Chapter 6: Lightning, Love, and the Real Wish

I smugly looked at the words I wrote: I hate Carter the most. I scrawled it in big, angry letters, underlining it twice.

"Quinn, hang this in my room," I handed her the paper, trying to look fierce.

Quinn took the paper, puzzled: "But you don’t really hate Carter, do you?" She looked at me, concern in her eyes.

I pouted and put my wings on my hips, crossing my arms, turning away. "No, I hate him!" I stomped my foot, determined to stick to my guns.

I’ve been back so long, and Carter never came to see me. Even the second boy visited several times. Each visit made my heart ache a little more. Where was Carter?

Carter really doesn’t care about me. Does he really want me to marry? I hugged my pillow, feeling lost.

Fragmented memories flashed through my mind. I remembered Carter’s gentle touch, his quiet laughter, the way he’d ruffle my hair when he thought I wasn’t looking.

Carter’s gentle care and indulgence—I thought my feelings were just gratitude. I’d always told myself it was just respect, nothing more.

But after leaving him, I realized my feelings were more than gratitude. I missed him in a way that hurt. I wanted to be near him, to make him smile.

There was reliance, and joy. He was my anchor, my safe place. I didn’t want to let him go.

I liked Carter standing in front of me, giving me a sense of security. He made the world feel less scary, more manageable.

I liked how he was cold in public but couldn’t stop holding me in private. He had a softness he showed only to me. It made me feel special.

Titles and age differences meant nothing to me. I didn’t care what anyone else thought. I knew what I wanted.

Who am I? The Bird Lady, Riley. I grinned at my reflection, feeling a surge of confidence. Spoiled since childhood, never afraid in love. I’d never let fear hold me back—not now, not ever.

"Quinn! I have someone I like." My eyes sparkled, and my feathers glowed with happiness. I bounced on my toes, unable to contain my excitement.

Quinn leaned in curiously: "Which guy?" She grinned, eager for gossip.

I pointed at the paper I’d just written on, wings on my hips, grinning. I held it up proudly, daring her to guess.

"Carter!" I shouted it, letting the world know. Quinn’s expression changed. Her jaw dropped, eyes wide as saucers.

"Ca-Carter the Guardian?! Lady, you can’t like Carter. He’s older than Uncle Henry." She wrung her hands, clearly worried.

I tapped Quinn’s anxious head. Silly, does age matter? I laughed, ruffling her hair.

"So what if he’s older? He’s handsome and single. Why can’t I like him!" I stuck out my chin, daring her to argue.

"Lady, you just said you hated him." Quinn held my writing. She waved the paper, looking confused.

I snatched it and crossed out ‘hate,’ changing it to ‘like.’ I scribbled over the word, replacing it with a big, bold ‘like.’

Satisfied, I put down the pen. I smiled, feeling lighter than I had in weeks. I like Carter the most. It felt good to say it out loud.

After writing, I rushed out of my room, ignoring my appearance. I didn’t even stop to fix my hair. I had something important to do.

Panting, I found my mom watering flowers in the garden. She hummed to herself, the scent of roses filling the air.

I knelt and bowed, startling her so much she dropped the watering can, splashing me. Water splashed everywhere, but I didn’t care.

"Mom, Riley already has someone she likes. Please let me marry him." I looked up, determination in my eyes.

Mom squinted and asked, "Who?" She raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued.

"Carter!" I said firmly, standing tall, refusing to back down. Mom was shocked, her expression uncertain. She gaped at me, trying to process what I’d said.

"Carter?!" Her voice echoed across the yard. I bowed again: "I, Riley, will marry no one but Carter!" I declared it for all to hear, my voice unwavering.

As soon as I finished, I heard a mug fall behind me. The sound made me jump. I turned to see who it was.

I turned around. Carter, dressed in white, was standing there. He looked more handsome than ever, the sun catching in his silver hair.

Our eyes met. He was as beautiful as a movie star, unmatched in the world. My heart skipped a beat. I held my breath, waiting for his reaction.

I looked at him expectantly, but he avoided my gaze and turned to leave. He hesitated for a moment, then walked away, his expression unreadable.

