Those glittery, blue eyes of hers fell to his wings and he fought not to shift uncomfortably, unsettled by her scrutiny. She couldn't know they were damaged. Not from just looking at them, anyway. To her, they probably just looked like any other old pair of bird's appendages, but he knew the truth, felt the gaping lack in them. The bastard things wouldn't shift anymore. One day they worked fine, and the next they didn't.
And Alek was nowhere to be found. He'd think his brother had something to do with it if the punk had any sort of such powers, but no. Aleksandr was just a dumb cat, really, out for a lay in the sun maybe. Or someone's bed. A damn good-looking cat, though. Got all the looks in the family with women shedding like stray hairs from his sleek, panther coat. Sexy bastard.
Not this woman, obviously, because she was here with him. Not with him, he didn't have the same affect that Alek had, but you know. Here. Where Alek wasn't. And... apparently checking him out or something. Which was ridiculous because they only did that with Alek. But definitely staring way too hard at places that were not his face.
So he brought her attention back, asked after the nearest forest. She got this weird ass, stupid grin on her face, all doe-eyes and sweet. Of course, he was immediately wary and his brows pinched in a frown, dark-gold eyes narrowed. Her face went all soft, and her voice too, as she said, "Of course I can help you find the forest. I will also help you find your friend, we don't want you getting lost in these woods now do we?"
Ok, what the fuck was wrong with this lady? Did she not see the muscle-tone of his body and the age in his face? Sure, he was a little shorter than her, she's a tall one, yeah, but seriously. He wasn't a gangly little colt, he was a grown-ass man. Maybe she was crazy or something, a little knocked loose in the noggin, shorted circuits and misfires. Who was he to judge?
"Whenever you're ready just follow me, and stay close ok? I don't want to see you get hurt."
He rolled his eyes. Yeah, okay lady. Whatever. Just get me to the damn forest so I can find my brother. He put on his best Alek-like smile, all charm and suave, and dipped his head a little as he stretched out a wing in invitation. After you, sweet and smooth like warm honey, even if his eyes did flash a little in irritation, patience thinning.
