Clove bristled at our approach, her dark eyes narrowing at me.
I let go of Aflora’s hand and stepped away from her slowly before holding out my palm for the falcon to sniff. She didn’t budge, her displeasure evident.
“You’re going to have to get used to me,” I murmured. “I’m one of Aflora’s mates.”
This didn’t seem to placate Aflora’s familiar. If anything, she appeared even more anxious.
I tried for a different tactic and kneeled before her, making myself appear inferior, then held out my palm again. “I’m sorry for our first introduction. I promise not to harm you again.”
If Kols saw me right now, apologizing to a bird, he’d lose his shit. But this wasn’t about the falcon. It was about Aflora.
I had hurt her.
For us to move forward, she needed to see that I knew how to apologize properly. Which required me to get this falcon to essentially forgive me.
Clove tilted her head slightly, her intelligent gaze on my hand.
She shifted forward and snagged my fingers with her beak, biting down hard enough to warn without breaking the skin.
I didn’t move.
I didn’t even flinch.
Instead, I continued to stare at her. “If you need to exact blood, then fine. I’ll give it.” Mostly because one taste would tell her who I was to her master and she’d immediately release me.
“Don’t,” Aflora said, talking to Clove. “Zeph is… a friend.”
Just a friend? I nearly asked her, amused. But I kept quiet, allowing her to run the show. It was what the situation necessitated.
Clove slowly released my hand, her gaze flicking affectionately to Aflora.
“Yeah, I like her, too,” I admitted softly.
The falcon let out a gentle caw that I interpreted to mean she approved, so I slowly reached out to touch one of her plumes. She didn’t react or try to bite me again, which was a good sign. She even leaned into my touch a little, allowing me to win her over with a few gentle strokes down her wings.
I glanced at Aflora to see her staring at me in surprise. “What?”
“You… you…” She shook her head. “Never mind.”
“Surprised your falcon forgave me?” I asked her.
“No. I’m surprised you said you liked me. I’m pretty sure you implied the opposite just a few weeks ago.”
I frowned. “I never said I disliked you.”
“No, you’re right,” she said, her blue eyes flickering with fire. “You called me pitiful, like Clove.”
I flinched. “I was trying to teach you a lesson.”
“That you have to kill to protect yourself. I remember.”
We were never going to move past this if she wouldn’t allow it. And I could only apologize so much.
I sat back on my heels and stared at her. “The Midnight Fae world isn’t like your Elemental Fae one, Aflora. I’m only trying to prepare you for survival, something I’m going to take even more seriously now that our souls are tied together.”
“I already said I could try unbinding us.”
“And I already told you no,” I snapped, irritated that she’d even think to bring it up again. “If you release us, you’ll implode.”