Yes. Definitely an issue.
“No.”
Waldrom smiled. He leaned forward and kissed Brenna sweetly, and Brenna closed her eyes and kissed back. She didn’t mean what she’d said, but in moments like this, it didn’t matter. She was pretty sure she hadn’t been to Waldrom’s world yet. Who was she to shoot it down prematurely? There was a chance it was a nice place.
“You make me happy, hatchling,” Waldrom whispered against Brenna’s lips. “I’m so glad I found the time to be able to visit you outside of the dreamscape.”
“Are those dimensions, too?” Brenna asked. She was woozy from the kiss, but the question begged an answer.
“Dreams are the travels of an unchained soul through neighboring dimensions. Most times the soul doesn’t wander far, and reality doesn’t shift that much, but there are times when that can change. Nightmares come to mind as an example.”
“Then there are frightening dimensions, too?” Fear clenched in Brenna's lungs and left her squirming. Every bad dream she’d had was based on a real place?
“There are.” Waldrom smoothed her hair reassuringly. “Just as there is good, there is evil. Just as there is comfort, there is terror. There is never one without the other, hatchling. But we will keep you safe from that which seeks to destroy. We will always keep you safe.”
Brenna believed her. “Then I want to see where you live and know what kind of good place it is.”
“I thought you’d never ask.” Waldrom smiled. “I will now take you to the ancient palace of the Corax, if you wish to come.”
An invitation to the palace for right then suddenly made it all real. The naked man on her bed didn't attempt to ravish her, despite the way he gazed so tenderly at her. He got up and held out a hand to confirm his invitation.
CHAPTER TEN
Waldrom held her hand the entire time as they traipsed together through the forest. With their fingers laced. They maintained a slow but steady pace. Brenna couldn’t detect a particular path, but she had confidence in Waldrom, who was sure of the way.
Places so beautiful or so unusual or both formed the backdrop to their journey. Brenna would've remembered had she been this way and seen them before. They passed a tree split straight in half, each side draping and warped like string cheese; and a bog that bubbled slowly, thick, green bubbles breaking the surface and exploding. Several times they passed flowers unlike any Brenna had ever seen before.
They passed beneath the mighty branches of a towering tree, and suddenly they weren’t in the forest anymore. Brenna blinked. She looked over her shoulder and saw the same great tree, but the woodland beyond it was gone. She saw rocky terrain instead. A good thirty feet out the rock gave way to grass. Plains stretched ahead, the horizon dotted by forests and other nameless structures that Brenna couldn’t quite make out.
Brenna said nothing. In a way, she was afraid to speak. The feeling that she was a long way from home gripped her tight, and it made her feel like she could be impossibly lost if she so much as put a toe out of line.
There was a comforting, familiar scent on the breeze, almost like rain.
Waldrom squeezed her hand. “We continue forward.”
Brenna turned to look in front of her. In the near distance she could see a cliff face, and beyond that, water. An ocean.
“You live somewhere across the ocean?” Brenna asked. “You came all this way to see me?”
Waldrom chuckled. “Not quite, hatchling. Come. You will see for yourself.”
They approached the cliff face. The ocean stretched out as far as Brenna could see, uninterrupted by vessels or structures.
“I can’t fly,” Brenna said. She was fairly sure he knew that, but the closer they drew, the more concerned Brenna became. She didn’t think a raven would be able to carry her to whatever palace they had built beyond the horizon. “I know I can't swim all that way, either.”
“So I’ll fly for us,” Waldrom said. “We won’t have to go far.”
A rustling noise distracted Brenna. She looked at it and was stunned to see that a pair of enormous black wings had sprouted from his back. They were folded close to his body, their feathers large and iridescent. Brenna could already tell that when fully stretched, they’d be staggeringly wide.
“Waldrom?” Brenna asked, breathless.
“Mm?”
They stood now at the edge of the cliff. Brenna had yet to look down, but she knew that it had to be a far, far drop.
“Those wings. Is that—”
“Come here, hatchling. No more time for questions. You will have answers in time.”
Brenna’s tongue felt too large for her mouth. She swallowed awkwardly, but she couldn’t get over the sudden terror she felt. If Waldrom planned to carry her across the ocean, what would happen if he lost his grip? What if he got tired? What if Brenna weighed him down more than he expected and they both plummeted to their deaths?
Before Brenna could worry anymore or voice her concerns, Waldrom drew her against his chest. “Hold tight.”
With no time to reply, it was the last warning Brenna got before Waldrom lifted her from her feet with ease as if Brenna weighed next to nothing. It quickly became apparent that Waldrom possessed unnatural, inhuman strength as he held Brenna in a powerful grip in his arms and dove from the cliff.
Brenna couldn’t find the breath to scream. Her fear came out as a squeak instead, drowned out against the rushing air around their bodies. Looking sideways to see where they were going, she clung to Waldrom with everything she had.
Seconds before they hit the water, she could feel the spray on the side of her face when their fall was interrupted. Waldrom’s massive wings had expanded, and he corrected their course, so they soared instead of falling. They traveled mere feet above the surface of the water at incredible speeds, then lifted from the water’s surface to take to the sky.
