Desired by Morgan Rice

ambled through the house, going room to room, carrying a washcloth. Caleb had left, had gone out hunting, excited to bring them both home dinner. She was thril ed, because it gave her some time alone to walk through the house, to take it al in, by herself, and to look at it, with a woman’s eye, for how she could fix it up and make it a home for them both.
    She walked through the rooms, opening windows, letting in the ocean air. She’d found a pail and rag and had gone down to the stream she’d seen running through the backyard, and had returned with an overflowing pail ful of water. She’d run the rag through the stream until it was as clean as could be. She’d found a large crate to stand on, and as she opened each of the huge, medieval windows, she stood up on the crate, and wiped each pane. There were a few windows which were simply too high for her to reach, and for these, she activated her wings, fluttering high in the air, and hovering before the windows as she cleaned them.
    She was shocked at the immediate difference it made. The room transformed from being dark to being completely flooded with light. There must’ve been hundreds of years of caked dirt and salt on both sides of the pane. Indeed, just opening each window was a feat in itself, taking al her might to yank them free of rust and debris.
    Caitlin looked careful y and was in awe at the craftsmanship of each window. Each window pane was several inches thick, and had the most beautiful design.
    Some of the glass was stained, some was clear, and some had the slightest tint of color. As she wiped each one down, she could almost feel the house’s gratitude, as it slowly, inch by inch, came back to life.
    Caitlin final y finished and surveyed it again. She was shocked. What had before been a dark, uninviting room, was now an incredible, sun-fil ed room, with a view of the ocean.
    Caitlin turned to the floors next, getting down on her hands and knees and scrubbing them foot by foot. She watched with satisfaction as inches of dirt came off, and the beautiful, huge stones began to shine through.
    After that, she turned to the enormous marble mantelpiece, wiping off years of dust. Then she turned to the huge, ornate mirror above it, wiping it down until it shone. She was bummed that she could stil not see her reflection—but she knew there was little she could do about that.
    She turned to the chandelier next, wiping each and every one of its crystal laden candle holders.
    After that, she set her sights on the four-poster bed. She wiped down each of its posts, and then its frame, slowly bringing back to life the ancient wood. She grabbed the aging blankets and went to the terrace and shook them hard, clouds of dust flying everywhere.
    Caitlin returned to the room, her would-be bedroom, and surveyed it: it was now magnificent. It shone as brightly as any room in any castle. It was stil medieval, but at least now it was fresh and inviting. Her heart soared at the idea of living here.
    She looked down and realized that the water in the bucket had turned completely black, and bounded down the steps and out the door, eager to refil it in the stream.
    Caitlin smiled as she thought of what Caleb’s reaction would be when he came back. He would be so surprised, she thought. She would clean out the dining room next.
    She’d try to create an intimate environment in which they could have their first meal together in a new home—the first, she hoped, of many.
    As Caitlin arrived at the waterbank, sinking to her knees in the soft grass, emptying and fil ing the bucket, she suddenly felt her senses on high alert. She heard a rustling noise, close by, and sensed an animal approaching her.
    She quickly spun, and was surprised at what she saw.
    Approaching her slowly, just feet away, was a wolf pup. Its fur was al white, except for a single streak of gray running down its forehead and back. What struck Caitlin most was its eyes: they stared back at Caitlin as if it knew