Page 30 of Angels Don’t Date

It was glorious! We battled all along the bank and clearing. My skirt twirled so perfectly every time I spun away from him, or around him to attack from the other side.

And he was wonderful! It was like dancing without any music. Finally, when we were nearing the bank, I kicked one of his feet into the other, while bringing my foil around on the other side, and he stumbled back, off the bank, into the water and fell down with a great splash.

I giggled as I held my foil, staring at the fallen lion, all wet and ridiculous, with long wet strands of not-so-gold over his face, water streaming from his golden wings.

“Do you yield?” I asked, swinging my foil back and forth, flicking the water.

“I yield.” Richard the Lion said with a nod then with a smile that spoke of mischief, he stood, dripping from his sodden wings to his probably ruined pants.

That look in his eyes made me take a step back, but not fast enough. He shook off, and those feathers…

I flinched as the cold water hit me. I wasn’t soaked, but I was shivery and shocked. He spread his wings and launched out of the water, coming towards me. I gulped but before I could bring up my weapon, he had me disarmed. He picked me up over his shoulder and then hopped into the boat, carrying me upside down so I could see the boat rock and almost tip over.

“Careful! This is my picnic dress,” I said, grabbing at his back, trying to get a grip.

“And these are Banus’ business pants. Or were. I’ll probably have to pay him to replace them.”

“You’d probably have to anyway. Most people don’t like other people borrowing their clothes, even if they don’t go swimming in them.”

He tsked and then set me down. The boat rocked and I grabbed onto him, but his foot caught on the coil of rope in the bottom, and then he fell, but this time I went with him, landing on his chest in the bottom of the boat.

For a second it was quiet, but then we both burst out laughing. I tried to get up, but the boat rocked again, and he pulled me against his side, enveloped by his enormous wing.

He was so warm, even damp, and the sun was so bright, and his feathers were so soft. I was here in the bottom of a boat with SunRae my best friend in the whole world!

“You duel like a demon,” he said, putting an arm behind his head as he stared up into the blue sky with one pretty puffy cloud in the distance, me tucked against his side, perfectly safe and comfortable.

I sighed happily. “Like a vampire. I went through a period before I quit drinking blood when I wanted my dad to like me, so I tried to be the perfect vampire. The Vampire King’s dueling parties are famous. I didn’t realize what being wanted by the Vampire King meant, but luckily I failed before he could ruin my life. I kept my hair spelled black for a long time after that, just so I wouldn’t look like him. But just because we have the same hair doesn’t mean we’re the same, and blonde works better for pastel princess.”

“That is lucky he didn’t like you. So you went for vampirism, got depressed, went vegan, got pale and sickly, and then settled on pastel princess. It suits you. I wonder if I could hire you to shop for me. I save all my shopping stamina for pans.”

I tsked. “Poor, poor angel. I’m afraid I only know how to shop for a magical fantasy world. I’d dress you in ruffles.”

“Like on the collar and sleeves? I could pull off ruffles.”

“And florals?”

“Obviously florals.”

I giggled and snuggled into him, shivering. “You’re so warm.”

“And you were warm until you used up all that bagged blood channeling your vampire speed and strength. I shouldn’t have gotten you wet. I’m sorry.”

I poked his stomach. “I’m the one who dropped you in the pond. I should be sorry. But I’m not. That was hilarious!”

He sniffed. “That’s what we call a sick sense of humor, particularly if it makes you catch a cold. I’d better keep you warm.” He shifted his wings, wrapping them around me so only my face poked out of the silky soft fluff.

It was so cozy! Had I ever been so cozy? I couldn’t remember. Instead of thinking how wonderful it felt in his feathers, I needed to focus on helping him find his purpose and his duty.

“Lion?”

“Kitty?”

“Meow.”

“Rawr.”

I rolled my eyes, but smiled as I wrapped my arms around him under his feathers. “What are your parents like?” That would help me gauge the kind of relationship he wanted, right?