Brenna closed her eyes. It was the same, weightless feeling she had in her dreams of nothingness—only this time she wasn’t alone. Not seeing made the experience more terrifying. She opened her eyes again and attempted to relax and enjoy the journey.
Waldrom looked down at her, lit up from the inside, and laughed in untethered delight. With a flap of his wings, they rose higher. His dark eyes filled with joy. His lips spread wide with mirth. He was radiant.
“Waldrom?” Brenna tried to call over the noise of their flight.
Brenna saw the man behind her stranger—Waldrom wasn’t just a prince bound by obligation. He wasn't a cocky, arrogant, dick.
He was a man who cherished the simple things in life. Like Brenna's thrill-seeking friends who liked rollercoasters, bungee jumps, and other terrifying forms of fun.
The freedom of flight suited Waldrom better than any fine-tailored outfit would. Seeing him this way made Brenna forget her fears. She could only think she looked forward to getting to know this man and his brothers who shared her soul. She could imagine all three brothers flying like this.
Waldrom circled and headed back toward the cliff. Looking to her side again, it was only then that Brenna saw it—a sprawling settlement built into the sheer cliff face. The rock had been carved into sections while jutting outwards in others. Buildings clung to the face of the cliff, secured by carefully positioned support beams. Ropes suspended wooden bridges and sturdier-looking walkways that connected the buildings. Ladders bridged vertical differences between structures.
The system appeared complex, but Brenna figured most of the people in this dimension had wings, so no one needed to make use of the walkways, anyway. She guessed they were a convenience for the injured, or for visitors like herself.
As they approached the cliffside settlement, three men dove from buildings and spread their wings, rising to meet them. They circled Waldrom and Brenna at a respectful distance, and once Waldrom touched down on a segment of the settlement that seemed to function a lot like a dock, the three joined them.
“Your Highness,” one of the men said in greeting. All of them b
owed.
“At ease,” Waldrom insisted. “Has all been well since my departure?”
“As well as could be expected.”
It bothered Brenna that none of them wore clothes. She was in a different dimension—a dimension where good-looking men had silken black wings. Much as she didn't want to join them in their nudity—she’d feel far too self-conscious—she also felt that clothes marked her out as different, even more than the fact that she was obviously a different species.
“Good.” Waldrom took Brenna’s hand. “Then as long as there’s nothing to tend to, I intend to show my beloved the palace. Reach out should anything urgent arise.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
All three men dove from the dock, and Brenna watched in wonder as they took to the sky. It appeared majestic in a way she didn’t think she’d ever get over.
“Your Highness, huh?” Brenna asked. “Are they going to behead me if I call you Waldrom? Or can I call you Wally?”
He raised an eyebrow at the question. “No and No. But they may laugh.” He looked Brenna over, eyes dazzling with humor. “No one’s used to seeing their prince so casual.”
“You're casual?” Brenna hitched an eyebrow.
“The duties of the royal family are serious and not to be taken lightly,” Waldrom said. “You bring out the best in me, hatchling.”
Brenna puffed up with pride. She squeezed his hand.
“Now,” Waldrom said. “Let’s explore my home, shall we? We might find my brothers too. It’s been a long time since I went anywhere without flying, so we’ll explore the bridges and ladders together.”
Brenna leaned into Waldrom, who kissed the side of her head. It was simple, but it was perfect.
“Let’s go,” Brenna said.
So they did.
They made their way to a place on the outskirts of the cliffside palace, far from where they’d landed, almost kissing the ocean below. The small bedroom had a modest balcony, and Brenna leaned against the railing and watched the water below. Seashells and tiny, colorful stones had been left between the balusters. Brenna felt at home. In bits and pieces, she was discovering Waldrom’s world.
Waldrom leaned beside her. His wings were gone. “This used to be my favorite place.” The sound of the ocean complimented his voice and filled the silence between his sentences. “I used to come here to escape the main palace. It’s too far away from the central hub to be of much use. No one cares much about this room, only me and my brothers. They'd seek me here and then we'd all stay here for many hours.”
“I don’t know,” Brenna said. she kept her eyes on the ocean. “It’s so close to the water it feels like I’m standing on it. It’s not too big. It’s… lovely.”
“I thought so, too. It's become my retreat.”
They didn’t touch each other, but Brenna felt more bonded to Waldrom than she ever thought she should. She didn't understand but she could accept what he had said earlier about their souls bonding because she felt it.
On the way to this room, they’d avoided the central hub for fear of running into the monarchs. Brenna wasn’t ready to meet the parents, and she didn’t think Waldrom was ready to introduce her, either.
Instead, they’d stuck to the small wooden rooms built around it. Some had been larger than they’d appeared from the outside—the cliff behind them dug out, so half the room was suspended above the ocean while the other half was encased in rock—but others had simply been small rooms designed for rest, meetings, or study.
There had been books written in scripts, languages which Brenna had never seen before, and strange items that Brenna didn’t recognize and was afraid to touch. From time to time, they’d passed others of Waldrom’s kind, but conversations had been short and to the point. He had protected Brenna from them, always taking the lead and never forcing Brenna into a conversation.
