Chapter 212 - What is love (2/2)

She sent him a skeptical glance. ”Are you sure? It won't affect your flying?”

He chuckled as he shook his massive head causing the long, thick mane to tickle her slightly. ”It's fine, Kitten. I can maintain balance and level flight with someone as massive as Ry standing on my back or wings. They may look delicate, but trust me, they are strong.”

Her eyes moved over the wide expanse of jet black feathers. ”I don't doubt their strength...” She finally gave in to her curiosity and leaned against one, gripping it tightly as she leaned out.

Arei watched in pleasure as her eyes lit with childish wonder as she ran her fingers through the gaseous fluff. ”It feels strange, doesn't it, almost like thick fog?”

”It's amazing.” She breathed, still fascinated with her new surroundings.

”One of my greatest regrets from our earlier time together was that I didn't get to share this part of myself with you. I wish I'd had the courage then.”

Her brows knitted together. ”Why didn't you? This form is magnificent.” The large, intelligent hazel eye met hers causing her heart to skip a beat.

”Why do you try so hard to hide who you are?” Arei asked, a heavyweight lingering around the question.

Jos shrugged, not having to think about it too much. ”Because it's something that has been forced on me. I wish I could forget about that damnable side of myself altogether.”

The horse nodded. ”Same, especially back then. I felt like this form belonged more to the gods than to me, and they seemed to feel the same. I was constantly forced to carry out horrible tasks... It was only after Peg came into my life that I began to accept this side of myself.” He shrugged his massive shoulders slightly as to not disturb her balance too much. ”I guess it also helps that nowadays, I'm forced to carry out the same horrible tasks in my human form...” He let out a heavy sigh. ”There is little glory behind the mask of a demi-god. There are rarely happy endings to any of our stories.”

”You seem to have a very grim outlook on life. I never realized before.” She said softly as his words resonated with her own troubled soul.

He glanced back at her. ”As I've said before, part of the pull I've always had toward you was the realization of how much alike we truly are. That night you tried to eat my this form, the things you said... I saw my own thoughts reflected back at me in your words. We are very much alike in our dislike of the devastation our powers are capable of.” A familiar landmass came into view below in the break of the clouds. A smile turned up his lips. ”Hold on tight, we're here.” He plunged rapidly down toward the ground.

Jos let out a loud squeal as her bottom lifted from the stallions back. ”NOT SO FAST!” She cried out as she clung for dear life to his neck.

Arei laughed against her tight grip as he slowed their descent sightly. The corners of his mouth turned up as his hooves landed smoothly on the ground, but she continued to cling to him with her eyes squeezed tightly closed. ”Kitten... We're on the ground. Open your eyes.” He couldn't keep the teasing laugh from his voice, causing irritated aqua eyes to shoot open into a glare.

She smacked his neck. ”You did that on purpose!” She bit out.

He laughed more hardily. ”Well yes, we had to land didn't we?”

She pushed away from his neck and lowered her trembling legs to the ground as she slid from his back. ”Well jokes on you, your clothes flew off to the gods know where.” She looked around hoping to see at least a piece of them.

Arei nipped at her fingers lightly. ”Joke's on you again, in that case. I can't show you what I want as a horse.”

Jos's cheeks heated as her head shout back to him. ”You better not!”

He shrugged, ”I don't have a choice, kitten.”

His smile was dazzling she came face to face with his handsome face. Her eyes instinctively shot down his body, then rapidly back up to his face. Her cheeks flaring even hotter as she realized what she'd just done. She turned quickly and began walking away. ”They have to be around here somewhere.” She swallowed hard as she began searching for his clothes.

His smile widened. He'd covered himself with the thick black wings that still protruded from his back, but her reaction had still been amusing. He caught her hand slowing her movement, but not forcing her to turn to face him. ”Jos, it's fine. I should have some shorts or something where we are going. I can stay covered like this or switch back into horse form if you're more comfortable that way... until we get there.” When curious eyes turned to meet his, he nodded toward an old cottage that sat at the edge of a lake.

She hadn't even noticed it when they landed. Her attention was too focused on the intimidatingly n.a.k.e.d man beside her. She finally took the time to really take in her surroundings. Her mouth dropped in amazement. ”Where are we?” She asked.

He smiled as he gave her hand a slight tug to lead her toward the cabin. ”It's an old hunting lodge. Ry and I used to come here in our downtime. Peg and Andy have been here with us a few times even.” His appreciative eyes moved slowly around the cabin and the majestic lake that sat between beautifully tall, snow-tipped mountains. ”We are in the Swiss Alps right now.” He commented.

Her wide eyes snapped back around to him. ”We traveled that far in such little time?”

Arei nodded. ”Yes, we did.” He sent her a charming smile. ”Fastest horse on land, in air, or at sea.” He winked before nodding back to the cabin. ”With any luck, Ry will have clothes here.”

”You don't?” She asked question heavy in her voice.

Arei shook his head. ”Doubtfully, I haven't been here in quite some time. I didn't get much time off working for Zeus, and usually, when I did, I'd already had bags packed so I'd just live out of luggage.” He shrugged. ”I guess things haven't changed much on that front.” He noticed that her eyes kept moving over his wings. ”You can touch them if you'd like.”

Her curious eyes moved up to his. ”Really? You wouldn't mind?”

He chuckled, ”Of course not.” He stopped beside her. ”Go ahead, take as long as you want.”

His eyes held a mischievous twinkle that she couldn't ignore, but the fascination of his current form was too much to resist.