Earth & Sky by Kaye Draper

belonged to the Fallen emperor, whose bed I currently occupied. 
I shook my head in disbelief. 
    My eyes traveled over the rumpled drifts of blankets,
gliding over a long stretch of muscular calf that was visible where his loose pants
were rucked up, and to the wide, muscular back that supported those massive
black wings.  He lay on his stomach, and I was seized with the sudden urge to
touch his wings, to let my fingers glide over the deep indentions of muscle around
his shoulder blades. 
    A chill draft seeped in through the closed shutters, and I
wrapped the end of the blanket around me, tucking it under my arms.  My motions
disturbed my slumbering companion and he stretched, flexed his wings, then
tucked them flat to his back before rolling over. 
     He sat up and gave me a sleepy smile.  “You’re not a wolf
anymore.”
    I looked away, embarrassed.  “Sometimes, when we’re under
some kind of emotional stress, it’s impossible to shift.”  I refused to meet
his eyes.  “It… usually only happens to children.”
    I felt the bed dip as he scooted to the edge and stood. 
“I don’t think any less of you for it.”
    He crossed to the big wardrobe while I untangled myself
from the blankets and stood, drifting along in his wake.  “It was an ugly evening,”
I said softly.  “I didn’t consciously decide to come to you.  But I fought with
my father and sister- I shifted while I was angry and confused and…”  I
shrugged, “well, I just ended up in the forest- and then I couldn’t shift back.”
    He glanced over his shoulder at me, then away, his posture
stiff.  “You were hurt,” he said shortly.  “Some instinctive part of you knew I’d
offer you sanctuary.”  His voice was a bit more gruff than usual.  Maybe I had
overstayed my welcome. 
    He riffled through the wardrobe, pulled out a shirt,
frowned, then cast it away and continued rummaging.  I came to stand at his
side, wondering what he was doing.  Was he that picky about his clothes?
    He tensed when he sensed my nearness.  His crystal blue
eyes met mine for a moment, then darted away.  I ran my fingers through my
hair, trying to get the tangles out while I waited.
    “You’re the new emperor,” I ventured.  “Does that mean
that your father…”
    He kept searching his wardrobe.  “He was assassinated-
poisoned.”
    “I’m so sorry,” I whispered.  I waited for the accusations
to come, but they never did.  Finally, he came up with a long white shirt, and
thrust it at me.  “Here.”
    I stared at him, wondering if he blamed me for his
father’s death.  “I’m sorry I’m being a bother,” I said softly.  I wasn’t used
to being dependent on anyone.
    His gaze met mine and he looked into my eyes intently, as
if we were engaged in some sort of staring contest.  “Just take it.”  His voice
sounded forced.
    I took the shirt and tucked it over an arm.  “Are you
angry?  Is my being here going to cause trouble for you…”  He was the emperor
now.  Brining a Shifter into his home might be a huge problem.
    He took a deep breath and grabbed the shirt.  He shook it
out and held it up.  I noticed there was a flap in the back where two pieces of
fabric crossed, wrapping around to tie in the front- leaving a hole for his
wings. 
    “Please,” he said stiffly.  “Put this on.”  His gaze
dipped for a moment, lingering on my body before he jerked it away and turned to
rummage through his wardrobe again. 
    Understanding washed over me, and I felt my face grow
hot.  I slipped into the shirt, pausing to roll up the long arms.  “I’ve never
been ashamed of my body in my life,” I said, miffed at him for making me feel
this way- and more than a little amused at his reaction. 
    He glanced at me and away.  “You have absolutely nothing
to feel ashamed of.” 
    He closed his eyes in a long blink, and I smirked as I
pulled the front of the shirt closed, wrapping it around me like a robe.  There
was a bit