Through observing the interactions, Brenna witnessed how well he fit his regal status. He was clearly in command, and everyone they’d met seemed to respect and obey him.
“How old is this place? Earlier you said ancient.”
“Many generations have resided here. It is said Daedalus built the palace, practicing techniques before constructing the Labyrinth. It is also said that it was built for Hephaestus, his engineering mentality made it possible, but it was an impractical place for him.” He spoke as if these should be familiar characters to everyone.
“I don't know these names?”
“It is of no matter. Hephaestus will never come here. After he attempted to rape Athena, he gave this palace to her by way of an apology. It was never a practical home for him anyway, he's lame, you know. She in turn transformed the daughter of King Coronaeus of Phocis into a corax and gave her this home. The palace was too massive for one woman so others of her kind also came to live here.”
“Corax?” Brenna had heard the word before.
“One of us, part human and part raven. We were created by the gods, by Apollo and Athena and others. Here, where we live, it is not Olympia with the gods, it is not your world either, it is ours. The land of the corax, I believe you would say raven.”
Spending time together in this faraway room, Brenna appreciated the raven brothers even more.
“When I was young,” Waldrom said softly, looking out across the water, “I would shirk my duties and fly to the Hercynian Dunes beyond the horizon. I would sun myself and collect shells and stones, and come back from that paradise rested and stress-free. Whenever I did, I would leave my finds here.”
Brenna glanced at the shells and stones left between the balusters. “These are all yours from when you were young?”
“Not all, sometimes I led my brothers astray, and we'd all collect them. These items we call our treasures,” Waldrom said. He kept his gaze on a point in the distance. Brenna watched him now, enchanted by the story and the dreamy look on his face. “We feared if we brought them to our room in the central hub, they would be disposed of.”
“But someone has to come clean here from time to time, right? They didn’t throw your shells away?”
“I made it a point to befriend the maid.” Waldrom grinned. He tore his gaze from the horizon and winked at Brenna. “She was easily charmed by a young, bright-eyed prince. Since then, I think word has spread that the stones and shells here are to be left alone. They’ve become as much of the palace as the cliff face. Outside of my brothers, I don’t think I’ve ever told another person about how much this one, small room means to me.”
“It means a lot that you’re sharing it with me.” Brenna slid a little closer. “It’s beautiful.”
Waldrom smiled. He looked out over the water again. “One day, I’d like to bring you to the dunes. I’d like to take you to see the Baltian Forests and the treetop city of Sylna. Once word spreads of who you are, I think you will be loved by the people.”
“I…” Brenna trailed off, unsure of what to say. She was touched that Waldrom would share his world like this, but everything was still so new. Brenna couldn't imagine living in this palace with the princes of the realm. She certainly wasn't ready for that yet.
“There are other sights to see, too. If you don’t like the thought of the forest, we could visit the tropical beaches of Quail, or the mountain range in Redfeather. Whatever you like, we can see.”
“I'd like to see it all. To know and understand your world. It's all so new to me. I’m still adjusting. It'll take time.” Possibly a lot of time to adjust to palace life.
“We don't have to go together, all four of us. You can travel alone, of course, as princess of the land. We can travel just the two of us or you can travel with my brothers.”
Princess.
He moved fast, making it sound inevitable, but if she were ever to become a princess that would be a long way off.
Living among creatures, people who were so different from the world she knew. It wasn't just clothes and wings. Brenna didn't know the social etiquette of this world. However, she could see th
at it was formal and hierarchical. At least in how people regarded their princes.
Brenna couldn't envisage how she'd fit in. “Wouldn't you be jealous if I went away with your brothers?”
Waldrom tilted his head to one side and narrowed his eyes. “No. There'd be no reason for jealousy. I'd be reassured if you were with my brother when you weren't with me. I know anyone of us would die to keep you safe.”
She gasped.
“I don't think it will come to that. We are at peace and monsters do not pass into our realm.”
“And between the three of you it is okay to share women?” She like the idea but needed to understand how they saw it.
“Yes. It is okay. Your soul is bound to all of us. The only concern I have is your safety when you are not with any of the three of us.” Waldrom kissed the side of Brenna’s head. “I understand. It’s a lot to take in. We’ll go slow. I never want to pressure you.”
Her confusion must have shown on her face. “It’s not that. I don't feel pressured.”
Well, a little. Three boyfriends who are princes and talk of making me their princess. Damn, yes, there's pressure.
“I’m delighted, but a bit overwhelmed,” she continued. “It’s just, until today, just a short time ago, I never knew other dimensions existed. My whole life, I’ve thought my world was the only one.”
And I've never known a girl to have three boyfriends who were happy to share her, without jealouy.
“There’s a lot to learn, and a whole lifetime to learn it in.” Waldrom set a hand on Brenna’s back. “We’ll stand by you every step of the way.”
A shiver passed down Brenna’s spine, and she tucked herself under Waldrom’s arm. As long as they were together, she had nothing to fear.
Footsteps disrupted the moment. Brenna closed her eyes and wished they would leave, but no amount of wishing worked. The footsteps stopped. A man spoke. “Your Highness?”
“Yes?” Waldrom didn’t turn around.
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