“You’re so warm,” she mumbled the words into his neck and cuddled closer. Her wings had gone slack, spread over the bed in a limp mass of feathers. “I am so weary, my mate, it outmatches the hunger.”

“Rest for a little while and then we can eat.” He held Carina close, stroking her head gently and feeling her as she fell into sleep. He turned his eyes to the ceiling and thought his gratitude to whatever deity was listening that they had gotten through his idiocy ...