Chapter 5
Chapter Five
For one beautiful and breathless moment, an angel had stood in the doorway of Robyn Martin Donahue’s tiny nest.
House.
Home.
He must remember the correct words in her language.
Ah, but she was more stunning in reality than in her photograph. Her pale, straight hair parted just off center and swept down to brush her shoulders. And her eyes, as blue as Lake Tic’va, peering out through the dark-framed vision enhancers.
Glasses. They are called glasses.
And her scent; it was like the vanilla air freshener from the suite, only subtler, softer.
Between that and her curvy form, he was transfixed as his blood turned molten in his veins.
Careene had been small by raptor standards, but Robyn Donahue barely reached mid-chest. The urge to pull her close and wrap her in the protective circle of his wings nearly overrode his common sense.
Somehow, he had managed to remember enough to greet her by her formal name, as was proper.
Then, she slammed the door—the resounding bang had echoed across the front lawn—leaving him alone on the narrow porch. An unexpected development, to be sure.
“It appears your venture has failed, my friend.”
The sound of Rol’s voice behind him intruded, along with the curious creak-buzz sound of some sort of Earth insect in the bushes.
Kyzel turned partway and glared at his friend. “Have you already finished unpacking?”
Rol stood on the front path and shrugged. “I cannot deny my own curiosity. I must say, the human female’s reaction disappointed me.”
“Fortunately, I do not consider this venture a failure based on the outcome of one meeting.”
It was a shame he had failed to foresee Robyn’s reaction. Even on Bezchi, it was not good if a female screamed and slammed her door, leaving a male standing on the doorstep.
“An outcome that concerns me. Our second monarch must be as strong as our first. She cannot run and hide at the first sign of adversity.”
“She was not expecting me, therefore reacted appropriately.” The need to defend Robyn Martin Donahue was like a rod straightening his spine. “I will not give up on her.”
What had he done wrong? Had he offended her? If so, how? Maybe it was too late for him to visit?
“Knocking again would be rude,” Rol said. “Come off the porch before you knock something over.”
He let his gaze roam the porch. There was just enough room for the two white wooden slat chairs and tiny matching table off to one side, and a long, swinging perch chair on the other.
But it was the host of pots filled with lush plants that decorated the porch floor, steps, and rails that were in the most danger of accidental breakage.
And the destruction of his potential mate’s property would not endear him to her.
He backed off the porch, one step at a time.
Once he was clear, he turned to face Rol. “I must speak with Ms. Vogel tonight.”
“It is too late. She has left for the day. I saw her walk out of the building as I flew after you.” Rol gestured toward the street with one hand. “Since it is already too dark to risk flying in this unfamiliar place, we can walk back to the travelers’ nest together.”
The humans would undoubtably gawk at them, but walking was the safer option. “I welcome your company back to our suite.”
Rol rolled his eyes but said nothing about the correction, so Kyzel fell in step with his friend.
Since Ms. Vogel had gone home for the night, it was on him to devise a plan to properly introduce himself to Robyn Martin Donahue. But how? And when? If it was too late to call her now, was there an appropriate time to do so tomorrow?
He glanced at Rol’s stoic profile. “Do you think it would be better to use the phone, or return to her house in person?”
“I think it would be wiser to return home. You, however, will naturally disagree.”
“Rol….”
“I know, I know.” His friend shook his head. “Believe it or not, I would be disappointed if you gave up so easily.”
Not enough to dispute that choice, certainly. “I will see this through.”
He must. The wave of mind-altering rightness that had taken him when she had appeared in the doorway was something he wanted to experience again.
“It boggles my mind that you are actually asking me for advice on females.”
They rounded the corner onto the street the agency was located on.
Several delicious scents drifted from the plethora of restaurants that lined both sides of the street, bombarding his olfactory senses.
Based on the increased numbers of humans occupying sidewalk space, it was safe to say this was a favorite dining area.
“You have had your share of consorts during your life. There must be some wisdom you can share with me.” It was not easy to ignore the Earthling’s stares, although it was amusing how most of the humans gave them a wide berth.
Rol chuckled, but did not respond.
There was no need to push for an answer either, as they had five more blocks to walk.
When the city was built, the founders had wisely laid it out on a grid of straight streets.
It made navigation easier—both on foot and in the air.
Although, those same founders probably had had no idea anyone would someday be able to fly above their city.
How would they have reacted to meeting a raptor like him?
“What are they doing?” Rol muttered. “The couple across the street.”
Kyzel gave the male and female a surreptitious sideways glance. The female had her phone raised in his direction. It was a position that suggested she was taking photographs, as Ms. Vogel had taught him earlier this afternoon.
“Did you bring Fyad?”
Rol grunted. “I told him to stay at the travelers’ nest in case you came back.”
“Why do you suppose the female is taking photographs of us?”
“Because of our glorious wings?”
Kyzel met his friend’s gaze and raised his eyebrows.
“Excuse me?” A female on their side of the street dragged his attention away from Rol.
This one was alone, and dressed mostly in black.
Black pleated skirt, black net-like leg coverings, heavy, thick-soled black boots, black bag slung over her shoulder.
Even her earlobe-length hair and eyeliner were black.
The only things not entirely black were her red and black-checked shirt and her lip coloring, which was so dark a red it may as well have been black.
All of that made her pale skin tone seem stark.
She stood, fist on her hip and her head cocked to one side, staring at them as if they were a puzzle to solve. “Are ya guys lost?”
Was that a tiny gemstone in her nostril?
Kyzel shook his head. “No, we are not.”
“Okay.” She nodded. “It’s just that the only off-worlders we see around here are usually lost…or staying at the Silverstar suites. That’s it, isn’t it? You’re Silverstar clients.”
His nape feathers ruffled as a quiver of unease ran up his spine. “We are not lost. Thank you for your concern.”
He strode forward, and the youngling stepped out of his path. Rol’s footsteps sounded close behind. “Do not look back, Rol.”
“I will not,” his friend murmured.
Something about the female did not ring true. Not in a foreboding way, just not quite right. He turned his head a fraction to one side, but there was no sound of footsteps in pursuit.
A block away from the Silverstar building, he slowed his pace. The streets here were almost empty of humans, most likely due to the lack of restaurants. “You have not answered my question, and I am open to any knowledge you can impart about wooing a female.”
Rol’s burst of laughter bounced off the buildings. “Find something she likes, then present it to her.”
Of course. How had he not thought of that? Her bio would contain every bit of information he could possibly need. He would memorize it tonight, and tomorrow he would call on Robyn Martin Donahue again.
With luck, she would be more receptive.