My dad, who had come with him, was still in shock. He stood frozen, coffee mug dangling from his hand.

As Carter turned to go, my dad came to his senses and chased after him. He called out, “Wait, Carter!” but Carter didn’t look back.

I didn’t understand my dad’s look. My mom nudged me and raised her brows, "Your taste is just like mine." She winked, a mischievous glint in her eye.

"?" I was confused. I tilted my head, waiting for an explanation.

Mom stroked her chin, "Back then, I also liked Carter. He was the dream of countless women, but he was too cold, so they all gave up." She sighed, lost in memory.

She winked at me, "You’re really stubborn." She ruffled my hair, pride in her eyes.

"Why did dad take Carter?" I looked at their distant figures. I squinted, trying to make out what they were saying.

Mom drawled, "Nothing, you’re about to transform, so Carter is here to protect you." She said it like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"How come I didn’t know?" My eyes widened. Even I didn’t know—how did they? I felt a twinge of annoyance. Why was I always the last to know?

"Professor Simmons calculated it." Mom looked serious, taking my transformation very seriously. She glanced at the sky, as if expecting a sign.

I rubbed my forehead helplessly, "When has Professor Simmons ever been right?" I rolled my eyes, thinking of all his failed predictions.

As soon as I spoke, thunder rumbled in the sky. A low growl echoed across the yard. I froze. A bolt of lightning struck at my feet, blasting a big hole. The ground shook, dirt flying everywhere. I stumbled back, heart racing.

If I hadn’t reacted quickly, it would have hit me directly. I leapt aside, adrenaline surging. But the thunder kept rolling, showing no sign of stopping. The sky darkened, clouds swirling overhead.

"?" Could talking about a professor behind their back really get you struck by lightning? I stared up at the sky, half-expecting Professor Simmons to appear and scold me.

Mom had already moved far away to watch. She waved from the porch, shouting encouragement. "You fool, you’re about to transform!" she shouted, her voice faint, but full of excitement.

My brow twitched. Professor Simmons was actually right this time. I shook my head, still in disbelief.

Another bolt struck. This time, I wasn’t so lucky. Pain exploded across my back. I cried out, falling to my knees. It left me dizzy, burning a patch of feathers on my back, and I spat blood on the ground. I coughed, tasting copper. My vision blurred.

In my blurry vision, I seemed to see Carter’s figure. He stood at the edge of the storm, eyes locked on me.

I bit my beak hard, refusing to cry out. I gritted my teeth, determined to stay strong. The burning on my back and the pain in my organs brought tears to my eyes. I couldn’t hold them back any longer. They streamed down my face.

"Carter..." His name slipped out, a plea for help. As I lost consciousness from pain, I called his name. My world faded to black, his face the last thing I saw.

His figure froze. He hesitated, torn between running to me and staying put. I suddenly fell into a warm embrace. Strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me close. The scent of cedar filled my nose, and I greedily breathed it in. It was Carter. I knew it without opening my eyes.

I knew this scent well. It was comfort, safety, home. How many times had I fallen asleep in these arms? It was Carter. He held me gently, whispering soothing words.

My limbs felt twisted, as if broken and reattached. In agony, I clung to his sleeve. I buried my face in his shirt, desperate for relief.

"Carter, it hurts." My voice was small, but he heard me. I whimpered, tears streaming down my cheeks. He stroked my hair, murmuring reassurances.

Carter gently wiped my tears. The lightning hitting him seemed to have no effect, and he remained calm. He shielded me from the storm, taking the brunt of each strike.

But I clearly saw blood at the corner of his mouth. A single drop stained his lip, but he ignored it. I felt even worse. I had caused Carter to get hurt. Guilt gnawed at me, but he just smiled, telling me it was okay.

Of the ten bolts of lightning, under Carter’s protection, he stood tall, never wavering. I only took one; the rest couldn’t even touch a hair on me. He absorbed the pain, keeping me safe. Carter bore the tribulation for me. He didn’t hesitate, not even for a second.

After all ten bolts, a strange energy surged into my body. It was like being filled with sunlight, every cell tingling with power. My body changed miraculously. I felt my bones shift, my skin tingle. It was terrifying and exhilarating.

