Mikael spent several minutes just staring at her wings, wondering where to begin. They were so large and beautiful. He wanted to learn every inch of them. Umbra squeezed his arm, yanking him towards Estelle.

    You're right. I'd better hurry before she changes her mind, he thought with some amusement.

    He came closer and felt the base of her wings. They were sturdy and hard, fading from black membrane into bronze flesh. Mikael let his fingers travel up the scarred length of her central tendon. He traced the scars, anger burning in his stomach.

    He pushed it aside and replaced his fingers with his lips. Estelle's breath faltered for just a moment. Mikael glanced at her. She stared at the crackling fireplace, her face illuminated by the glowing embers. His hand followed the curve of her wicked horn, before moving on to the thick skin covering the back of her wing.

    "The outer part isn't as sensitive as the inner," Estelle murmured.

    "You've never let anyone touch your wings before?" Mikael asked. He stepped in front of her, eyeing the interior folds of her wings.

    "Not unless healing was involved, as I've said."

    "Then I'm honored to be the first." Mikael smiled at her and felt along the inner part of her wing. He followed the shape of it with his fingers, nearing the apex of her wings. Estelle's breath quickened and she swallowed hard. "Is this all right?"

    She nodded. "Keep going."

    Mikael didn't reach the apex. He came closer to her shoulder, touching the inner base. Estelle made a small sound, lifting her chin. "I've researched Illyrian wings," he said.

    "Oh?" Her voice was shaking. He reached another sensitive area and she gritted her teeth. Mikael rubbed the spot again and she whimpered.

    "I've memorized which areas are more sensitive than others. I've studied ways Illyrians like their wings to be touched." He smirked as she breathed a soft moan. "I read Lonely Sings the Nightingale five times, marking the...important...passages. No wonder it's a favorite of yours."

    His hand drifted higher. Estelle's breathing was ragged. She had her legs clenched together. Instincts surged as Mikael detected the shift in her scent. "Keep going," she whispered.

    "Are you sure?"

    "Fuck, Mikael. Keep going."

    Mikael's fingers neared the apex of her wings. Estelle swallowed, bending at the knees slightly. "I've read that Illyrians can climax if you touch their wings in just the right way, at just the right spot. Shall I find where that spot is for you?" Estelle's eyes were half closed. She nodded with a soft whimper. "I need to hear you say yes, Love."

    "Yes," Estelle moaned. "Yes."

    Mikael pulled his hands away from her wings and guided her to the bed. She laid back as he eased himself on top of her. Her heart raced, matching the thunderous tempo of his own. Mikael pressed a kiss to her lips, then returned his attention to her wings. He was going to enjoy this. He was going to make sure she enjoyed this.

    He began at the base of her wings. Mikael slipped his fingers into the divot of her skin and central tendon. He worked his way up slowly, planting kisses against the thin membrane as he went. Estelle's head was turned towards him, but her eyes remained partially closed. The shadows drifted around her, mimicking his movements on her other wing.

    Mikael watched her from the corner of his eye. He replaced his fingers with his tongue. Estelle inhaled sharply, digging her nails into the sheets. Her chest heaved, her breaths becoming more uneven the higher up her wing he went.

    Estelle moaned as he rubbed circles in one particularly sensitive spot. He smiled at the sound. "You like that?" He kissed the spot, still working his fingers against it. Estelle moaned again, louder.

    His stomach tightened and a tingle spread through his body. His own feathered wings fluttered. Mikael kept his fingers on the spot, but brought his lips back to Estelle's. She moaned into his mouth and he began to trail kisses along her jawline and down her throat.

    Estelle clenched her fists harder. She wrapped her legs around his waist, pressing their hips together. Mikael moaned as she began to roll her hips. He gulped down another moan and nipped at her neck.

    "No, Love. I'm worshipping your wings right now," he said, barely containing yet another moan.

    "You're cruel," she gasped.

    Mikael unwound her legs with one hand and pinned them beneath his knees. He moved to her wings once more. He picked up where he left off, rubbing the spot she seemed to favor. Estelle tipped her head back with a needy groan.

    "More?" He asked.

    "Higher," she pleaded. "And press harder."

    He obediently dragged his fingers up higher, applying more pressure as he kissed and licked the black membrane. Estelle writhed beneath him. She reached her hand towards the waistband of her pants.

    Mikael caught her by the wrist. "Naughty. Wings first. Wings only."

    "Why?" She whined.

    "Because I plan to worship you one area at a time. I'm going to take my time, learning every inch of you. You are going to be patient and tell me what you need, when you need it."

