The Forest Witch's Home for Magical Creatures

Chapter 37: Afterglow

The wind picked up the yellow and orange leaves and swirled them around at her feet. They crunched as she walked, some still frozen from last night's freeze. It was an unusually cold autumn.

Wren complained endlessly about it.

"It's November. Why the hell is it freezing?"

"Aww, does the birdie need to fly South for winter?"

Apparently, her dragon prefers a warmer climate. She was looking forward to seeing him grumbling at all the snow come winter– cranky little thing.

The cold nipped at her bare feet and legs. She would have to start wearing pants and shoes soon. For now, a knitted sweater and shorts would do.

She walked through the property and checked on her fruit trees and bees. Her honeybees had retreated into their hives to cluster together until the spring. She put her hand on one of her hives. She closed her eyes and felt the vibrations of the bees as they clustered together in a ball. They'd stay in there piled together and eating until it was warm. It sounded like a wonderful way to spend a cold day.

She walked through the sleeping trees, letting her fingers touch the rough bark as she passed. She picked up a yellowing leaf the size of her head. She picked it up and held it up to the fading sun. She looked at the veins of the leaf, so similar to her own.

She found a smooth rock. It was tan and covered in red and brown speckles, exactly like a wren's egg. She held it tightly and let the cold stone absorb her heat.

She breathed deeply. The cold air was sharp and refreshing. She said it about every season but fall was her favorite. The way everything changes. The way the air smelled damp with the slight sweetness of decay.

She was also extremely fond of how the autumn colors complemented Wren's coloring. The summer sun reflected the light off his wings like a beautiful aurora but the fall colors complimented his alabaster skin. It brought out the darkness of his hair and eyes.

He was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. She was filled with unbelievable joy every time she thought about how she was his.

She stood in her yard and watched the sunset. Red and orange streaked across the sky. She watched until the sun dipped completely over the horizon and left her in the dark.

***

The boys were asleep and the house was quiet. They ran the forest and trained with Wren today. They were happy and tired.

Wren was sitting on the couch reading a book. She stopped and stared. He was wearing a dark, stripped sweater that highlighted the strength of his shoulders. His hair had grown out, it usually fell in soft waves around his shoulders. Today, half of it was up in an elastic, pieces of hair fell and framed his face.

He didn't take his eyes off his book but one brow arched and his wings puffed up. Her little birdie was preening.

He closed his book and set it aside before she climbed into his lap. His heat warmed the the remaining chill from her skin.

His hands found her legs and skirted up until they found her shorts. She shivered at the feeling of his talons scraping gently across her skin.

She leaned down and kissed him on the nose. "I have something for you in my pocket."

The look he gave was lewd. His claws dipped under the hem of her shorts and plucked at her underwear.

She gave his hair a little tug. "I said my pocket, not my shorts."