Gray

Chapter 4

Silas

"So have you lived here all your life?" I asked her as we drove. The more I was around her, the more I wanted to know her.

"Yep, born and raised. My folks passed several years back, so it's just me and the cat now. I gave up the old house and built a nice little cabin on the mountain. Guess you'd say I like my alone time," she chuckled.

"It's really impressive how skilled you are, Gray," I told her. "I hope that doesn't sound condescending, it's just not many folks - women or men these days know how to work with their hands. Sometimes I think the world has gotten too dependent on technology."

She laughed, "Thanks, and you realize that makes you sound like an old timer, right?" My cheeks flushed as I thought to myself - you have no idea. When we pulled up in front of the supposed house it took me a moment to comprehend that someone actually lived here. This was raw poverty.

North stepped out of the tractor as she turned off the truck. Gray slammed the truck door shut and hollered, "I'm gonna check on the river before I start fighting with the widow." He gave me a concerned look.

"I'm coming with you," I said as we started toward the ridge. The terrain was muddy and it was difficult to keep our footing. "I don't think we can dig this."

"Yeah," she sighed as she looked down at the rushing water, "I think you're right." She made a move to turn back around and suddenly her foot slipped.

"Gray!" I yelled. It was like everything was in slow motion. I saw her eyes widen as she realized what was about to happen. Her mouth opened in a scream and she flailed her arms trying to stop the backward motion of her fall toward the rushing water. I lunged forward, not stopping to think as I reached for her.

The water churned as it tugged her under and I dove in. I blinked rapidly until my eyes shifted and I reached for her, pulling her against my chest. Pushing upward, I felt my wings expand as we breached the water. She was dazed and sputtering as she clung to me and I set us both down well away from the river's edge.

North came scrambling around the corner, sliding in the mud when he saw us and muttered, "Oh fuck." He quickly knelt beside her and put his hands on her cold skin, letting his warmth pulse through her. "What happened?"

"She lost her footing and fell in," I panted, folding my wings in, concealing them once again. "I couldn't, North, I couldn't let her die."

He leaned against my forehead, "Hey, it's okay, it will all work out. Let's get her inside and warmed up." I nodded as he lifted her into his arms and held out a hand to me, pulling me up.

I pounded on the old woman's door. Her eyes widened when she saw Gray and quickly ushered us inside, "Oh heaven's what happened to her now?"

She started grabbing out blankets as we came in closer to the fire. "She fell in the river," I explained. "She was only in the water a few moments before I could grab her."

The old woman eyed us suspiciously. "She was trying to check the river. We brought the tractor to dig a trench to try and save your place, but the water's rising too fast," North explained. "We need to get her dry, then load you and what we can before it crests."

"I ain't leavin' my house, young man. If it's my time, then it's my time," she said, "but Gray, well that's another story. Girl's blessed I tell you. Been at death's door more times than I can count and always manages to walk away." She glared at me as I pulled off her boots, coat, and then began to pull down her coveralls. "I'll take it from here. You two go warm up some tea for her bones."

"Yes, ma'am," we said and headed toward the small wood stove. I found an old teapot and filled it with water, then built up the fire. It didn't take long for it to boil and North handed me a teabag. When we made it back into the room, Gray was leaning up cradling her head with a baggy sweater on her and a blanket covering her legs. Her eyes met mine and I saw the panic for a moment, then it faded. I handed her the cup. "I didn't know if you wanted sugar or not."

Her finger brushed across mine as she took it and I felt a sense of calm fall over me. "No, this is fine. Thank you, Silas...for saving me. Both of you really. I shouldn't have gotten that close."

I let out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding, "I'm just glad you're okay. Now help us talk your friend here into leaving," I said.

"I told ya I ain't leavin'," the widow grunted.

"Verna, please," Gray whispered and took the old woman's hand. "I can't lose anyone else. It's just for a bit. We will come back and help put it back together when the river goes back down, I promise."

I saw the woman's resistance fading. Hell, I don't think I could look her in the face and tell her no either. "Fine, but you better not be fibbin." She stood and shuffled out of the room, grabbing things as she went.

"I'll, um, go help her," North said, looking between us.

"Thanks, just remember what I said about her right hook. Don't touch anything unless she tells you to," Gray smirked as North paled a bit before following the widow. Once he'd left she held her hand out to me and scooted over on the couch. I sat, still holding her hand. "So, care to tell me who or what you are, Silas? Last time I checked, humans didn't have wings or the ability to breathe underwater." I couldn't sense any fear in her, only curiosity. Her dark eyes held my own and I found myself leaning closer to her, until our lips were just centimeters apart. "Silas," she breathed. My name on her lips had all logic leaving my mind and I pulled her against me, our lips crashing together.

My entire body felt as if it were burning up as we kissed, then it felt like I was filled with joy. I pulled back to see her eyes hooded as she stared at me. "Wow," she mumbled, then blushed deep crimson, looking away.

"Hey, don't," I said, lifting her chin. "I'm a sylph, so is North. I promise we don't mean any harm and wouldn't dream of hurting you, Gray."

"I know," she smiled. "If you did, I wouldn't be sitting here now. You didn't have to save me."

"Wow, that's it huh? No freaking out, no panic?" I chuckled.

"Oh, I'm sure it's coming, but with a kiss like that, I think you could have asked to devour my soul and I'd agreed happily," she giggled.

"Hmmm, you mean a kiss like this," I leaned in and kissed her again. This time her arms wrapped around my neck as I tugged her hair gently.

We pulled apart when we heard the old widow's voice, "I'm gonna assume she's warmed up now." North snorted behind her and grinned. "Maybe you could put this on and we can get going then?"

She held out a long dress to Gray who took it with rosy cheeks. She pulled it over the sweater as both North and I turned away to give her privacy. After a few moments, I felt her hand slip into mine and looked down. She gave me a soft smile and then we both grabbed some of the widow's stuff and began our trek to the vehicles. North had gathered Gray's wet clothes into a bag and I lifted her up to cross the yard. Much to the dislike of the widow, North lifted her up as well, then placed her in the truck. "Would you like me to drive?" I asked Gray as we reached the truck.

"Yes, please. I feel okay, but just in case," she frowned a bit, then handed me the keys.

Author's Notes:  A budding romance?  What do you think about the turn around with the guys being supernatural?  Please follow, comment, vote, and share!  

P.S. More chapters are already up on the Patreon account  :)