Winged.

"Its safe here for the time being. The place is warded with protection spells. Only people I allow to come in can walk through it," he told her while standing near the entrance of the so called hut. From the outside, its just made of up bricks and nestled with roofs made up of dry leaves, but Selena knows it does more of its magic inside.

As plain as the hut looks from the outside, the inside was a house where a comfortable house would look like. Everything was in place. A room, a kitchen, a living area and a bathroom covering every corner. It looks like a place taken care by a mother of the family. Who's house is this? Or is it was Selena wondered.

He stood strangely awkward thinking what else it is that should be advised to Selena before leaving her here for the time being. Selena stood staring around gaping.

She was brought here not willingly. No one wanted her in the village of hers. It was all it took for an Highlander to offer himself to bring her over. Who is he? All he said after offering up to take her was, well nothing. He helped her up on his horse and slide behind her and Selena still processing what was happening around her.

Highlanders are mythical creatures according to humans. They possess magic no one could. They partly are shape shifters. Depends on their level of royalty, a full royal Highlander could transform to a full shape shifter. No one disagrees with an Highlander, that was the unspoken rule.

He had wings. Black. Feathers. She had never seen one so beautiful covering the back of a person. His was flowing with royalty but is he one? It was almost the height of him and width twice of his muscularly lean body.

"I have two of my personal Rimwicks attending to you if you need them," He snapped his finger and two floating creatures came in view in front of her that she jerked and backed off hitting a wall behind.

Rimwicks are personal attendees of the Highlanders. They look like floating version of mini gargoyles.

Selena was now terrified of having them around her. Her wide eyes must have been read by him that he added, "They wont come to life unless you summon them to," and that made the two floating Rimwicks to turn to stone and was now on the mantel of the fireplace. Great now two pair of eyes will be watching her movement?

"Thank you," Selena was sincerely thankful but it came out hastily due to her nervousness.

He simply nodded and disappeared. Damn that tricks always gives her chills. Highlanders can teleport. Appearing here and there wherever they wish they want to.

Now she was all alone. Afternoon sun was blazing through but she was bone tired to move around. She move to the couch and slide down warily. Strangely comfortable.

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She must have slept. Because when she opened her eyes, it was night time and someone was cooking someone. She smelled food the moment her sense came and dawned on her that someone was in the house besides her! She stood in a motion too fast for her to conjure that, she black out for few second standing and she saw black wings in the kitchen. Her heart beating wild. The guy is has not to her his name is cooking?

She stalked slowly towards the open entrance. He must have heard her gasping in surprise because he turned to give a glance over his shoulder and continued his cook work.

I saw plates arranged for two and my stomach grumbled.

As if on cue, he turned and place two big bowls of soup filled with scrumptious delicacy that she rarely got to eat at her village.

He motioned her to take a place as he did on her opposite. They had a silent dinner.

But Selena couldn't take the silent treatment. "Name?" She asked while looking at him.

Something flickered in his eyes but he answered, "Lorean Canally."

"Selena Lane,"

Then it went still. He must have realised the awkwardness because he stood and went to clean up his plate, walked over to the room next to the living hall.

Is he going to sleep here? If so where does Selena sleeps she wondered and shivered.

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Its been a week of stay. Selena cooks dinner now because Lorean was rarely in the hut nowadays. No, much to Selena's worry, he does not sleep in the hut, he does not stay overnight. Once a while he comes over then greets, "Lady Selena." She got used to him calling her that since the introduction.

But all she does to get his attention was to clear her throat and speak by not addressing his name. Somehow it feels weird for her to call him Lor, or Lorean. What should she address him? But he seems to not care.

When she cooks, she always cooks for him too, in case he comes and always leave his dish on the table. Surprisingly, the bowl is always empty the next morning. Does he sneak in at night while I sleep? But she knows its him.


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"I want to walk outside," She told him one day when he came over. She was getting frantic being closed with no visitation for her to talk to someone and she badly wanted to walk out and look at something but much to her eagerness, she dont dare till she gets permission.

"You may," Was all he said and disappeared leaving a note on the coffee table in front of the couch.

'Silver satin with heels of your choosing.
20:00 hours.Tonight'

The note said.

Ah? He wants me to dress up?

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Someone came along with Lorean when she was getting ready. A girl. She looks the same age of hers and friendly too.

When Lorean teleported with her together, she straight came to Selena and greeted.

"My greetings Lady Lane. Oh what a gorgeous outfit you wear but let me take over the beautification," She displays too much formality it edges Selena on speaking because she wasnt sure it would come out formally.

But she thank her.

The girl told her to call her Lady Kestrel.

"There, there. All dolled up for the ceremony," Lady Kestrel exclaimed.

Selena was shaken to see herself in the mirror. That was not the person she knows that looks back at her through the reflection but it was her.

Did she used magic? Was that what she meant by beautification? But no, she used sets of colored powdered and lipsticks that she knows only Highlanders can afford. Probably its mixed with magic. All Highlanders are beautiful, even the males.

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Selena was then accompanied by Lady Kestrel in a carriage.

They pass through the road of forestry and now pacing through a city hall heading towards the Highlander's Palace. Is there an event today? Where is Lorean Canally? He is not joining them?

Selena started fidgeting. Can someone like her visit a palace of an Highlander? Wouldn't people recognise her? Oh no. She was shaking now.

"I have woven you with my magic to keep to constraint among the plain view of the Highlanders. Do not worry of being identified," Lady Kestrel said as though she read her mind.

I knew it, Selena thought. Magic indeed she did.

When she walked through the entrance to the event hall, a cold chill ran down her spine. Dejavu.

She feels familiarity but Selena could swear she has never been in here in the 24 years of life. Or did she?

Lady Kestrel was hand in hand with her and she directed them both among the crowds. There were foods everywhere and Selena started drooling at them.

"The days is yours, Lady Lane. Enjoy the food. I advise you eat them before your appetites goes away," She grinned. Oh?

When Selena started moving towards them to get hold of a muffin she saw, she heard loud horn. Announcement. She knew it. Royalties coming in. She quickly twirled and moved away to hide among crowds. Lady Kestrel was having conversation with someone few feet from her.

Somehow being an average height gave her an advantage to see the Royalties from behind the crowd. When the wide wooden door she came through opened again, in came in few white coat dressed chiseled men with wings.  Each men with wings of different stealth and size.

Selena marveled at their dressing and the features. Royal Highlanders making an entrance.

Then followed by women, old and young. But unlike their male counterpart, the women had hidden their wings. Somehow making them invisible. Retracted.

And now Selena understood while Lady Kestrel told her about eating the food before her appetite goes off.

Walking in, in the last person of the Royal Highlander was Lorean Canally. Prince of Highlander. His wings were smooth black silk features. It gave her goosebumps.

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Coffee