𝐋❜𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐋¨ 𝑑𝑢 𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄— -

jane didn't have to say anything.

the look in her eyes spoke volumes. if her twin and coven mate thought that they would have been able to sneak under her radar, then they were sorely mistaken. especially alec. he should have known better than that. or maybe he didn't care if she saw. jane wasn't sure which of the two made her more upset; the option that he underestimated her, or the possibility that he didn't care about what she thought.

people might have considered it to be odd; jane's possessiveness over her brother, but it was only because she had his best interest at heart. alec was a being that shouldn't have to settle for anyone who showed interest in him - if he was going to have a bed partner, or even worse, a mate, then they had to be of a very high standard. in jane's eyes, no one was worthy of her twin brother - not even her fellow coven mate.

"are you having fun gallivanting around the party with your harlot, dear brother?" she finally spoke up, her cold, dead eyes blinking at him. she had finally caught him, alone, without heidi, and decided to confront him.

𝐴𝐿𝐸𝐶 𝑆𝐸𝑇 𝐻𝐼𝑆 𝐽𝐴𝑊 𝐴𝑁𝐷 turned to face his twin. The expression she wore nearly made him flinch outright. Any being in attendance, mortal or immortal, would have found themselves weak in the knees were that stare leveled on them. Her ferocity never failed to fill him with pride, even when he found himself the target.

He'd known this was coming, given his rather public reunion with Heidi earlier. He could claim it was under the guise of fitting in with the party-goers, but Jane knew better. Any attempt at a lie or cover-up, Alec knew, would only get him deeper into the hole he was in—- the hole he'd started digging himself the first night he took Heidi to his bed.

Granted, her protectiveness wasn't entirely out of left field. His relationship with Heidi was turbulent at best.

Meeting Jane's gaze wasn't exactly pleasant, but he did it, staring her down evenly. "You might need to be more specific, sister darling."

“Oh absolutely,” Heidi murmured, her eyes meeting Alecs as she tilted her head up to meet his gaze, aware of the eyes that were on them as they reunited. “– I’m here for you… definitely had nothing to do with Master Marcus sending for me,” she added sarcastically, taking his drink and bringing it to her lips as she looked at him through her lashes. “Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself. A little handsy with that human but otherwise, still cute.”

𝐴𝐿𝐸𝐶 𝐵𝑅𝐼𝑆𝑇𝐿𝐸𝐷 𝑊𝐻𝐸𝑁 𝐻𝐸 𝐹𝐸𝐿𝑇 her resistance, pressing his fingers into the small of her back in silent command. He scowled before he tugged her closer again, but was unable to keep the smirk from his face at her teasing. "I do," he confirmed with that sly smile, "but I usually don't mean it."

His eyes danced over her features as she spoke, drinking in the sight of her. It took him a moment to realize they still had eyes on them. A quick glower from Alec banished most of the nearby leering faces, but he could still sense stares from deep within the crowd. Subconsciously, he pulled Heidi even closer to him.

"I knew they wouldn't last long without you," he chuckled, a smirk dancing across his lips. Alec lifted a hand to brush a curtain of Heidi's hair over her shoulder, ducking his head to press a kiss to the bared skin near her collarbone. "I've been managing fine, but I'll admit. . . you have much better taste." The homeless man he and Jane had picked off near the woods was one of the worse meals he'd had in some time.

By the time the light chastising came, Alec was moving to kiss her again. "You know I like to play with my food," he offered by way of apology, a playful glimmer in his eye. A trace of concern etched his features, though, as he realized the Volturi must be planning to stay in Forks a while longer if his masters had called for Heidi. " — Did Marcus say how long he wants you here for?"

silas was social by nature. despite the barriers that his species ( and entire existence. ) seemed to build between him and most people, he didn’t allow that to stop him from enjoying the life that he was given. including accepting mildly odd invitations to warehouse blacklight parties. he had barely gotten into the party, taken just a few sips of his first drink when his attention was caught.

