cordelia before moving closer to his Dominus. "You're bringing an unmated, attractive female to lands with other unmated, rather horny males who haven't seen a female in... years."

Altair turned toward Cordelia who sat, listening to the conversation. Her hair was now drying and falling to its natural length, which was shorter than in water. Her hair was curling, cascading down her tanned arms, framing her rounded face. It was darker as a human, raven-dark, and the wine color that it used to be disappeared. It seemed that once she transitioned, her attributes became increasingly more human. The only thing that gave any hint that she wasn't human were the golden outlines of her black eyes.

She was...beautiful. Exquisite.

And then he realized it. He realized something that almost made his impending frame stutter.

"Altair?"

"Hm?"

"You're staring," she stated.

"He's right, but it doesn't matter."

"It doesn't?"

"Nay, Malachi, it does not."

"But­-" the archangel began again.

"I'll handle it, Malachi."

There was a silent, tense moment between the two males before Malachi took the answer in stride. Malachi dove back into the water. It was clear something had struck a minor chord between them. Altair watched him leave before turning back to Cordelia, kneeling next to her.