I'd fallen for him yet he cowered below me.

Majestic brownish feathered wings, glorious in the morning light that seeped through the ventilation window above his head, abs that could tempt the strongest willed women to wrap their arms around, striking green eyes that I might fall right into, shoulders that could have effortlessly lifted the weight of the world without breaking a sweat. And a frown... why was he frowning?

"You can keep him. His name is Ezzie!" Mother must have heard me gasp and stumble. I'd dropped the pile of clothes I'd been instructed to put through the laundry.

Seven steps separated us. But I stood. Frozen. Eyes wide and slightly watering at the blessed beast which crouched in that dark corner. His true form was breathtaking; dewdrops glistened on his dark supple looking skin as he took raspy breathes in. Out. In. Out.

My feet finally began to thaw. Anxiety pulsated around the rest of my body. Today wasn't the first day we'd met. I'd assumed he was a wizard, his aura unlike any other I'd met in Lochasylm Kingdom before. I'd told all my witchfellows about him. My mysterious man. The longing I felt meant we did have a destined bond. Just not the kind I was expecting.

I should have been paying attention in my Gray magic Prevarication and Etiquette classes. Several minutes had already passed. By now a good witch would have introduced their scent to their beast but mine had begun to panic. I had not.

As I neared him my heart raced faster. Five steps four, three steps. There were only two left which were closed suddenly as the beast reached around my neck before I got to finish the last flick of my wrist to enact a spell. Tenderly. Lovingly? He breathed in my scent. I felt his chest heave in. Out. In. Out. In. His heart rate slowed.

Protocol took over. Only a red-veined stone marking a spot on the wall showed any indication of anything untoward; the secret room entrance point. I pricked my finger on the spike next to a bundle of arrows collected in a cylinder holder sat flush against the wall. The wall outfolded. Inside, the walls were grey. There was a single bed on the right side and light powered by kinetic energy already lit in the room. I'd spend one night there, our auras merging to form the everlasting bond.

Then I noticed the fuzz ball; a little white critter gnawing at the mahogany table leg. My eyes flashed back. I took another step into the room, away from the man stood behind me. Who was this creature... who was this man? I picked up the critter who breathed in three times before nestling in my arms, making itself comfortable.

I bit my lip, gently. I held onto the critter I had initially expected to be my only companion.

As though he could read my mind, "I'm yours too." he said, longingly.

*

499 words for Ambassadors contest