𝐴𝐿𝐸𝐶 𝐷𝑅𝐴𝐺𝐺𝐸𝐷 𝐻𝐼𝑆 𝐺𝐴𝑍𝐸 𝑂𝑉𝐸𝑅 to the male, stifling a sigh. He'd been hoping his stand-offish demeanor would be enough to sway people into avoiding him. Unfortunately, it seemed that humans only grew less cautious and more stupid with each decade.

But, just like the woman he'd spoken to earlier, there was something off about this male's scent. Not entirely human. Just as the thought crossed Alec's mind, the prompted question confirmed his suspicions.

The puzzled look that shadows his features is genuine, and Alec shifted on his feet to fully face the stranger. He did indeed have an extra pair — several — that were tucked into Jane's purse. "My sister has my eye drops." Alec chose the words carefully, schooling his face into neutrality. "I lost her in the crowd somewhere— haven't seen a small, angry-looking blonde girl around, have you?"

“Oh he’s being modest, under those tacky things are the most gorgeous eyes you could ever hope to see.” she teased, leaning against the ledge with her hair falling in perfect brown waves around her face, a small smirk gracing her lips. The woman who obviously had planned on flirting with Alec for the evening just took a look at Heidi and walked away, to which Heidi happily got closer to Alec and raised an eyebrow towards him, manicured nails drumming against the wooden bar. “Miss me?”

𝐻𝐸𝐼𝐷𝐼'𝑆 𝑆𝐶𝐸𝑁𝑇 𝐻𝐼𝑇 𝐻𝐼𝑀 𝐿𝐼𝐾𝐸 a bomb. It wasn't just a waft of her perfume ( which seemed to be permanently embedded into the jacket he was wearing ), but her. Sure enough, every head in the vicinity started to turn. Except for his. The expression of sheer gut-wrenching insecurity that came over the girl's face in front of him was all Alec needed to confirm that Heidi was indeed here and approaching.

He kept his eyes on the human as she walked away. Only when she disappeared into the crowd did Alec finally drag his gaze down to Heidi, a hint of disappointment in his features. As if he’d actually been invested in the human, and Heidi was second best.

Sometimes Alec wondered if the torture of it all was what made her the only one he found himself constantly going back to.

“Always,” he responded cooly, placing a hand on Heidi's waist as if she hadn’t just seen him about to do the same that human girl. . . and hoping Heidi would choose to ignore that fact.

Alec leaned down to place a lingering kiss on Heidi’s lips, well aware of the attention on them. He was used to it by now. The hand he kept on the small of her back was firm, pulling her body against his. While Alec would always deny being the jealous type, he could at least admit that he was possessive. "And you must have missed me, if you couldn't bear to go another few days without seeing my face,” he teased. Then, even though it went without saying, he needed all the brownie points he could get: “You look gorgeous.”

Jessica was excited for an all night ragger . it would only be her third time to one and the other two were so amazing that she had hoped for at least one in forks for a pick me up on the place . the saying did say that Life begins at the first rave . Although , she didn’t expected so many vampires to be here . It made her all the more curious . She knew they only saw her a human . some with better senses thought of her as odd . After all , there was a glow about her one couldn’t resist .

although , she was raised human and with humans , jessica did had a taste for blood like the rest of them . She found herself looking at the much taller vampire who clearly was wearing contacts . She was used to the cullens’ golden amber eyes . the red eyes was something she never truly understand . she remembered her father having red eyes but that’s it . she didn’t have to worry much about her brown eyes looking out of place .

❝ I have eye drops if you want some ❞ jessica simply offered as she smiled at alec . ❝ I can help adjust them if you don’t mind me touching or poking into your eye .❞ she lightly joked .

"𝐼 𝐷𝑂 𝑀𝐼𝑁𝐷," 𝐴𝐿𝐸𝐶 𝑆𝑁𝐴𝑃𝑃𝐸𝐷, giving the stranger a withering once-over to effectively shut down the idea. The absolute last thing he needed was someone's finger prodding at his eye, when he rarely ever allowed anyone to merely touch him.

Despite the muted disgust that lingered on the downturned corners of his mouth, Alec sidled closer to the woman. Hovering in her space. In the process of his judgmental sweep, he noticed something. . . off about her. "Are you from around here?" His tone is rather flat to match the blunt question, though he narrowed his eyes just enough to hint at suspicion.

