The demon lifted one eyebrow in an almost censuring way.

“Because they aren´t the ones I have to obey.”

Well, solid answer.

“Are you in love with someone?”

“No.”

“Does someone love you?”

He didn´t show his irritation, but I felt his hesitation.

“No.”

“Good.”

I tilted my head slightly. No wonder he was so out of luck in that department. He was an Animal, after all. He would never love anybody. Why was I even asking these questions?

I looked up to the sky.

“Are you able to fly?”

“If you want me to.”

What a way to answer that. Exactly how powerful was this demon of mine?

“Well, yeah!”

He turned his head so hard that his neck cracked with an alarming sound. Then he suddenly bent over and pulled his shirt up his back in one sliding move.

He opened his mouth slightly and let out a hoarse growl. While I watched with fascination, two big wings started growing between his shoulder blades. They looked dark and leathery and were, for whatever reason, covered in thorns. Maybe growing out of his extremely light skin made them look even darker than they were. All in all, they looked quite intimidating.

“You – you can take me with you, right? I mean, if you fly...”

My throat felt dry as he turned his head and looked at me with narrow eyes.

“Of course, mistress.”

Oh, he was calling me his mistress. He turned around again and I took my chance, grapping his devilish wings. He shivered in my hands. The leather was much thicker than I expected and covered in fine hairs, just like regular skin should be. Well, it was skin, after all, even if it kinda just grew out of his back.

I slowly followed the outline of the muscles up to my demon's shoulders. I could feel the thick bones through the skin here. I blinked. How was it even possible for something like this demon to exist?

I had time. His time was all mine. For everything I wanted to know from him, I just had to ask. This realization gave me a strange sense of satisfaction.

I threw both my arms around his wings and pulled myself onto his back. He slightly bent his knees when he felt my weight.

Why did he make himself look like a human? Was it to make me accept him easier?

I stared at his very human ears and watched him slowly lift his head to look up to the sky. We were surrounded by trees, but the view up wasn´t really hindered. The bright sun didn´t seem to hurt his eyes – or maybe he just ignored the pain.

I opened my eyes as far as I could, pulled myself up a little further and wrapped my legs around his belly.

Would he really be able to fly? With me? Would I fly?

I felt my heart race a bit faster.

“Ok, Go! I mean, Fly!”

He slightly moved his wings and I tightened my arms around his neck.

My body was skinny enough to fit in between his wings. He started to run and I felt his wings brushing against my rips.

Does he feel that? That excitement? That power?