    Mikael paused to kiss her again. Estelle moaned as his fingers worked closer to the apex of her wings. "And I want to bring you over the edge myself. Bit by bit. Inch by inch. Kiss by kiss. I want to serve you. Please you. Worship you. I want to hear your moans until I can't hear anything else. I want to love you as you deserve."

    "Mikael," she moaned, her voice thick with need. "Mikael."

    He grinned. "And that is the only reward I want. To hear my name from your lips."

    Mikael dipped his hands into the apex of her wings at last. Estelle arched her back as he massaged the spot, kissed it, nipped at the membrane, sucked on it. Her limbs trembled and she threw her head back. Her moans were music in his ears. She cried his name, again and again and again, as she climaxed.

    Mikael didn't stop until she was limp beneath him, damp with sweat. He gulped down long breaths and brushed kisses to her temple, cheek, and lips. "There you go, Love. How did that feel? Are you all right?"

    Estelle nodded, closing her eyes. "Mother above, why didn't I let anyone touch my wings before? I've never...that was better than... Fuck, Mikael."

    He nuzzled her neck, still dropping soft kisses on her skin. "Was that a good distraction?"

    Estelle gave a breathless laugh. "Yes, and much better than spending the evening at Rita's."

    Mikael pulled away with a groan. "I promised Nyx I'd tell him when I knew what was going on with you."

    "Do that later." Estelle wrapped her arms around him, drawing him back. She kissed him gently. "Let's just stay here tonight."

    "All right. You might want to find another pair of clothes though," he chuckled. "As much as I'm enjoying your scent, I doubt you want to sleep in those."

    "You're right," Estelle sighed. "I'm going to take a bath." She rolled off the bed and stood on shaky legs, gingerly folding her wings down. "No peeking." She looked back over her shoulder. "And keep those leathers on. When I get back, it's your turn." She winked. "Happy birthday, Feathers." Mikael shivered at the hoarse promise in her voice.

◦═══✦═══◦

    More snow had fallen by the time they returned to Velaris the next morning. Estelle kissed Mikael swiftly before entering the townhouse. Her mother's gown was draped over her arm and she wore a change of clothes provided by the cabin.

    "Estelle?" Seren appeared at the top of the stairs. "There you are!" She burst into a sprint, sweeping Estelle into a tight embrace. "Nyx told us you and Mikael left, but he didn't know where you'd gone. Are you all right?"

    "I'm fine, Mom. The dress was too much. I panicked, and Mikael and I left Rita's. We went to the cabin and spent the night there."

    Seren kissed her forehead, then inhaled deeply. "Your father is going to kill him."

    "My father won't touch him unless he wants to lose the love of his daughter. Besides, it was wings and nothing more. This is the first time we've done something like that."

    Seren stared at her, then shook her head with a laugh and took her gown. "Go tell Sienna and Celeste that you're back. They were worried too."

    "Are you going to tell Dad?"

    "I won't have to. He'll know the minute he smells you."

    Estelle grimaced and mounted the stairs. Celeste's bedroom door was open and she and Sienna were inside. They gasped as Estelle appeared. "You're back!" Sienna exclaimed. "Are you all right? What happened? Where did you go?"

    "Did you fuck Mikael?" Celeste interrupted.

    Estelle kicked the door shut and sat down on the bed beside them. "That's one way to start a conversation, I suppose. Yes, I'm all right. I just have some history that makes wearing dresses difficult. It was too much for me and I panicked. Mikael and I went somewhere we could talk in private. He helped calm me down."

    "By fucking you?" Celeste wiggled her eyebrows. Sienna elbowed her.

    Estelle rolled her eyes. "Partially. I let him feel my wings. I've never let anyone do that before. And then, yes. We didn't involve anything other than wings though."

    "Was it any good?"

    "Do you have no concept of boundaries?" Sienna scoffed.

    Celeste shrugged. "Feathers always seem to get in the way on Peregryn wings and dull the experience, so I'm curious how it is for Illyrians."

    "Yes," Estelle admitted. "It felt good." She didn't fight the blush that crept into her cheeks. "Don't ask me questions like this all the time though, please."

    "I won't," Celeste laughed. "I was just curious."

    Estelle smiled and pressed a palm to her chest. There was something growing there. A thread. A tether. A Bond. She could feel it more clearly today than ever before. The shadows were quiet for once as they wound around her arms. She felt their excitement, their joy, as she reached for that shining Bond. Their joy only grew as she touched it, and recognized a familiar presence lingering at the other end. Hers. He was hers. And this...thing... It meant that one day, he would be hers completely.