The witches wanted his kind GONE . The children of the moon wanted them all DEAD AND TORN TO PIECES as they did to them thousands of years ago . Thinking they got rid of them all but as the saying goes ; LEAVE ONE WOLF ALIVE AND THE SHEEP ARE NEVER SAFE . feyrah on the other hand didn't care much for either one of their kind . there were few feyrah cared for and unfortunately ezlynn was part of the volturi . Will she do something about it ? NO . not yet at least . If she had taught ezlynn right before her turning , the young girl could handle herself .

❝ there is no honor when it comes to the volturi, so i doubt that . Lets not lie to ourselves . Especially not Aro . But you should heed my warning . I am the farthest thing you should worry about . . . But it's adorable , the inflate sense of your importance . ❞ the woman simply smiled , eyes devoid of emotions . She was tired and all she wanted to do was go home to the little pet she was taking care of .

𝐻𝐸 𝑆𝑇𝐼𝐹𝐹𝐸𝑁𝐸𝐷 𝐴𝑇 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑈𝑁𝐴𝐵𝐴𝑆𝐻𝐸𝐷 disrespect to his coven. The personal insults, he didn’t care so much about. Feyrah. Alec mentally filed her name for later, but didn’t respond right away, letting the witch finish her spiel. There was already a sneer forming on his face, ready to fire back a retort, when her next words made his stare harden. The rest of her taunts are dismissed as he hones in on the sliver of new information like a hawk.

“Oh?”  Any trace of amusement had vanished from his features, though he didn’t make any move to threaten or approach her further. The tone in the inquisition was threatening enough itself.  “And who might this  ‘ little bird ’ be?”

cold eyes looked the taller male over . feyrah wasn't one to show much emotions other than amusement and a hint of boredom here and there . Not because she hid them , it was just the way she was after so long . Thousands of years on this earth and not of her own doing or choice . Yet there were many that tried to reach the kind of immortality she was both gifted and cursed with .

Feyrah knew of this one . One of aro's favorite . The one with the twin sister . Yet she knew of him long before aro turned them , for every witch were seared into her mind the moment they are born . A shame that tether broke the moment he and his sister turned . Still , she simply eyed him as he came closer . The mood light dancing upon them . His condescending tone only make her amused .

𝐴𝐿𝐿 𝑇𝐻𝐼𝑁𝐺𝑆 𝐶𝑂𝑁𝑆𝐼𝐷𝐸𝑅𝐸𝐷, 𝐻𝐸 𝑆𝐻𝑂𝑈𝐿𝐷𝑁'𝑇 have been surprised that she knew his name. Knew him, beyond his species or loyalty. Still, he’s taken aback when his name leaves the woman’s lips. Not simply because she recognized him, but because there was no fear once she did. Not even a flinch. Alec was used to everyone, regardless of species, cowering as soon as they realized who he was. His instincts hadn’t lead him astray— she was surely just as dangerous as he’d assumed.

The frozen mask on his face remained that way, though, not giving away any inkling of his internal reaction. Rather than backing away, Alec dared to take another step forward. He towered over her like a shadow, an ominous foreboding of the very power thrumming in his veins. On alert, and ready to snare. Did she have to do with the invitation they’d received?

“I typically like to think myself a gentleman. I feel awfully rude— you knowing my name, and me not knowing yours.” Alec paused, smirk still on his face. Something dangerous danced in his ruby eyes. A challenge, by way of introduction. He remained mostly still, his hands in his pockets. “It’d be an honor.”

His response made her sigh. As loyal as Jane was to her coven and to Aro, there were rare times where she wanted to go exploring alongside her twin, without the responsibility of having a duty or job to carry out. If doing another sweep meant a little bit of extra time to themselves, then so be it. It would also give them another chance at uncovering something worth bringing back to their leaders.

It was frustrating, to say the least. Jane wasn't used to their job being so difficult. It was never that hard for them to find information. Something to present to their masters so they wouldn't come back empty handed. "We'll do another sweep," she finally concluded, an almost silent sigh escaping her lips.

