Change Birds

Chapter 14

   As the king rallied his forces and sent off messages to the other kingdoms for assistance, I snuck away from the crowded hustle and bustle to find Sarah's room.

   The hallways of the castle were narrow and windows along these halls were tall, shedding plenty of dim light around me as I navigated easily through them. The storm outside sent showers of rain against the window panes and a bright flash of lightning lit up the area around me. Gold was inlaid in the walls and I had to suppress every instinct inside of me to keep from digging it out and keeping it. Using my mental image of the castle, I soon found what I believed was her room. I knocked and her little voice came through quickly. "Hold on! I'm getting out of the bath!"

   A few moments went by and the cracked opened and a timid green eye was all I could see. Sarah gasped and swung the door open wide, flinging herself into my arms. I was overwhelmed by happiness and then another feeling courses through me as I realized she was only clothed in a towel. I looked back down the spiral staircase and then rushed her into the room. "I understand you're happy to see me, but spare your own modesty."

   She laughed and kissed my cheek, hugging me close. "No one ever comes up here." I huffed and turned away while she got dressed. "Well you need to preserve your modesty regardless."

   She took a few moments behind me and soon her arms were back around me, clothed in a brown and green silk dress. I turned around and hugged her back, pulling her small body to mine. "That's better. Now, anymore questions about werebirds. I've got plenty of time since your dad is going off to save my family."

  .She cocked her head and I didn't let her wait. I explained everything about why I was here and what her father's plans were. We eventually moved to the bed and I finished up the story there. When I'd finished, she held her hands to her mouth in shock and sniffed, leaning forward to hug my chest. "Oh, you poor thing. I sure hope dad can help your family."

   I nodded and then smiled down at her, tapped her under the chin lightly, bringing her eyes up to mine. "Yeah, and I hope he takes his time getting back so I have as much privacy with you as I can."

    Her cheeks took on a rosy glow as she ducked her head and giggled. I smiled and got closer, plopping a kiss on her cheek bone and then moving down to her cheek itself. She squeaked and pushed at my chest. "Stop it!"

   I laughed and pressed my face to hers, tickling her sides. "Why? Does it tickle?"

   She squealed and fought at my arms, but I was twice as strong as her and she wouldn't get away if I didn't want her to. And I didn't want her to. I wanted her in my arms. I stopped tickling her and she got her breath back quickly, glancing at me. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyelids were lowered as she began to tire out. The tempting blush drew my lips and I kissed her cheek again, but slower, lighter. Our foreheads met and I lowered my lips until they were against hers. I opened my eyes and saw hers were open. As close as we were, those eyes were even lovelier than before. I took a deep breath and smiled, keeping our lips close as I spoke. "Any questions before we start kissing again?"

   She shook her head and grabbed two handfuls of my hair before lightly pulling me down over her. I rested my weight beside her on my forearms and then her narrow waist drew my hands. She was built so perfectly. I saw nothing that wasn't attractive to me. Probably because I wasn't picky. It was true, I'd seen pretty girls all through my life, but I'd never given them a second thought since I knew my job and lineage wouldn't allow it. Normal human women usually hated our kind because they didn't want their children infected with the magic. My mother was an exception. She had welcomed having werebird children and now I knew why. She loved my father dearly and would do anything for him.

   As Sarah kissed me, I had a weird thought. Would she care about stuff like that? Would she mind having my children? I paused and my back stiffened. I had never thought like that. I opened my eyes and looked at her closed ones. Maybe I'd started thinking like that because I wanted her to be the girl who stayed with me for the rest of my life. God, I sounded really weird. I was only seventeen and dreaming about marriage and children. Who thought like that other than love sick fools?

   I pulled back and frowned. Was I just falling in love because it felt nice? It felt nice to have a pretty girl in my arms with her lips on mine. Was that why I claimed I loved her? Was I even taking advantage of her? She didn't seem to know better. If I married her, she'd realize what a terrible life she would have and she'd be unhappy. I didn't want that. I wanted her happy.

   As I pulled back, she grabbed my neck and clung for dear life, staring up at me with desperate eyes. "No. Don't stop."

   As she said that, I saw an emotion cross her eyes. I had seen it in my mother's eyes and I suddenly realized something. I was falling in love with her because when I treated her like how my father treated my mother, she reacted like how my mother would. That was all the proof I needed. She did love me.

   I slammed my lips back on hers and pushed my body down on hers. If she loved me, I surely wasn't passing up the chance.