Page 85 of Suncatcher

“I did not notice.”

Pearl snorted. “Yeah. Right.”

An angry heat rushed through Driz’s limbs. She couldn’t stand it. She slammed her hands into the floor of the cave beneath her, gouging furrows through the soft limestone with her claws. “I did not! Why does no one believe me when I speak?” Driz’s chest ached. “Why would I lie to you about that?”

Pearl recoiled from her, her face cold. “I dunno. Why would you?”

Driz tucked her wings against her back and retreated to the edge of the cave. Pearl was angry with her now too.

She folded herself into the stone, the only place she belonged and never wanted to be: alone.

24

Flight of Desire

Pearl twisted with guilt as soon as Driz withdrew from her. She managed to resist the need to follow long enough to add another log to the fire.

She crouched in front of the huddled goyle, a wing shielding her. “Driz, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

“I do not want you to be angry,” Driz rumbled, her voice muffled.

“I’m not angry.”

“Is that another one of your lies?”

Ouch. Pearl deserved that. “I’m not angry. I’m jealous.”

Driz peeked at her over her wing. “Then why will you not kiss me anymore?”

Pearl wasn’t certain how to answer that question. “I kissed you earlier.” She knew it was not the right response.

“Yeah,” Driz breathed, the casual word and the defeat in it setting Pearl’s nerves on edge.

“I don’t owe you kisses,” Pearl snapped.

“I know that.” Driz’s eyes glistened as she let her wings drop, shifting backward, toward the mouth of the cave. “I am very aware you do not owe me anything.”

“Where’re you going?” Pearl pursued Driz to the edge.

“Hunting.”

“You’ll come back, right?” Pearl couldn’t stand the thought of Driz abandoning her. Not now. But Driz was already in the air.

Pearl watched her leave, forcing herself to trust Driz to come back. Not that Pearl could do anything if she didn’t. If Driz left, Pearl wouldn’t be able to stop her.

Pearl sank onto the hard floor of the cave and dropped her face in her palms. This was exactly why she was trying to hold back with Driz, because she kept screwing everything up. Pearl couldn’t stand to hurt Driz more than she already had. It would be easier to just be friends. Pearl’s heart and body rebelled at that, but they would just have to deal with it.

Pearl hadn’t moved when Driz finally returned. The fire had burned down and Driz’s large form loomed from the darkness, the force of her wings scattering grains of sand over Pearl’s boots.

“I brought this for you,” Driz said, holding out a buzzard, its plumage meticulously plucked. “Sorry it took a while.”

Pearl took the gift. “You didn’t have to.”

“I wanted to. What is wrong?” Driz cupped Pearl’s wet cheek. “Do you not like buzzard? I will find you something else.”

Pearl threw her arms around Driz’s neck, pulling her close. She buried her face in Driz’s shoulder, wishing she could give her what she deserved. “You’ve got the biggest heart.”

“There are other goyles who are larger than I am.”