She kept an ear out while Alec disposed of the homeless man's lifeless body, sparkling red eyes watching him intently. "I hope the masters aren't upset by the lack of information," she murmured under her breath. Disappointing Aro, or any of the kings really, was the last thing she wanted. If it were anyone else, she'd find it difficult to give a damn. Her eyes drifted down to his stained clothing and she bit down on her bottom lip, resisting the urge to comment on his eating habits once again. She wordlessly slipped her hand into his, before they disappeared in a blink of an eye, following the same parameters they had swept downtown just moments earlier.

𝐴𝐿𝐸𝐶 𝐻𝐴𝐷 𝐸𝑋𝑃𝐸𝐶𝑇𝐸𝐷 𝐻𝐸𝑅 𝑇𝑂 say as much. The two of them were both adventurous in their own ways, neither one necessarily more so than the other, but Alec had always taken a liking to the specific anonymous danger that dense cities offered— at least, in his younger days. Much to his sister’s dismay, he spent much of their first years of immortality losing himself in very human, carnal sins; the pits of cities offered him dark streets and near willing sacrifices. Lately, he’s strayed from that lifestyle. Nothing ever came of it beyond more of a mess for him to clean up later.

Still, he couldn’t help but find himself drawn to the lights of big human cities— the way they bustled with life in rare, short bursts, only under the cover of night and alcohol and drugs. Really, they weren’t much different.

“Upset with you?” Alec scoffed. “Never. You’ve done nothing wrong— can do nothing wrong.” His voice was sarcastic and teasing, as they both know that Aro believes that ( at least to some extent ),  but it’s partially genuine because, Alec believes something similar. 

Jane can do wrong. Terrible, awful, world-ending ‘ wrong ’.  Alec has witnessed it first hand too many times to count— encouraged it. Fed off of it. Found a purpose in it. 

Alec doesn’t hold Jane on a pedestal as some untouchable god, as many do. He loves her in a way that runs even deeper than worship, deeper than awe or fear. He sees her for who she is: evil and passion and hate and flame incarnate. And every time she throws that flame onto someone else, he feels nothing but pride.

They retrace their steps, but this time, he pulls Jane further into the heart of the city, where he didn’t dare venture before they’d fed. Alec squeezed her hand as he slowed them to a strolling pace along one of the busier streets, casting a sidelong glance at his sister. 

“I did run into...” he swallowed. When he met her eyes, the word was burning in his mirrored gaze before it even left his lips: “A witch. One... like we haven’t seen in a long time.”

the witches gathered together all in one town . all in one place . Feyrah had no part in it . She saw no reason to even care for what is to come . BLOODSHED . DEATH . EXPOSURE . surely the world would come to know of the dark that lurks beneath the surface if they went to war with the vampires . she wanted no part in it . not because she cared but because it would disturb her peace . if many who knew who she truly was , they would either want her DEAD or to join in the eradication of the vampires . She is after all MOTHER OF THE OLD RELIGION . the magic of of the Earth itself . yet she chooses to utilize the darkest parts of it . murderous by trade with true skills with magic ancient and new . the woman now was believed to be DEAD .

She walked out from the woods where the witches and children of the moon gathered . Magic strong enough to shield them and be undetectable from any unwanted visitors . ❝ it's dangerous to be out so late . ❞ feyrah mused over a tad bit playful in her tone , after all , what did that say about her ? .

𝐴𝐿𝐸𝐶 𝑅𝐸𝐶𝑂𝐺𝑁𝐼𝑍𝐸𝑆 𝐻𝐸𝑅 𝐼𝑀𝑀𝐸𝐷𝐼𝐴𝑇𝐸𝐿𝑌. 𝐸𝑉𝐸𝑁 if not exactly who — or the extent of what — she was, he sensed it in his bones. His head whirled immediately, ruby eyes flashing in the darkness, and his teeth bared slightly without his fully meaning to. Something rotten was on her stench, but what made it so was. . .  entrancing. The immediate fear of flames doused him upon looking at her, and the almost nostalgic memory of fading into the sweet darkness of their warm embrace—-   Aro had warned him about these creatures. Or maybe, Alec had even met her before. Definitely dangerous. Like the ones he’d slaughtered thousands of years ago.

