“Okay,” he said, “now you’re going to fly.”

“I thought I was flying.”

“You’re hovering. And hovering is really important. But now you’re going to fly.”

“Okay.”

“First you’re going to go higher. Then, you’re going to lower the front of your body and raise your legs out, arms at your sides. Keep your wings moving and you’ll see that they will go forward and back, using the air to push you forward. In scientific terms—”

“I don’t do science, so don’t even finish that sentence.”

“Okay. You want me to show you first?”

“No.”

Kera closed her eyes, took in a breath, let it out. She did that several times, then she shot straight up. Vig followed, watching her closely, ready to grab her if she started falling back to the ground. But she didn’t. Instead, she followed his directions perfectly and suddenly . . . Kera was flying. Her body cut through the air and she sped off.

Vig rushed to catch up with her, watching as she flew. She abruptly turned in midair and came shooting back toward him. Her wings brushed against his face as she passed him. He turned and, again, followed her. But Vig quickly realized he didn’t have to anymore. Kera was moving on her own and completely comfortable.

He stopped, hovering right over the Raven house. A few of his brothers returning from a hunt paused by him.

“What are you doing?” one of them asked.

“Waiting.”

“For what?”

In answer, moving like a missile, Kera shot by them. Even better, she was laughing.

“We’re under Crow attack!” one of the brothers cried out.

“We’re not under Crow attack,” Vig quickly told him.

“Then what is she doing?”

“Flying.”

“Why is she doing that here? Over our territory?”

“Because I’m helping her out.”

Another brother laughed. “Helping her out. Nice, Rundstöm.”

Vig crossed his arms over his chest and stared at his brother until the Raven eased back.

“I was just kidding. I was just kidding!”

Yeah. Vig loved what Kera called his “thousand-yard stare.” Loved it!

Kera crashed into his back, her body right between his wings, her legs around his waist, her arms loosely wrapped round his neck, her chin on his shoulder.

“Hi!” she greeted the other Ravens, sounding happier than he’d ever heard her. “I’m Kera.”

“The new girl,” his brothers replied.

“So,” one asked, “how did you die?”

Vig growled and his brothers eased back.

“It’s all right, Vig,” Kera said. “I was warned I’d be askedthis question. Knife to the chest.” She patted Vig’s chest. “Right up to the hilt. It was most unpleasant.”

“I bet. But you’re here now. Hanging on to our boy Vig.”

Kera pressed her face against Vig’s. “I’m sorry. Were you two together?”

His brother rolled his eyes. “No. I like a guy who’s a little more fem.”

“Okay,” Vig said. “That’s enough. We’re done objectifying me. It’s not my fault I’m so damn handsome.”

Kera laughed and released her hold on Vig, dropping back, and then shooting off. Vig watched her go before looking back at his brothers. They were all gawking at him.

“What?” he finally asked them. “What are you all staring at?”

“Did you just make a joke?” one asked.

“Yeah. I’m funny.”

“Not really. I’m funny. But you’re not actually known for funny. You’re known for being . . . ya know . . . Swedish.”

“My people have a wonderful sense of humor.”

“If you’re not going to take this seriously,” his brother said, shaking his head as the others headed down to the house, “we’re just going to end this conversation.”

Kera felt invigorated. Alive. Free.

This had been the most amazing experience of her life. But her muscles were getting tired and she was ready to get down.

There was just one problem . . . she didn’t really know how.

“Vig?” she called out as she circled above his house.

“Do you think I’m funny?”

Kera turned, found Vig perched on a branch in one of the trees.

“How are you keeping your weight on that branch?”

He shrugged. “I just do. So, funny? Not funny?”

“You make me laugh. In a good way. Not in an ‘I’m laughing at you’ way.”

“My brothers don’t think I’m funny.”

“Probably because you growl at them when they piss you off.”

“But I make you laugh?”

“So far.”

“I’ll go with that.”

“I’m tired,” Kera announced.

“Okay.”

“I don’t know how to get down.”

“I’ll help you.”

“No. I need to learn to do this on my own.”

“Okay. Then spot where you want to land, bring up your wings, and you can treat the air like brakes on a car. You’ll be a little off first but—”

“I know. I know.”

Kera looked down, picked a spot, and headed down. But as she neared the ground, she couldn’t seem to slow her body down.