Master of Ecstasy by Nina Bangs

of him as beautiful. "Shush. This is my time to speak, and I'll use any words I want." She took her finger from his lips and tapped him firmly on his chest. "And you'll be quiet and listen." His eyes widened, and Blythe almost laughed. She'd bet not many people had ever talked to him that way. But she'd braved a whole herd of bittyfluffs tonight. Next to that, facing him was nothing. She studied his stoic expression. Fine, so it wasn't "nothing." She exhaled slowly, letting her emotion go. Her description had to be clinical, not colored by her feelings for him. He had to believe she told him the truth, not what she thought he wanted to hear. "Your face is more angular now. Knife-edged cheekbones. Your eyes are larger, elongated, and a little slanted. Your pupils are so big that your eyes look black." She offered him a small smile. "If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then your windows are wide open and letting in the breeze." She tilted her head to try to get a better perspective on him. "Your nose looks about the same; maybe the nostrils are a little more flared. Your mouth…" She needed exactly the right words here. "Your mouth looks larger, but not in a bad way. The lips are fuller, probably to accommodate your enlarged canines. I can't see your fangs the way I could see them on the others. I guess if you snarled at me they'd be exposed." "Dinna tempt me, woman who cannot follow directions." His voice was starting to sound more normal. Blythe offered him her complete s