Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Kyzel eyed the long, tall archway. It appeared to be made from a green-toned metal, woven like entwining vines.
Beneath it many passed, mostly Earth fledglings who seemed unaccountably excited.
The adults accompanying the fledglings appeared less enthusiastic, and more focused on keeping their young flocks from merging with other young flocks.
He turned his gaze to the female at his side. In Robyn’s eyes was a mix of pride and apprehension. Coming to this place had been her recommendation. Did she fear he would not like it?
Truthfully, he had no opinion yet, but he did have questions. “Do all these fledglings belong to one family unit?”
“No. They’re from different schools, taking what we call a field trip.
” She nodded in the direction of a boisterous group going by.
“That’s like an educational excursion. They come here to learn about different birds, some which they’ve never seen because they only live in other parts of the world. ”
One little fledgling stopped to stare at him with wide dark eyes. Another behind her, also staring at him, walked right into her. Both toppled over and sprawled on the ground.
“Annabelle.” One of the adult females hurried over. “What have we said about staring?”
“Yeah, Annabelle,” the second fledgling mocked as he scrambled back to his feet. “Haven’t you ever seen an off-worlder before?”
Annabelle picked herself up and dusted herself off. “You were staring too, Ben.”
The adult took them each by a hand. “Enough, you two. Let’s go.”
Both of the fledglings kept pace with her, craning their heads around so far to continue staring their necks must hurt. And then they were gone, melting into the crowd.
Kyzel met Robyn’s gaze. “Ah.”
“Yes. Ah.” She grimaced. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“People staring.” She caught her bottom lip between her teeth and shrugged. “You’d think after so many years of off-world visitors, people wouldn’t do that so much.”
“I do not mind. The wings are an unusual feature on most worlds. Even I recognize this.” He made a sweeping gesture with his hand toward the archway. “Global Avery Sanctuary?”
Robyn’s eyes widened slightly. “You can read English too?”
“It is a multi-media translator.”
“Oh, neat.” She grinned. “It’s Aviary, not Avery.”
“A-vi-ary.” He gazed down at her. “A home for birds? Is this why you brought me here?”
“Uh.” An attractive pink tinge dusted her cheeks, visible even through her glasses. “Not exactly…sort of. It’s just that you remind me of a bird of prey—like an eagle—and I thought….” She covered her face with her hands. “Oh, my gosh, it sounds so silly now.”
He moved to stand in front of her, and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Robyn.”
She slipped her hands down enough to peer over her fingertips at him.
“I would be honored to view the creatures of your world that are so similar to my people.”
“You would?” She lowered her hands to chin level.
“Of course.”
Relief sparkled in her blue eyes and her smile was all his. “That’s great. Ready, then?”
“Yes.” In so many ways.
Robyn pursed her lips together. Ever since entering the aviary, Kyzel’s eager expression had faded bit by bit. And now…well now he seemed to be MIA, even though she’d left him in front of the hummingbird window directly across from the restroom.
Who lost a seven-foot-tall winged alien in under three minutes? Just you, Robbi. Just you.
He had to be around here somewhere.
Two security guards ran past her, their expressions grim.
Mild concern fluttered in her stomach. That couldn’t be good.
Kyzel didn’t seem like the troublemaking type, but what did she know?
She’d only just met him. She moved to follow the guards, jogging and weaving between kids and adults toward the huge exhibit cage along the back wall.
One of the larger enclosures. The one with an ever-growing crowd in front of it.
“Sir, come out of there, now.” The words came from somewhere ahead.
A heavy weight sank into her stomach as she pushed through the crowd.
Then she saw him. Kyzel. He was inside the cage, arguing with another security guard, and looking gloriously righteous.
Something about the way he held his wings, high and partly unfurled, expressed such visual passion.
Like an eagle prepared to defend his nest.
What he didn’t seem to notice were the two guards she’d followed entering the cage through an access gate behind him.
Next to her, a young woman dressed in goth-black, with matching hair, fumbled with an expensive-looking camera.
And she wasn’t the only one. Others had their cell phones out to record the…
the…the incident. Visions of videos being shared on the local evening news danced before her eyes and a long, low groan escaped her.
Expensive Camera Girl jerked her head up and narrowed her eyes. “Do you know him?”
Not really, apparently. She opened her mouth, but before she could utter a word, a long, muscular male arm reached passed her and the attached hand closed around the girl’s camera, plucking it neatly from her hands.
“Hey.” ECG tried to snatch back her equipment, hopping repeatedly and in vain. “Give that back.”
“In due time,” a deep voice responded.
Robyn turned, and tipped her neck back to get a look at the huge man at her shoulder. The guy was as tall as Kyzel, but much younger. Not a single crinkle at the corners of his black-as-night eyes, nor a hint a gray in his glossy black wings or headfeathers. What was another Bezchian doing here?
“No,” ECG protested. “That’s mine. Give it.”
“Meet me under the archway in ten of your minutes.” The black-feathered Bezchian met Robyn’s gaze. “Come with me, Ms. Robyn. We must perform an extraction.”
“A w-what?”
The newcomer cupped her elbow in his giant hand and guided her through the crowd toward the access gate. It seemed like the conversation was over and it was time for action.
They arrived at the gate, and Robyn folded her arms under her breasts. “Well? Now what? Are we going in too?”
Wouldn’t that just boost the broadcast ratings?
“No,” the stranger replied. “I will take it from here. Please stay in place.”
That was interesting phrasing, but he had said please.
“Kee mohap.” Black Wing’s words meant nothing to her, but they did get an instant reaction from Kyzel. He whipped his head around and blinked.
Black Wing rattled off a string of words, then tipped his head in her direction.
Kyzel’s attention was instantly on her—and so were many of the cell phones, until one black wing curved around her.
The new Bezchian had blocked her from the crowd’s view.
She gave him a grateful look, then turned her attention back to Kyzel.
It appeared that all the righteous indignation had drained from him, and his wings lowered into what she recognized as their resting position.
He turned his attention back to the human guards. “I apologize for my actions. I will leave now.”
“Damn right you will,” one of the guards replied as the other made a shooing motion at a peacock that had limped closer to check out the commotion. “Move along. We’re gonna go have a word with the director.”
Oh, great.
Kyzel nodded, and the entire group headed toward the gate. Once they’d exited, he moved to stand in front of her, curving his wings forward to create a sense of privacy as Black Wing stepped back.
“I am sorry, Robyn. I behaved rashly.”
“Why—”
“Hey,” one of the guards snapped. “Let’s go, buddy.”
She gazed up at Kyzel. There was something in his eyes that seemed to reach out to her, willing her to understand. And, she wanted to understand; wanted to give him the chance to explain.
All right then. She’d follow her heart…this time.
She turned to follow the guards, Kyzel close behind.