It wasn’t easy. In the past month, Hæra had learned about a new kind of torture. It wasn’t the agony of waiting she’d known in the sea, hoping to take to the skies. It wasn’t the incalculable pain of being attacked by her own family. It wasn’t the dull misery that had beset her during her first months living on land.

There was nothing dull about this torture. It was sharp, relentless, alive.

And it didn’t always feel like pain.

Sometimes it even felt good—a warm pulse between her thighs that had Hæra “seeing to herself” more often. Most nights, in fact. She’d lie in bed in the dead of night, touching herself and thinking of Madeleine.

She’d imagine that they hadn’t been interrupted in the alley. Instead, they’d had perfect privacy while Hæra finished what she’d started: unzipping Madeleine’s then-untorn jacket, slipping her hands under Madeleine’s sweater, finding what there was to find. All the while, Madeleine would have kept grinding on Hæra’s thigh, seeking release with those helpless whimpers coming from the back of her throat.

She’d have found it. Madeleine would have shuddered in Hæra’s arms with the same ecstasy Hæra found from her own touch. Then she would have relaxed as Hæra always did, panting, her muscles going limp. She’d have gone loose in Hæra’s arms, happy and grateful. She’d have said⁠—

“Are we going to park somewhere else?”

Hæra blinked. They were nearly in the village. So much for focusing on her surroundings.

And she’d driven right past the four spaces set aside for public parking. Thornhill didn’t have a proper car park. Not much need for one.

“I’ll park at the curb in front of that café,” Hæra said, as if she’d intended to do this all along. “The Sunrise. I can fit between those two vehicles.” She squinted. “That van is Jimmy Howisher’s. He’s been late on our deliveries. Jonathan’ll be cross if it’s because he’s been here drinking coffee.”

Madeleine didn’t reply. She was probably looking at her mobile or something. Hæra glanced over to find Madeleine staring at the Sunrise Café as the car approached it, her eyes wide and her face pale.

Hæra began to slow. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Madeleine swallowed visibly. “I’m just not sure the car will fit there. You should find a space with more room. A couple of blocks down, maybe.”

A challenge. Hæra’s skin already prickled with the urge to meet it. “Can’t fit? You watch.”

“But...we don’t want to damage…”