Raven Kennedy

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Goldfinch

Cassidy Nolan

Slade and I look at each other, and the stars look at us.

My wings flutter, my heart soars, and I know.

 was what I was always fighting for. This was why I kept going even in the bleakest of times. Even with every stumbling fall.

“My beloved paired,” he purrs with a tipping smirk. “I do believe you’re trying to seduce me.”

I smile against his skin. “Is it working?”

“I love you,” I tell him, watching his aura drift off his body, the black and gold flowing together in gentle wisps.

“Oh, Goldfinch,” he murmurs. “If ever there was a person for whom love was created, it was for you.”

“The golden one and the deathly flight,”Slade quietly explains.

“Are you happy?” he asks, another question I get each night.

I look into his deep green eyes. “Unfathomably,” I whisper. “Are 

 today, Goldfinch?” he asks, and I smile, because he asks me this every day.

“It was the best, because I’m with you.”

We sit around a table with wine and words, and we celebrate and grieve.

I turn to my brother. “Did you find her?” I ask, the question coming out fearful. I’m almost too scared to ask, too scared to hear his reply. Because what if the answer is bad?

But Slade juts up his chin and moves his eyes, and I follow his line of sight. “I found her,” he tells me, and I feel my heart stop and start all at once.

“Lyäri,” I say to Slade. “Why do they call her that?”

He takes in a breath like he doesn’t even know where to start. Then, he simply says, “Because…they love her.”

I can see the truth of that in every face.

She sniffs as they pull away, and then her swollen eyes find me. She perks up with a bit of good old-fashioned smugness. “See?” she says with a smirk. “Told you.” She looks at Auren. “You got the better brother, I think, because this one is rude.”

My lips press together in both irritation and guilt. “I had to be cautious,” I defend.

Auren snorts, and then she comes over and gives me a hug. “Hey, Fake Rip,” she murmurs.

I smile, my emotions still choking my throat. “Hi, Gildy.”

“You need to learn to have a gentler touch, Commander,” she says with a choppy giggle.

“Ohh. Silent type, huh? I like them usually. Fewer words from a male, the better. Doesn’t seem to be working for you, though. Maybe try to be 

Irritation jumps in my jaw. “You are aggravating.”

“I love you more than all the stars in the sky, Goldfinch.” He presses a kiss against my lips.

“But I am yours and you are mine, and I will always make sure that you get what you need.”

“Now, I think it’s time you give an answer for 

“Always us,” he agrees. “But I told you before, Goldfinch. I want you to have whatever life you want,” he tells me, his voice dropping lower.

Because this fairy ring…it’s connected to 

Then she looks up to the soldier still holding onto me. “Ryatt?”

My head swings up. “Ryatt?” I repeat. “As in causing a riot…or you’re so funny you’re a riot?”

He glares at me, so I’m going to confidently say it’s not the second option. It’s startling just how green his eyes are, though. Distracts me a bit.

I quite like the sound of his voice. And he’s handsome too. Sure, he’s threatening me at sword point, but we all have our faults.

lmao okay i can get on board with emonie/ryatt

And that guess is confirmed when he presses the edge of his blade to my neck.

My heart skips a beat, but my mouth takes two more and runs away with it. “That’s a very forward introduction. Usually I take a male on a few special outings before I let him jab his pointy thing at me.”

“And he’s also family,” Auren finishes. “Wickum Almon Turley.”

Surprised mutters break out, and the Vulmin’s eyes go wide.

“With his help, we can figure out what’s next,” she tells them. “And we’ll do it together.”

I reach down and thread my fingers through hers. “So long as I have you, I will always be okay.”

So long as I have her, I can bear anything.

I kiss him with devotion and need. He kisses me with awe and adoration.

I don’t need the divinity of the goddesses.

Because with him, I have what I’ve always needed.

Whole. Unconditional. Healing. Beautiful. Pure. Love.

He pulls in a shredded breath, in strips and pieces from a tattered heart. His eyes grow wet, his expression fracturing. And then he speaks with the most devoted, heartbreaking tone. “You flew, Goldfinch.”

Goldfinch

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