I tried to raise my hand to touch Carter’s face, only to find my wings had turned into slender fingers. I stared in awe, flexing my new hands.

I exclaimed in surprise, "Carter, look at me! I’ve transformed!" I laughed, tears streaming down my face.

Carter glanced at me for a second, then quickly looked away, flustered. He blushed, ears turning pink. I thought it was because I wasn’t good-looking. I glanced down, suddenly self-conscious.

It was the first time I’d seen such a clear expression on his face, his ears slightly red. He cleared his throat, avoiding my gaze. But he immediately took off his outer jacket and wrapped it around me.

He draped it over my shoulders, careful not to look. My face turned bright red—it was my first transformation, and I was naked. I huddled inside the jacket, grateful for the cover.

Carter didn’t mind the blood on me dirtying his clothes. Once he made sure I was covered, he carried me out of the lightning field, lifting me easily, cradling me against his chest.

My parents rushed over, running across the yard, relief flooding their faces when they saw me safe. Seeing me in Carter’s jacket, they exchanged a smile. Mom winked, Dad grinned. I rolled my eyes, but couldn’t help smiling back.

Dad cleared his throat, "Now that Carter has..." He trailed off, looking at Carter expectantly. Carter interrupted, "I’ll take responsibility." His voice was steady, full of conviction.

Maybe realizing he sounded too cold, he added, "I’m not marrying anyone but Riley." He looked me in the eye, his gaze softening.

Dad nodded in relief, agreeing, clapping Carter on the back, beaming with pride. He and Carter were of the same generation, but now, thanks to me, his status rose instantly. He straightened his tie, standing a little taller.

Mom gave me a thumbs-up behind Carter’s back: impressive. She mouthed, “You did it!” I winked: nothing to it. I grinned, feeling on top of the world.

After changing into the clothes mom prepared, I nervously held a mirror, not daring to look. My hands shook, heart pounding in my chest.

My heart pounded. Taking a deep breath, I finally opened one eye to peek at my reflection. I gasped, hardly recognizing the woman staring back at me.

The woman in the mirror was stunning, with fair skin. Her eyes sparkled, her hair shone. I touched my face, amazed.

"Ah!" I squealed, unable to contain my excitement. Carter, waiting outside, heard my shout and entered to see me admiring myself in the mirror.

He leaned against the doorframe, a smile tugging at his lips. "Ah, how can I be so beautiful!" I twirled, admiring every angle.

"Look at these eyes and nose, so exquisite." I traced my features, hardly believing they were mine. I couldn’t get enough of looking at myself. I grinned, feeling like a movie star.

Carter frowned, not understanding my excitement. He tilted his head, puzzled. "You were cute before too." He said it simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I turned away. A straight guy’s opinion doesn’t count. I rolled my eyes, but secretly, his words made me happy.

In the mirror’s reflection, I saw Carter pick up a piece of paper. I froze, recognizing it instantly. Strange, why did it look familiar? My heart skipped a beat. Oh no.

"What’s this?" Carter asked. He unfolded it, reading aloud. When he opened it, my face turned red. I covered my face, mortified. It was the one I told Quinn to hang up! I’d forgotten all about it.

"I like Carter the most. —Riley?" Carter read word by word, his voice soft, almost teasing. My face reddened even more. I reached to grab it, but Carter was much taller and easily held it out of reach. He grinned, enjoying my embarrassment.

"Give it to me!" I stomped in embarrassment, pouting, crossing my arms.

Carter smiled, a breeze in the moonlight, and whispered in my ear, "I like Riley the most too." His breath was warm against my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

His breath tickled my neck, making me tingle. I blushed, heart racing.

Dizzy from his flirting, I whispered, "Was what you said earlier—about marrying no one but me—true?" I searched his eyes, hoping for reassurance.

Carter pulled me into his arms, holding me close, his heartbeat steady against mine.

"I said all of Riley’s wishes will come true." His voice was a promise, strong and sure.

My wish. To win one person’s heart and never part for life.

I smiled, knowing my wish had finally come true.