CHAPTER FOUR

Lianne gulped before her mouth just opened up and words seemed to fly out on their own accord " But that's impossible I am completely human, I can't shift or anything like that, I am not special at all. I am not even particularly good at being a human either so I'm pretty sure you got the wrong person. Not to mention my father was a deadbeat who didn't even bother to stick around. " she was completely flustered by the end of it all and huffing in frustration.

Roman's response was a tightening of his wings around her, he was trying to reassure her but failing completely "I am not wrong Lianne, I could smell your scent very clearly when you woke today and I am positive it's you doll."

Lianne frowned...deeply.

"Don't call me that!" She huffed " In fact, don't even touch me!" She went to stand but Roman held her firmly in place "Don't start this again Lianne" he growled at her. He then stood and stoked the fire before handing her the rabbit which was now cooked and she begrudgingly took it and began nibbling away, silently he lay on his belly onto the green grass beneath him and folded his wing neatly on his back and within seconds he was asleep.

Jackass.

Lianne was left alone with her thoughts on a frigid night but at least with a full belly and it was a long while before she finally found rest.

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"Okay, here are some important reminders," Roman said as Lianne tried to block him out "This world is called Aquiline and the kingdom is called Azule, you are assumed the daughter of the fire King so please do something with your hair." 

Lianne shot daggers at Roman "oh sorry, does my firey hair offend you?" She said sarcastically, he only glanced back long enough to give her an exasperated look.

"We really should start moving faster perhaps if I--" Roman cut himself off as an idea occurred to him. If he shifted into a horse Lianne could mount him and they'd be home before sundown!

"Would you like to ride me Lianne?" Roman abruptly stopped and looked at her, instantly Lianne's entire body felt hot, what the hell did he mean?

"I don't want to ride you Roman, I barely know you, so I don't know who you think you are but please keep it in your pants Roman!" 

Roman looked so taken aback it was almost comical, his dark brows furrowed in confusion before he suddenly seemed to connect the dots, and then he gave her a wicked grin while his blue-green eyes were suddenly dark.

"Oh princess, I wasn't talking about the type of riding you are thinking of,"  Roman said rather huskily and in a few strides stood right before her "but if your nice and say please" he leaned closer till his hot breath fanned at her neck and Lianne knew she should back away but she hesitated and Roman sensed it " I might let you go for a ride" he purred as his enormous wings engulfed her and pushed her to him till she was pressed fully into him.

But just as suddenly Lianne came to her senses and wacked him away and strode off.

She didn't look back either just kept walking, she was such an idiot! of course, he didn't mean that! 

She always did have a problem with keeping her mouth shut, this whole trip had just gotten a whole lot more awkward now. Lianne was stomping away in such fury she didn't notice Roman hadn't moved till the stupid magic force held her in place.

"Well come on Roman soldier, don't you want to go home," Lianne said from exactly ten feet away and Roman turned around when and only when about fifteen minutes of complete awkward silence had gone by, Roman strode on by her without so much as a glance but not before muttering "I don't take orders from a halfling" 

Was Roman really such an ass that he'd wait for minutes till actually moving so it wouldn't seem like he was following what Lianne had said, apparently yes, yes Indeed.

After a while of walking in this incredibly lush land, with tall green grass brushing against her knees and trees gently swaying in the afternoon breeze making it just the right temperature, Lianne found herself in much better spirits, oddly enough.

Go figure, who knew it'd take a strange man kidnapping her and dragging her through a portal into another world where death was at every turn and mythical creatures waltzed around on the loose for her to finally feel somewhat content.

The Cheshire cat could probably be grinning at her from somewhere in those bushes for all she knew, or maybe rapunzel was letting down her hair somewhere...hmm, where those stories true then?

"Hey Roman, so are there girls in Azule whose hair glows by any chance? Or guys who slay dragons and rescue damsels in distress for a living?" Lianne spoke for the first time since the little Incident a few miles back.

