Page 21 of Birds of a Feather

“Wish I had whiskers.” It was Gabby’s usual response to when her brother felt left out when she and her dad would bond over being crow shifters, even though Kristin and Phin had plenty of fun adventures together as mice. She pulled him in for a hug.

“I love you, sis.”

“Love you.” Despite the last twenty-four hours, Gabby felt all was right in the world. Dr. Grimm was still on the loose, but he’d given her new strength, and he’d be an idiot to try to capture her again. Hopefully, Anson would prove useful in tracking him down. Dr. Grimm said the shrew had a talent for that. Maybe he’d use it for good instead of evil.

Gabby beamed at her family. They weren’t perfect, yet at the same time, they were. They were just what she needed. And wait a minute… She turned to her dad, who still sat on the couch in his human form, legs dangling over the side and feet planted on the floor. “Not crow?”

Joe smiled. “Control it… better.”

Gabby’s eyes stung with tears. For the first time in a year, her father wasn’t struggling to stay in human form. Earlier this week, he’d made it only a few minutes. “How?” It didn’t seem possible.

He shrugged. “Just clicked.”

Just like how Lynn helped her to talk better, to tap into the part of her brain used for singing. Gabby found it easier to follow the thread, keep the sentence strung together. Maybe not all the time, but more often than she had before. Not every day would be perfect, but they were getting better. No one could deny that. Lyla gently squeezed her arm and smiled. Even she knew what a big step that was.

15

Lyla nibbled on some of the hors d’oeuvres that Huggie had put out for the party. She was thrilled to find chocolate-covered strawberries on a tray at a long table covered in snacks and goodies. Various people she noticed during her stay at the hospital mingled in groups around the cafeteria, some enjoying the food as well. Lyla got a few chuckles over the tux on her IV bag. She just shrugged her shoulders. She was stuck with the dextrose drip again for who knew how long. Might as well make the best of it. Although she noticed she was feeling better quicker than when she’d first been brought into the hospital. Maybe her situation had improved.

Huggie went all out with the decorations. Lyla was pleased to see the cafeteria transformed. Colorful streamers and balloons were taped up in bundles around the room. It felt like a high school dance. Not that Lyla had gone to many, but she saw them in TV shows. This is just how she imagined they’d be in real life.

She flattened out the front of the hand-me-down dress her mother got her from one of her older cousins. Lyla could not believe she found one in her favorite color: pink. Her parents couldn’t afford the nicest things, but they always found the mostthoughtful of items. Like the dress she now wore. She adjusted one of the spaghetti straps before taking a cup of punch from Char. The tiny pink pouch with drawstrings, which she’d made, swung on her wrist with the motion. Her tiny pebble rested safely inside.

As if noting Lyla’s gaze kept going to the door, Char reminded her, “She’ll be here soon. Lynn and her mom were helping her get ready.” Char didn’t have to say who she was referring to. The whole hospital seemed to know Gabby and Lyla were an item. Not that they did anything to hide it.

Lyla’s breath caught in her throat as she glanced at the door as Gabby entered. A stunning black dress stretched across her curvy frame. The plunge neckline showed off her ample breasts, the very ones Lyla had explored with her tongue last night.

Gabby twirled after entering the room, showing off the backless dress. Her wings seemed a part of the outfit, covering what the dress didn’t of Gabby’s back. They shimmered in the colorful lights, reflecting hues of green, blue, and purple.

The miniature tux on the IV bag fluttered as Lyla ran toward Gabby, her pink heels clacking on the floor. She threw her arms around Gabby, careful to not pull the IV line out of her hand. “You look beautiful.” She pressed her lips to Gabby’s, melting into her body. The world around them dissolved. Lyla’s heartbeat quickened, thrumming a hypnotic rhythm in her ear. Her stomach twisted in knots, but in a good way. Her core heated. The world felt right when their bodies touched. Their passion made her soul sing.

Gabby cupped the back of Lyla’s head, pulling her closer. Lyla’s tongue met Gabby’s, gently exploring her mouth. She tasted so good and sweeter than the chocolate-covered strawberries. Every part of her was the rarest nectar. Absolutely delectable. Lyla couldn’t believe it took her so long to get up the nerve to ask the woman out. Not only was she sexy but shewas also a good friend. She never left Lyla feeling imperfect or forgotten. Lyla shuddered to think what would have happened had Gabby not been able to escape from Dr. Grimm.

“Look nice,” Gabby said after pulling herself away from Lyla long enough to take in her dress.

Lyla’s eyes scanned Gabby’s body, pausing briefly over her exceptional curves. Lyla knew their minds were in the same place, a very naughty one.

“You too.”

Hell, that was an understatement. The woman looked good enough to eat. If there was a closet in the cafeteria, she’d have half a mind to sneak off with Gabby and do all the sensual things she didn’t get to do the other day. Her panties dampened at the visual her brain created. Heat flooded her cheeks. She ran a finger up Gabby’s bare back.

“At least dresses are easier to fit into.” She knew Gabby stressed over finding clothes that would accommodate her wings.

“Can’t always… wear dresses.” She rolled her eyes at the thought.

“Why not? You look pretty good in them.” Lyla laced her fingers through Gabby’s. Gabby squeezed her hand, but her mind appeared elsewhere. “Are you okay?”

Gabby sighed before flicking her blue eyes from the door back to Lyla’s. “Part of me… feels safe. Another part…” Her worried eyes found the open doorway leading from the cafeteria to the hall. “Worries that… Anson or Grimm… will come.” She sighed and breathed deeply between words, working her way through the sentence like an explorer hacking their way through the jungle.

Lyla gave her a hug. “You just went through something traumatic… like yesterday. You have to be patient with yourself.”

“Two days.”

“Whatever.” Now it was Lyla’s turn to roll her eyes. “Of course you’ll worry. Who wouldn’t?” She wanted to add she worried, too, but was afraid Gabby would feel invalidated, like she was brushing off Gabby’s feelings or something. Instead, she offered a reassuring smile.

“I’m stronger, though.” Gabby’s wings flared slightly.

Lyla wondered if it was on purpose or on accident. Gabby was still learning to control her new limbs. Lyla couldn’t even imagine how challenging that must’ve been.

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