50.1. Arriving in New York - Part 1

I look at the helicopter and take a step back, bumping into Erik behind me. He hugs me tight so that I won't run away. Or fly away.

"No way!" I protest. "I'll fly to the airport myself!"

"Don't make a scene, Aefener," Liana sighs, following right after us. "I'm not thrilled about it either but I want us to travel together."

"Taranah and my guards could fly," I frown. "And Emi was permitted to use a car."

"Just tell him the surprise, Erik," she rolls her eyes.

"Hon, I'll be the one flying it," he says proudly and tingles me under my feathers.

"You will?" I turn around to face him and my anxiety mitigates.

"Yep," he grins. "Do you feel better about it? You can even sit in the cockpit next to me."

I do feel better about it so I let Erik push me inside. Obviously, seats weren't made for Celestials and while Liana's luxury helicopter is exceptionally large, my feathers are everywhere when I sit down and at least partly fold my wings.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, we'll put up shields around the helicopter and police drones are accompanying us," Vermiel assures me when he notices that I'm eyeing my surroundings.

That's not what I'm worried about, though. I'm worried I'll get claustrophobic when the door closes. Celestials are not meant to fly in metal boxes.

"Stop moving, Ryuu, and let me fasten your seatbelt," Erik is struggling with me and I accidentally hit him with the joint of my left wing because I can't fold my wings comfortably.

In the meanwhile, Liana, Fefnir, Luviael and Vermiel take the back seats.

"I'm counting on you, dear. Keep things orderly here," Liana says to Ingri who sees us off. Ingri's parents disagreed with her travelling to New York. Besides, she wouldn't be of much use to us anyway. While we do consider her part of our inner government, she's still just a teenager.

When we're all safely inside, Erik puts headphones over my ears, takes his own and announces that we're taking off. He feels so excited about flying a helicopter again that I decide to focus on his feelings instead of mine. And it works. The claustrophobia doesn't hit so hard and I can enjoy the moment because my partner is enjoying it.

"Love, can you lower your wings? I actually need to see to the sides as well," he asks me. "Also, your feathers are all over the control board."

I try, I really do, but the cockpit is too small and the seat isn't manufactured to hold a Celestial.

"That will have to do then," he caresses my left wing with a smile.

"Uhm," my stomach turns upside down when the helicopter jerks but I hold on somehow. It's not that I'm afraid of flying all of a sudden. It just feels totally unnatural not being in control.

"How are you holding back there?" Erik asks through the intercom.

"We should manage," Luvi answers, her voice mirroring her uneasiness. "How's His Majesty? Unfortunately, our racial weaknesses have even bigger impact on him."

"On the verge of puking," he teases me so I have to poke him.

The flight isn't long but I have to keep touching Erik's arm to calm myself down. I don't know how I'll manage those ten hours on the plane.

Planes don't shake unless there's a turbulence and you'll have much more space there, Erik comforts me, catching my worry. Besides, I bet it'll be one of those luxurious private jets with beds.

A plane with beds? Is that a thing? I don't believe it. Some people can hardly afford to flat-share and there're planes with beds? Is Erik pulling my feathers?

I'm the first person to get off when Erik lands and the motor stops. I don't care that I might not look dignified enough and stretch my wings to all sides while furiously flapping them. All my Celestial friends hop out after me and stretch as well so at least I wasn't the only one being uncomfortable.

"You Majesty, Your Excellency!" the Czech Prime Minister is waiting for us on a runway and greets us.

Our guards are also waiting for us and take a protective formation immediately. We're in the open here I realise. Even though we're quite far from the airport building, I don't feel good about it so I'm grateful when they cast a protective shield.

"Oh, that's...," Baueova is lost for words because the shield is erected around her as well. She curiously touches the transparent membrane. "What a strange sensation!"

"Ryuu, it's Vindigo 673," Erik pulls my sleeve, excited, when he sees our transoceanic transport. "We'll get to experience one of the most luxurious private jets!"

"Aircraft nerd," I manage to smile and notice several people in blue uniforms slowly approaching us.

I don't have to be a telepath to see how nervous the plane crew is about the whole thing. The flight attendants show us inside extremely politely and are even more careful not to touch us accidentally. I relax a bit when I find out that the interior looks like a proper room so I don't feel like trapped in a metal coffin.

"This way, Your Majesty, Royal Consort," our maid Cien, who arrived in advance, takes over and shows us to our seats. Liana is taken by her own servants.

