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“You don’t have to worry about me, Viking. If anything,Ishould walkyouhome.” I gave him a dry smile. Let’s ignore that Veitsreuth is one of the safest cities in Germany.

“You sure about that, Raven?” he returned the smile, inviting me to his side.

Don’t let it show how much you care.

“Dead sure.”

I licked my lips and backed away. The changes were subtle at first. Shadows creeping up the wall behind me like ghostly creatures. A wind tore at my coat, my scarf whipping out behind me as if I stood in a storm Arne wouldn’t be able to feel. Then I grew, morphed into something more, something terrible. My lips formed into a beak, the feathers at my neck ruffling as I spread my wings.

He stood there in the dark street, watching me, mesmerised.

Prey.

Within seconds, I shrank back to my normal, fairly humanoid form, righted my scarf, and gave him a sheepish smile.

“See? Of the two of us, I’m the monster.”

“You are not a monster,” Arne breathed. “You are my Raven.”

His.

“Well, if you insist,” he added in a raspy whisper, and I agreed. The faint buzz of alcohol in my blood blurred the line between right and wrong.

I moved my hand in an exaggerated twist as if I was asking him to dance with me. “After you, Viking.”

It was a lovely night in early November. Few people were around, and we walked in silence, with only the stars for company.

The Viking and I strolled through the streets of Veitsreuth, so close we might as well have been holding hands.

I wasn’t sure why I’d revealed myself to him. The only explanation I had was that I trusted Arne.

And you have a crush on him.

With a sigh, I pushed my hands into my coat pockets.

“That was pretty impressive,” he said after a while, kicking a stone out of the way.

Impressive?

I hummed.

“Is that your true form?” He dug deeper.

“Not exactly.”

How much can he handle before he’ll abandon me?

“I’m sorry if this is too personal.” Arne glanced at me out of the corner of his soulful blue eyes.

“It’s not, it’s just…” I hesitated. “Itispersonal, but not ‘too’ personal, if that makes sense?”

“Mmm, I think it does.” He smiled at his feet.

“I have two forms.”

What do I have to lose? Let’s end his stupid crush right now.

“Two?”