“I, well, that’s very nice of you. I think?” I don’t even know what I’m trying to say. It’s as though all the butterflies that flutter around us are trapped inside me. Is he calling me beautiful? Rare? Or picky?

His eyes watch me with unwavering intensity. Can’t he feel what rushes through me? Isn’t he nervous? He doesn’t seem to be. My cheeks are now so warm I can barely endure the unexpected heat.

“I’m glad you are here, Little Sparrow.” A loose brown curl droops on his forehead. I forget to breathe. I’m too busy drowning in his ice-blue stare. Only moments ago, I was disgusted at the thought of kissing him, and now? Am I even old enough to kiss? I don’t know. My mother hasn’t prepared me in the slightest for this. I may need to curse Nurse Lydia for not telling me what to do in situations like these.

I want to kiss him. Even if I’m not sure how.

His hand slides beneath my chin, and my palms grow damp. He leans in so very, very close. “I just hope you don’t fly away,” he whispers.

The gods can’t help me now. I’m certain that whatever it is that I’m feeling has never been felt before. It’s reserved for only me and him. I float, drift away, and try not to think about what I’m supposed to do. His lips near mine. I close my eyes.

“Help! Help!”

My eyes shoot open. Braizen drops his hand and stands before I realize it’s Teddy who shouted.

“Help me! He’s hurt! Braizen, help!”

Braizen helps me rise, but he runs towards the call as soon as I’m steady. Before I follow, I scan the birdbath and the surrounding plants. The bird is gone, as is the swirling sensation in my belly.

We find Teddy standing above a fallen Lachlan, who’s clutching his cheek and sobbing. “What happened?” Braizen demands, dropping beside his friend.

Teddy stammers. “I saw a green and yellow bird with a large tail. I just wanted to touch it! I wasn’t going to hurt it!”

Lachlan hisses in pain. I grow uneasy, afraid. A quake rumbles through my chest and lances through my arms.

“What did I tell you about touching the birds?” Braizen lectures. “What did it do?”

“It started to chase me! Lachlan stepped in, and it…it pecked him!”

With that, my nerves rapidly manifest into a fit of laughter. The mere thought of a bird conquering the boy is too funny to resist.

Teddy faces me, her stare filled with disdain. “You dare laugh at my brother’s bravery? He stood up against that beast to defend me, and now he’s gravely injured!”

I only laugh harder. Brave? For fighting a bird?! The Aeradian army must be a wretched sight indeed!

“He’s fine,” Prince Braizen interjects, “It’s just a scrape. It’ll heal soon.”

“And what are we to tell our father?” Teddy demands. “He’ll want to know how his son received such a wound!”