Seats? It's a whole compartment! I thought Erik was kidding me but rich people actually have beds during long distance flights in the first class? He puts down his hand luggage and asks for a glass of wine right away, openly enjoying the luxury.

That's probably the biggest difference between us. He's a sociable extrovert who enjoys everything pleasant life has to offer. He's not ashamed to indulge. I'm an introvert with quite narrow geeky interests. I don't care about expensive shiny stuff. Being in the centre of attention makes me anxious.

"Just relax, Ryuu, it shouldn't make you sick," he pulls me to him. "Once we take off and the plane stabilises, you won't even know we're flying."

"Hopefully," I sigh and let him kiss me. I moan when he slips his hand under the robe between my wings but an irritated cough takes us both back to reality.

"Royal Consort, I hate to remind you that Her Excellency has a compartment next to you and she can hear you, this place isn't soundproof," Cien interrupts us. "We're taking off in five minutes and then you have a meeting with the Prime Minister."

"Why is it always me being scolded?" Erik shakes his head.

Taking off isn't as horrible as in the helicopter so my stomach doesn't turn upside down this time. Liana picks us up after a few minutes. We go through narrow aisles around other compartments and I'm astonished for the second time when I discover that there's a bar on this plane.

"Careful, Your Majesty," Miruel has to push my right wing out of the way because I almost bumped into a cart. However big the space is, it still isn't big enough for several Celestials.

Bauerova is already waiting for us at the bar and there's a woman with black hair wearing a beautiful dress by her side. She's familiar but I can't remember where I've seen her.

That's Bauerova's wife, basically the first lady, Liana brushes my wing to send me a hint.

Emi and Fefnir arrive just a few seconds after us and we sit around the table, me and Liana taking bar chairs without back rests.

"I'll have an espresso," Liana orders without even looking at the menu.

"Twice then," Erik seconds confidently as if ordering drinks on a luxurious plane is something he does every day. He certainly looks like a rich businessperson in his perfectly fitted suit.

I quickly flip the menu to discover that there're no prices. All-inclusive?

"Fresh orange juice, please," I say, uncertain who I should say it to.

The cabin crew is nervously stepping behind the bar, did they even hear me?

"And to eat, Your Majesty?" Cien is suddenly standing next to me.

"Nothing right now," I shake my head.

Cien purses her lips. Oh, so it wasn't really a question. I frown.

"An avocado toast looks really good," Erik leans to me. "Let's have it, love. Two of those and... let's get this cheesecake."

"A mozarella sandwich," Liana adds to her order. "And that cheesecake as well."

Cien nods and goes to the bar to tell the crew our order.

"You Celestials don't have to watch your diet, do you? How lucky!" Bauerova's wife grins with a hint of playful jealously. "By the way, my name is Elizabeth."

She doesn't stretch her hand to me. Instead, she bows. It looks really natural, is she used to it? I guess the Prime Minister's wife is expected to represent and meet royals from other countries. She's looking at us curiously but without any disgust. I like her mind. It's a bit similar to Erik's, actually.

Bauerova doesn't beat around the bush so we start right away. She managed to persuade the Bohemian government to support our claims so we'll be presenting our cause mostly together. Again, I realise how fortunate we are to have her as an ally. Bauerova and Liana are clashing from time to time but in a good competitive way.

"We should get some rest before the conference to minimise jet lag," Liana states after two hours.

"Definitely," Bauerova seconds. "I hate these endlessly long flights."

It's obvious that only Liana, Bauerova and her wife have experience with transatlantic flights. As for the rest of us, we have no idea what to expect. Is it really going to be as bad as they say?

We return to our compartment. I prefer not to know how expensive this first class is but I'm grateful for the bed right now. I was dreading human seats so this is a big relief. I just hope the rest of our delegation is also reasonably comfortable. Will I ever get use to luxury and stop feeling guilty about enjoying it?

"Just so you know, this isn't the place and time for sex," Liana reminds us dryly before she disappears into her own compartment.

Erik sighs and helps me take off the embroidered layer of my robe which is quite heavy and not comfortable to nap in. Then he takes off his jacket and lies down next to me. Cien closes the door to our compartment but I know the privacy is only relative. The walls are paper-thin.

Your telepathy is so handy, especially in situations like this, Erik appreciates. Do you want to sleep right away since cuddling is forbidden?

Yeah, I yawn.

Despite being anxious about upcoming events, I rarely have difficulties sleeping. My brain is always so tired that it takes every opportunity to shut down and rest. Erik hugs me and keeps caressing my feathers until I fall asleep.