Evelyn shook the gallery owner’s hand. Her display featuring duel images of a distant focus and a micro close-up was a hit. Only the ominous clouds had not been sold, and that was because she couldn’t bear to part with it.

It reminded her of Lawke.

She drove to her apartment.

Almost magically, an immediate transfer for him to Gracelynne State Park had been initiated. The police were skeptical about Zoe’s return, especially when the kidnapper couldn’t be found.

He’d asked Evelyn to stay with them. But she couldn’t say yes.

He was so grounded. Practical. Heartwarming.

She was cold and distant. She didn’t know how to let him into her life.

It hadn’t mattered before.

Closing the door to her room, she looked around at the sparse décor. She’d never noticed how cold, how empty the rented rooms were. Unlike the cabin she’d shared with Lawke. A cozy refuge where she’d found a surprising serenity in his presence.

The old woman’s words whispered through her head. The choice to stay doesn’t cost you your independence.

Could she linger? Having a place to return, people who welcomed her would be nice. Being loved would be even better. She’d never know if she didn’t give it a try.

* * *

The crunch of gravel drew Lawke’s attention from Zoe’s math homework. An unmarked car drove up to the cabin. Captain Simmons stepped from the vehicle.

“All settled in?”

“Yes, sir.” Lawke stared at the policeman. Zoe slipped her hand in his and gripped it tight.

The other man smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m only here to tell you we’ve closed the case.”

“Good.”

His eyesight blurred, and for a moment the captain had an eagle head and golden wings. Then Lawke’s normal vision returned. He couldn’t have possibly seen a griffin.

“I think you’ll settle nicely into the town.” The captain held out a business card. “Give me a call if you need anything. Sometimes an outsider can provide unique help.”

He took the card. Heat radiated from it, almost hot enough to burn. “Thank you, sir.”

The policeman nodded before he left.

Lawke and Zoe stood silently on the porch as the dust of his passage settled. “Dad, what is he?”

“I don’t know for sure, but I hope he’s on our side.”

He wrapped Zoe in a hug. “Let’s go inside. We can do more equations tomorrow.”

“Yeah.” She jumbled the books together and then raced inside with more energy than she’d shown for homework.

He shook his head, entranced by her antics. Nothing in her behavior indicated any ill effects from the kidnapping, but he still wanted her to talk with a psychologist. There was one in Willows Haven who could also handle the magical aspect of her encounter.

Despite moving in only a week ago, this two-story cabin was becoming a home for both of them. Zoe already had a poster of her favorite boy band on the wall and a framed photo of the Blue Ridge Mountains taken by Evelyn. His daughter insisted the shapeshifter would come back.

He doubted Evelyn could embrace the idea of a family who relied on each other. Someone she could trust with her heart and who knew when she needed to soar.

A flutter of wings drew his gaze. A large grayish-blue falcon landed on the porch. Light shimmered around her. Within a heartbeat, Evelyn stood before him. He had to be hallucinating, because she’d left him.

“I was wondering if you had space for one more?” She studied the front porch boards. “I’m thinking of staying in town for a while.”

A while. An indeterminate length of time. Yet she reached out, a cautious overture.

Zoe stood at the door, her eyes glowed. She mouthed “Say yes. Y-E-S.”

More reserved than his daughter, he said, “I’m sure we can find you a place to sleep.”

The spark in Evelyn’s eyes dimmed before Zoe grabbed Evelyn’s hand and tugged her inside. “My room’s this way.”

For the rest of the afternoon and through dinner, Zoe’s laughter lightened his heart. Now the quiet of night blanketed the cabin. From the doorway, he watched her sleep; more for his peace of mind than hers.

His nightmares were not so easy to dismiss.

Thumps and odd creaks from down the hall drew him away. Evelyn had retrieved her car and he’d help carry her stuff upstairs. For someone so long lived, she had a distinct lack of stuff.

Despite the open door, he didn’t enter her room. “Settling in?”

She twirled around, her eyes widened. “Yes.” Gulping in a breath, she sat on the bed, practically on top of the pillows. “You can come in.”

In a few strides, he crossed the room. Wary of frightening her, he sat at the foot of the bed. “There are places you can stay in town.”

“I’d like to remain with you.” Her words were so quiet he could barely hear them.

He scooted closer, took her hands in his. “You’re free to leave when you need to. I want you to find a home here, not a trap.”

“I didn’t think it would be so hard to move in. It should be exciting, like exploring a new town.” Tears gathered in her eyes. “But it’s not.”

“Shhh.” He wrapped her in his arms, leaned her head beneath his chin. “We can take it slow, for both of us. You can tell me about flying and I can bore you with Latin names for the plants around here.”

Her laughter soothed his soul.

The room was still bare of anything colorful. “Do you have more things to bring in? Photography equipment? Pictures for the walls?”

“No. I only carry the one camera and a computer. Everything else is in a building I rented in Research Triangle Park. When I first moved here, I was afraid to buy a house.”

He lifted her head. His lips hovered above hers. “And now?”

“Maybe I’m tired of flying alone. Of always returning to an empty room.”

Her determination lured him to forget about his own trepidation. He ached to comfort her, to embrace her. But trust, on both their parts, needed to grow.

His lips pressed against hers. It was a gentle kiss, full of promise. “I want you to stay, but I can’t leave.”

Her eyes met his. Within their bright glow, she bared her soul. “You have my heart. I’ll always wing my way back to you.”