Hunger Untamed (Feral Warriors #5)(54)

Wulfe led Xavier into the kitchen, the young man grinning with an untempered emotion most seeing individuals would have long ago learned to mask. With his hand on the young man's upper arm, Wulfe led him to the center island, then pulled up as Pink glanced around from where she was working, mixing ingredients into a bowl.

"Xavier offered to give you a hand, Pink."

The bird-woman stiffened. Though she said nothing, it was clear he'd offended her.

Wulfe cleared his throat. "Let me put it another way. Xavier is human, and blind, and we can't steal his memories."

Pink's bird eyes tightened with understanding.

"Our options are limited." Wulfe shrugged. "I thought maybe you could use an assistant."

He didn't have to spell out the alternative if she refused. Pink might look as odd as they came, but she had a quick mind and a good heart.

"Then I'd be happy for the help, Xavier."

"Cool!" The human felt the space in front of him carefully, then extended his hand in her direction as if wanting to shake. "It's nice to meet you, Pink."

Pink didn't move. As Xavier's smile died, his hand slowly dropping to his side, her gaze flew helplessly to Wulfe.

Hell, just because the kid couldn't see didn't mean he didn't need to know. He laid his hand on Xavier's shoulder and explained. "Pink should have been a shape-shifter, Xavier, but an accident before her birth killed the animal within her and left her an anomaly. She's half woman, half flamingo. Her hands are like ours, but covered with pink feathers instead of skin."

Xavier's smile covered his face. "Cool. If you don't want to shake my hand, Pink, just say so. I can't read your expression or body language, so subtle doesn't work with me. Just tell me what you want me to do, or don't want me to do. Or you can hit me over the head with a rolling pin or something. I've got a hard head. Just ask my sister."

The kid grinned. "You can't hurt my feelings. Believe me, I've heard it all. That I'm too weird, that my eyes go every which way, that I smile too big, and my expressions aren't normal. It's hard to mimic 'normal' when you've never seen it." He smiled a soft, friendly smile. "If you can handle my strangeness, I promise I can handle yours."

Yeah, they were going to have to find a way to keep this kid alive.

"Xavier?" Pink said quietly. "I'd be happy to shake your hand."

The kid's grin widened as he reached out slowly, as if not wanting to startle her. As Pink slid her feathered hand in his, the human's expression changed to one of delight and amazement. Though Wulfe knew both he and Pink were watching for it, he saw not an ounce of revulsion.

"Your feathers feel . . . soft. Really nice."

"Thank you, Xavier."

Xavier released her hand with a laugh. "So, tell me what you want me to do. I'm slow at first, until I learn my way around, but I can do anything. Especially vegetables. I'm great at chopping vegetables."

"Chopping? But . . ." Her voice trailed off.

"Hey, blind people can chop. When you get going with the knife, you can't tell me you're watching and measuring every cut."

"No. I suppose I'm not." A pause. "Then I'll give you vegetable duty. I've only recently added them back into the menu on a regular basis."

Wulfe grabbed a beer out of the refrigerator and strode through the swinging doors back into the dining room, where he settled his big frame on one of the chairs, out of their way, yet close enough to listen. He wanted to see what happened when he wasn't in the room. Xavier was a talker, and he wondered how long it would take the quiet Pink to tire of it . . . and him. But as he listened, he was surprised to hear Pink's soft words.

"Do you mind if I ask you a question, Xavier? I've never met a blind person before."

"Ask away."

"How do you cook . . . when you can't see?"

Lyon and Jag strode into the dining room. Lyon stilled at the sound of Xavier's voice, scowling. "What's he doing up here?"

"Xavier can cook." Wulfe took a swig of his beer. "I thought Pink could use a little help around here."

"No."

"We can't clear his memories, Roar." Wulfe rose to face his chief, eye to eye. "He can stay here."

"No. It's too dangerous."

"The bird could use some help," Jag said. At Wulfe's look of surprise, Jag shrugged. "Our numbers are growing, and while she lets the women help her, I can tell she doesn't like it. It makes her feel uncomfortable. Like she no longer has a purpose."

"Xavier needs her," Wulfe said quietly. "Just like her, he's stuck here. And he can help her."

Lyon shook his head. "If he escapes, or is even just spotted outside, the human authorities will be crawling all over Feral House before we know what's happened. I don't have to tell you all the ways that could turn into a disaster."

Lyon wasn't budging, and Wulfe was getting desperate. Even though Natalie would never know, he didn't want her brother's blood on his hands.

"We can bind him, Roar. Skye's people might be able to come up with some kind of cuffs like the Mage used on Paenther that will keep him tied to the house and away from the phones and computers so he can't tell anyone he's here."