Ilona Andrews Quote

I turned and there he stood, wearing a loose T-shirt and sweatpants. A modest shapechanger, how refreshing. You wouldn’t even know that he had changed, save for the glistening sheen of dampness on his skin.He looked me over slowly, judging, taking my measure. I could blush demurely or I could do the same to him. I chose not to blush.A couple of inches taller than me, the Beast Lord gave an impression of coiled power. Easy, balanced stance. Blond hair, cut too short to grab. At first glance he looked to be in his early to mid-twenties, but his build betrayed him. His shoulders strained his T-shirt. His back was broad and corded with muscle, showing the power and strength a man developed in his early thirties.What kind of a woman greets the Beast Lord with ‘here, kitty, kitty’? he asked.One of a kind. I murmured the obvious reply. Eventually I had to look him in the eye. Better sooner than later.The Beast Lord had a strong square jaw. His nose was narrow with a misshapen bridge, as though it had been broken more than once and hadn’t healed right. Considering the regenerative powers of the shapechangers, someone must’ve pounded his face with a sledgehammer.Our stares met. Little golden sparks danced in his gray eyes. His gaze made me want to bow my head and look away.He regarded me as if I was an interesting new snack. I’m the lord of the Free Beasts, he said.I figured. Perhaps he expected me to curtsy.He leaned forward a little, puzzling over me as if I were an odd-looking insect. Why would a knight-protector hire a no-name merc to investigate the death of his diviner?I gave him my best cryptic smile.