Roman turned around and blinked several times at her while his brows furrowed deeply "glowing hair?" He grumbled before giving her a "do you hear yourself"  look but Lianne didn't care, she wanted to know more.

"What about the men who slay dragons and kiss fair maidens?" 

This earned her a much more interesting response, Roman stopped dead in his tracks and gave Lianne a cocky grin " Why kitten, that's me" he drawled while his gaze flickered to her lips before striding along as if nothing had ever happened.

Lianne bristled before shrugging it off, for all she knew, all men in Aquiline behaved this way. 

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Slowly, the more they seemed to walk, the more Lianne noticed how the evidence of life started to grow.

First, she saw the small cottages spread out with wheat fields or grazing cows, then the houses grew closer and closer together till finally, they'd reach small villages or towns. They were the surrounding villages of the Kingdom of Azule and therefore citizens of the King. Lianne found herself completely fascinated by this world, she felt as though she'd walked straight into a fairy tale, this world looked exactly like in the movies! 

It was when Roman finally decided to stop by a small shop to buy some supplies, which thankfully consisted of a shirt for him (because it was becoming a distraction) that Lianne finally really looked at the villagers.

They were beautiful!

They looked human enough except for the few distinct features, like the little blond girl at the shop who'd stared at Lianne with her big violet cat-like eyes.

Or the older man who had spread out his delicate fairy wings in a bow to Roman, then there was the young man who'd grinned wickedly at Lianne with his pointy fangs and glowing yellow eyes... he had seemed oddly hungry...

Roman had watched her carefully throughout all the interactions, gauging her reaction and tilting his head occasionally like a curious wolf trying to figure out its prey.

It was when they were outside the town's limits when Roman spoke.

"I bought you some clothes," he said as he handed her a pair of black trousers with boots and what looked to be a white button-up man's shirt, she took it "Am I supposed to just strip while you watch" Lianne spat.

Roman turned but not before flashing her a wicked grin, once he turned, Lianne changed quicker than she ever thought possible. 

"I'm finished" Lianne finally spoke as she tried her best to smooth down her new attire in an attempt to look somewhat decent. But it was hard to look like anything other than a little girl, considering the shirt almost reached her knees. At least everything else fit properly.

Lianne looked up to find Roman staring down at her while his lips twitched until finally a small smile broke through and settled onto his lips, his eyes twinkling with mirth.

"Don't you dare say a word" Lianne seethed as she stomped away and down the road they seemed to be following, which to be fair, made her look even more like a small child. Who even wore shirts this size? It was huge, she had to roll the sleeves a lot just so they wouldn't dangle pathetically.

"We are almost home Lianne," Roman spoke from behind her and she wondered how she had not heard him approach " do you see that tree line just up ahead?" Roman asked and Lianne looked ahead at the tree line where the sun was now starting to descend upon and she was momentarily sidetracked as she took in the beautiful sunset casting a golden hue upon everything, the last rays of the sun seeming to kiss her skin with their warmth and she stopped and watched further as the sunset the sky ablaze in golden fire.

"Do you like it?" Roman's soft tone startled her out of her trance " No I don't like it, I love it" Lianne said sadly before resuming her walk with newfound determination.

Lianne could feel Roman staring at her curiously and he seemed to be prowling around her as though she was his newest science experiment before he seemed to close off entirely as he walked on ahead. His dark wings trailing behind him without a care.
Lianne was beginning to grow antsy, she really knew nothing about this place, and she felt like she was walking into a lion's den.

So she did the only thing she knew would calm her nerves, and that is how she ended up humming the first song that pops into her head, and mentally sang the lyrics.

"Hey, beautiful beautiful angel, love your imperfections every angle, tomorrow comes and goes before you know...so I just had to let you know-" Lianne hummed and hummed happily and even added some discreet dance moves when she was sure Roman wasn't looking, blissfully unaware of Roman's lips curving into a lopsided grin as his sharp hearing detected every little sound and recognized the tune which seemed to play everywhere in the other world. 

Was not that song a tad inappropriate? Roman had thought.

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