He would. He will.He does.
So why am I running away with his scent on the air? In this form, I can almost taste how close Moth is, and I need him now more than ever.
“My flame!” Moth cries, and I race toward his voice. He’s shifted now, his large red eyes even more owlish and wide when they meet mine. When his claws come down to clutch my shoulders, I can do nothing but stare at my future husband.
Do you think he would still love you like this?
“I need you too badly for this game of cat and mouse,” he says desperately as we hang in the air, finally together. He’stouchingme, not repulsed, not cowering. Still, I lower myself to the ground and within my wings praying I can turn back.
He fell in love with a human.
I fell in love with a monster.
It’s not supposed to be the other way around.
I want to kiss him. I want to throw my arms around him—I want and want and want but my body stays stiff despite the urge to entangle my limbs with his. When I was human, I was worried about not being enough, and now I’m worried I’m too much, I cover my face with my claws. With patience and grace, Moth takes my hands in his.
“Sweet, darling flame—” I feel the weight of his claws easing my own away from my face. “Why would you ever need to hide from me?” His voice is pure midnight echoing through my ears, dropping the tension from my back. His hand gently touches my shoulder and I melt.
“But—”
“You have said you love me in any form. Do you not think I would feel the same?”
I launch myself into his arms.
“How did you even recognize me?” I cry, snuggling my head against the downy feathers of his chest. I inhale the scent of him—somehow, in this form, the scent of autumn is even deeper as I burrow into him.
“My flame,” he whispers, “I would know you anywhere.”
His beak meets mine in a strange kiss I can’t get enough of. For what feels like days on end I have been desperate to feel him, and now we’re finally together. It’s not the kiss I imagined, but it’s everything all the same.
“Moth—” I begin, unsure of what else to say. I love him, God, I love him more than anything. We crumble into each other, warm and content until my feathers melt into bare flesh.
We stand for a long time, his wings wrapped around me, keeping me warm against the cold autumn breeze. I move my hand across his chest and realize my ring finger is missing a very important piece of jewelry.
“My engagement ring!” I gasp, staring at my naked fingers with tears welling in my eyes “It… it must have fallen off when I—Moth, I’m so sorry—”
“It just a piece of jewelry, my flame,” Moth coos in my ear, pulling me tight until my head rests against his chest again. “It will be found, or it will be replaced. The most important thing is you are here.”
“I’m here. Oh my God, I’m here!” I hug him tighter. Tears I’d been holding in for too long are finally able to fall now that I’m home in his arms. As we start the long walk home, Moth shields me with his wings, though I don’t care that every creature in the forest has a view of my body. Neither of us are in any hurry to be anywhere but right here with each other. Eventually, he scoops me up in his arms, and I’m happily carried home.
I pepper kisses on his gold-flecked skin wherever I can reach, but then simply close my eyes and enjoy the ride—the feeling of being back with my forest monster. We catch each other up on what we’ve missed in the past few days. When I begin to drift off, we launch into the sky, but I’m too tired to keep my eyes open, and finally safe, I fall asleep in his arms.
Home.
This is home.
When I wake up from the deepest sleep I’ve had in days, it’s in our bed, dressed in my favorite pair of pajamas, and the smell of soap on my skin. Vague memories of Moth washing the grime from my body while I was half-asleep give me a warm fuzzy feeling as I realize my knotted hair has been lovingly brushed and sorted into two shiny braids. Sprout lays next to me, and I squeeze his furry body tight and his tail thumps in response.
It’s good to be back.
The house hums with activity beyond the bedroom door. Shaking off the sleep, I tentatively open it to see our small living room filled to the brim with, well …everyone.Except for Ruby and Pepper who I hope are enjoying a lazy Saturday with their kids. Rosie and Clara are seated at our small table, while Oak, Holly, Mom and even Queen Plume lounge on every other surface available—which honestly isn’t many.
“You are awake!” Moth rushes from the kitchen where it appears he was preparing breakfast and takes me in his arms.
“I’m awake and oh my God that smells amazing,” I say, my stomach grumbling. “Have you all been here this whole time?”
“I cleared them out upon arrival yesterday. Yet, like rats, they returned come morning.” Moth laughs, with no malice in his voice. If anything, he seemsrelaxedin this room filled with people.
