A Hippogriff for Christmas - Zoe Chant Page 0,32

head.

It’s trying to show me it doesn’t mean me any harm, Annie realized in a flash of insight – and it was then that she remembered Beau’s other words: I would never hurt you.

Remembering them now, Annie seemed to feel them in her chest – in her heart.

He wasn’t lying after all. The thought struck her with a sudden clarity. He really was telling the truth. It wasn’t a trick. It was real.

But then – did that mean –

“Hippogriffs are real, then?” she suddenly blurted out, not sure what else to say. “You – you actually exist in the world?”

And not only do you exist, you transform into ridiculously attractive men?

Because really, Beau was the best-looking man Annie had ever seen – not to mention kind, considerate, strong, protective…

And now he’s a hippogriff.

Annie honestly wasn’t sure whether this went onto her list of Beau’s positive traits or not.

She’d thought before that Beau wasn’t like other men she’d known, but this wasn’t what she’d meant!

The hippogriff made another low, soft sound, as if trying to reassure her. Annie shivered as she felt it ripple through her, almost as if the sound itself was soothing her jangled nerves. She swallowed.

“Would it – would it be all right to touch you?” she asked softly. She wasn’t sure if that was appropriate, but then again she doubted this situation featured in literally any dating handbook ever written.

In any case, Beau certainly didn’t seem to take offense – quite the opposite in fact. He made another crooning sound, lowering his massive shoulder as if inviting her to touch him.

Swallowing, Annie made her way between the trees, holding out her hand when she reached Beau’s side.

Warm, was her first impression when her fingers brushed over the feathers on his shoulder. And soft.

She couldn’t help it – before she could think, she’d buried her fingers in the soft feathers of his shoulder, stroking.

Beau made a sound that was almost a purr, shifting his wings a little.

“Is that… good?” Annie asked uncertainly, and got her answer in an even louder purr, while Beau’s golden eyes half-closed.

This is so weird.

And it was weird. But to be honest… Annie couldn’t say she minded, now that the initial shock had worn off.

But she did have a lot of questions for Beau.

Is this what he was trying to tell me about his family? she wondered. Are they all like this? Was the hippogriff in the picture a relative of his?!

“Okay, I – I think I get it now,” she said, withdrawing her fingers regretfully from the warmth of his shoulder. “Do you… uh, do you change back?”

God, I hope so, Annie thought. As magnificent and impressive as Beau’s current form was, she kind of missed his human form.

She wondered if having the body and face of a particularly handsome god was all part and parcel of the amazing abilities Beau seemed to have?

The hippogriff let out another croon – and then it was changing again, shifting back into the human form Annie had spent so much of her time today admiring.

She couldn’t hold back a shiver as she looked up into his face, his eyes dark instead of golden once more. How was it possible that he somehow seemed to look even better than she remembered?

Hippogriff or not, Annie couldn’t remember ever wanting anyone the way she wanted Beau – had been wanting him, since the very first moment she’d laid eyes on him.

“You all right there?”

Annie hadn’t even realized her knees had given out a little until Beau’s hands were on her arms, huge and warm, holding her upright easily.

“I, uh, yeah.” She nodded, righting herself. “I guess it’s just a little bit of a delayed reaction.”

Beau looked down at her, concern in his eyes. “I realize this must be… kind of a shock.”

Annie nodded. “That’s one way of putting it.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t think of a way to tell you sooner – or before you saw the photo,” Beau said. “I had hoped I’d be able to prepare you a little better first. Or at least win your trust.”

Annie looked down, biting her lip.

“I don’t really know where that kind of thing would come up naturally in a conversation,” she said. “So maybe it was better this way. Kind of like ripping the Band-Aid off all in one go.”

Beau laughed, a rich, deep sound that sent a shiver down Annie’s spine. “That’s definitely one way of looking at it.”

“But I do have a lot of questions for you,” Annie said