Page 12 of Urn My Love

My shock over the impossibility of what I was seeing disappeared as the realization of what Iolani was planning hit me. Despite the size difference, she was going to extend her wings to slow their fall, even though his weight and the speed of the fall would shred her muscles. Even if she had healing abilities, she wasn’t likely to fly again.

Releasing another angry shriek, I tucked my wings, easily catching up with the pair just as I saw Iolani’s back muscles tense. Time was up.

My claws sank into the dark beast’s flesh. I did my best not to injure him more than necessary, but I found it hard to care about his well-being when I suspected Iolani could have glided to safety if she hadn’t wanted to save him.

Using the air current weaving through the deep ravine, I carried the pair clear of the crashing rocks. The pegasus was slightly larger than a Clydesdale, but his weight was nothing to me. I was large enough I could carry a helicopter for an hour or two without feeling the strain.

Anxious to check Iolani for injuries, I found the nearest moss-covered bank, and dropped the pair, before landing on all fours. Spinning around, I shifted and rushed back to Iolani’s side.

I dropped to my knees beside her, pulling her onto my lap as my eyes scanned her for signs of blood. My fingers tangled in her hair, as I tilted her neck to inspect the deep slash on her cheek.

It was the only wound I found.

The scent of her blood, combined with the fear of thinking I’d watched her die, and the rage over seeing her put herself at risk, boiled over.

My fingers tightened in her hair, and my left hand gripped her hip. “Tell me you weren’t about to spread your wings and have them ripped off your back so you could save the jackass.”

“He’s not a donkey!” Iolani retorted, her eyes meeting mine without apology.

“I don’t care what he is.” I snarled, pulling her face close to mine. “Tell me you weren’t about to risk serious injury for a stranger.”

“He’s not—” she began.

“You could have flown to safety, but you were willing to risk death for him.” Our lips were so close I could taste her warm breath on my mouth.

“It would have been fine,” Iolani answered stubbornly, pursing her lips, and her eyes daring me to… what? Punish her? Demand an apology? Kiss her?

Our gazes remained locked as I struggled to cope with what she’d stirred in me. Emotions weren’t something I was used to, and I didn’t know how to handle them.

A raspy voice broke the silence. “Are you going to kiss her, or…?”

In unison, our necks snapped up to the man standing just behind her. He was a similar height to me, but leaner. While I was built like a grizzly bear, he had the body of a sleek racehorse.

I dropped my hands from Iolani’s body, only then realizing we were both naked and her bare skin was brushing against mine.

“Of course not,” I answered briskly.

PDA had never been my thing, but I instinctively knew if I kissed her, it was going to become harder to walk away after I deposited her back in the safety of the lodge.

The man held out a hand to Iolani, and she tentatively placed her hand in his. “Then allow me to express my gratitude.”

Pulling her to her feet, the stranger’s arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her into his arms in an enthusiastic hug that made me want to kill him.

He smiled at Iolani’s squeak of surprise. “Can I kiss you?”

“Ye…yes.” Iolani’s voice was breathy, and I was instantly irritated that it had been caused by another man.

I watched in shock as his lips captured hers in the type of kiss you’d expect to see from longtime lovers, rather than strangers. Clenching my jaw, I tried to tear my gaze away, but found I couldn’t. An odd flicker of what I suspected was jealousy grew as Iolani’s bare legs wrapped around his waist and his hands moved to her butt to brace her.

She was my mate.

Even if we hadn’t accepted the bond, she was mine, and he had no right to touch her.

Logically, I knew I was being unreasonable, and she had every right to be touched by whomever she wanted, but that didn’t stop me from standing and moving to yank her out of his arms.

“Enough!” I roared with enough ferocity to send sleeping birds tumbling from their nests and darting through the quiet forest.

Ponyboy sidestepped my attempt to yank her away and lifted a single brow in my direction. “And you are?”

---