I settle into the regal chair. The fabric of the dress stretches taut against my form, threatening to burst at any moment. A daring thought flits through my mind, contemplating the freedom such an occurrence might bring. However, my jaw drops in awe as Warrick emerges from the bathroom, resplendent in a matching blue velvet suit. Silver patterns dance along the edges, accentuating the exquisite tailoring. A crisp white shirt moulds to his sculpted chest, revealing his masculine prowess. His dark hair is sleeked back, glistening with a captivating sheen. His chiselled jawline stands out in sharp relief, and his eyes sparkle with surprise and admiration as they traverse my figure. Blinking a few times, I realise that Warrick's reaction mirrors my own, both of us taken aback by the transformation that has taken place.
Pumpkin and Peaches share an excited glance, their eyes gleaming as they clasp their hands under their chins with delight as their eyes dart rapidly between Warrick and me.
Despite the undeniable pull of our primal instincts, my wolf side is screaming at me to run into his arms and taste the sweetness of his lips. I have to force my feet not to move, and I notice Warrick in the same predicament as he does step forward but stops. His jaw clenches along with his hands.
Seeking to break the obvious sexual tension between us, I speak up, ‘We should eat breakfast. It will be a journey from here to Gravehaven,’ I suggest, hoping to shift our focus and alleviate the charged atmosphere.
'Yes,' Warrick replies, his voice mixing with desire and restraint. He pulls the chair from beside me to the other side of the table and sits opposite me.
Pumpkin interjects. ‘We shall leave you two alone for breakfast, but Xander said not to be tardy and be downstairs ready to depart as soon as possible,’ she says, leaving the room with Peaches.
Warrick pays no attention to the feast of majestic fruits before us, his eyes glued to mine. ‘You look breathtaking,’ he breathes, his voice faltering with genuine admiration.
A blush creeps up my cheeks, and I respond with gratitude, summoning a smile. 'Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself,' I reply, my gaze meets his. Warrick’s grins widen, and he plucks berries from the platter, but his eyes remain on me.
The lustful tension between us still lingers and, to my dismay, shows no signs of dissipating.
We leave the chamber behind and descend the grand staircase, our footsteps echoing in the open courtyard where the rest of our companions await. Xander's gaze lands on Warrick and me with disappointment.
'Did you not receive the message not to be tardy?' Xander questions, his tone tinged with frustration.
Confusion clouds my thoughts as I respond, 'I thought we arrived on time, didn't we?'
Xander sighs heavily, weariness evident in his voice. 'Well, you're both here now. Let's get down to business,' he says, diverting the conversation towards our mission. 'I had hoped to gather some wizards to teleport us closer to the Crystal Mines to free the magically bound Felderians, but unfortunately, news of the Mystic Council's demise has spread. Many wizards have fled the Starlight Citadel, fearing they too will become targets,' he explains. 'So, it seems we have no choice but to rely on the Glowhorn-stags again. We shall trek through the enchanted Sylvan woods to get there, and then we need to return you all to your world before your families and the authorities classify you as missing persons,' he concludes with urgency.
Concern clouds my mind as I step closer to Xander and interject, 'But what about my Blossom Fox flower?'
Imogen clears her throat, drawing everyone's attention. She opens the satchel she carries over her shoulder, revealing the glowing jar containing the precious flower. Relief surges through me, and without hesitation, I squeal with delight and throw my arms around Imogen.
Our embrace takes us off guard, and we stumble backward. The jar suspends in mid-air, slipping from Imogen's grasp. We all gasp. Time stands still as I react instinctively, extending my hand and deftly catching the jar just moments before it reaches the ground. A collective sigh of relief fills the air, echoing through the courtyard, but Warrick's pained expression does not go unnoticed.
Concern washes over me as I sit up and meet Warrick's gaze. I can sense the anguish in his features. My heart aches in empathy for him, yet I know that I have no other choice but to proceed with the reversal potion. Perhaps, once I regain my human form, the bond between us will dissipate, allowing him to find a new love, free from the complexities we now face, or the bond breaking could ultimately destroy him. Standing up, I clutch the jar tightly, my eyes downcast with a heavy burden of guilt.
Discomfort consumes me, the constricting dress proving to be more than I can bear. My tail, restricted against my back, throbs with an ache as it tries to move. Looking over my shoulder, I address Imogen, voicing my discomfort. 'This dress is so uncomfortable. I can't move my tail, and it's starting to hurt,' I tell her.
Imogen contemplates for a moment before offering a solution. 'Could we make a hole somewhere to allow your tail to poke through?' she suggests.
'That might work,' I respond, nodding in agreement.
Xander passes Imogen a dagger, which she carefully wields. She explores the upper backside area of my dress until she finds the ideal spot to create a hole. I cringe at the sound of tearing fabric, but a surge of relief quickly replaces my discomfort as she retrieves my tail, now free to move once more. I glance at it, playfully wagging, and a smile forms on my lips. 'So much better,' I breathe with gratitude. 'Thank you,' I convey to Imogen and breathe with relief.
‘Ayla,’ Xander calls over, and she rushes before him.
‘Yes?’ she asks nervously.
‘Gretchen is exiled from the Starlight Citadel. Any sightings of her must be told to a bluebird and have it report to me immediately. You will be in charge of looking over the upkeep of the citadel during my absence. I intend to return in a few weeks to figure out who will make up the new Mystic Council of Felderia,’ he tells her.
‘Yes, Xander,’ Ayla responds with a respectful curtsy, acknowledging her newfound duties.
Xander takes Janie’s hand. ‘Very well, it’s now time we depart,’ he says.
I interject, realising the book from the high tower is still in my chamber. ‘Let me get the book before we leave,’ With a swift ascent up the stairs, I collect a satchel and place the ancient tome of Felderia within it. I then approach the bed, gently rousing Pixel from his slumber. 'It's time to go, little one,' I whisper to him.
Pixel, still groggy, rolls onto his back lazily and emits puffs of smoke. 'I know. I'm still tired, too,' I assure him. He musters the energy to sit up and flits his wings, gracefully landing on my shoulder. With the ancient book and Pixel in tow, I return downstairs to rejoin the group.