He offers no immediate response, but tilts his head in slight acknowledgement of the statement. Still frozen, lips slightly parted, Alec puts his hands into his pockets. “Hm.” Another half acknowledgment before he takes two strides forward, his long legs swiftly closing the distance between them. As thoroughly and subtly as possible, he’s trying to take in every bit of her scent, her appearance, her well-being. Anything that could be of use to report back. 

“Do you need assistance getting home, then?” A beat passes as he stares her down. “Tiny thing like you. What are you doing out here by yourself?” Clear condescension in his tone, though his approaching her alone is a declaration of sorts— he knows that she knows exactly what he is, and vice versa.

With Alec being one of Aro's favorite guard members, along with his sister, Athenodora was quite familiar with him. Ever since his rebirth as a vampire, she had been there in the background, watching him and his twin. They both fascinated the vampire queen. Two beings that oozed power and intimidation. Even though they tended to stick to themselves, Dora found ways to be around them. When Demetri wasn't slated as her personal bodyguard, it was usually Alec or Jane - per her request. If she had to pick a guard member besides Demetri, they were her top picks. If she was going to be required to have protection outside of the castle, it was going to be someone whose company she actually enjoyed.

𝐵𝐼𝑇𝐼𝑁𝐺 𝐵𝐴𝐶𝐾 𝐴 𝑆𝑀𝐼𝐿𝐸 𝑊𝐴𝑆 difficult, but circumstance helped him manage. Of all the wives, he's found Athenodora to be the most kindred in spirit. Both enjoyed ( or even preferred ) solitude, though they shared the occasional craving of spontaneity. And so the two could comfortably spend hours in each others presence; reading, debating, researching, or any scholarly pursuit that lie between. Alec had hoped that would be the extent of the queen's plans for the night. . . but it seemed he wouldn't be so lucky.

Hesitation is rarely seen in Alec, but it seizes him for a few moments before he can respond to Athenodora. "Ma'am... " his eyes flicker down to meet hers. "As much as you know I'd love to," there's a trace of a strained grimace beneath his easy smile, "I have my orders." He didn't have to elaborate. Orders to keep her outings brief, and to well-populated areas.

To be fair, Alec was generally willing enough to test Caius's temper; enough so that he'd yielded to similar requests from Athenodora before, and suffered the consequences later. With the danger that could lurk nearby, though, he wouldn't risk it— the Volturi's presence in town was surely known by now, but he hoped the wives' attendance was still largely unnoticed. Just as much, he wanted to keep the wives in the dark of just how serious he feared the lurking danger to be.

"Trust me, of all the patrol routes, you don't need to see this one," Alec starts on, spying a book she might like and handing it to her. Distraction. "The mountains are beautiful, but. . . we have the best view. Nothing compared to Italy, anyway." Having drawn his attention to the shelves ahead, he spares her a sidelong glance, lowering his voice a considerable amount, "Filled with nothing but homeless people and starving hikers. They'd stare at you like you were a glowing treasure chest." True, but likely the least of their concerns. "Caius would have my head."

featuring : anyone !

It's the media's job to keep the people informed, so when their boss asked for Kennedy's next piece to be about the storm they agreed, although begrudgingly. It felt like a fluff piece and the weather wasn't exactly something that fell in their usual interest. Even if people were saying it was a once in a lifetime phenomenon. It was still something that could easily be explained as simple science and they were content with leaving that up to the professionals in that area. What was really intriguing them  was the sudden onslaught of new faces around town. Forks wasn’t exactly a hot spot for tourist, so why are all these figures suddenly popping up? There were far too many to write them off as family and far too disinterested in the small town’s charm and it's people to be some sort of getaway. Maybe Kennedy was overthinking their sudden arrival, but in the off chance that there is a story there, the journalist was dead set on finding it, starting off the best way theory knew how — by gathering intel.  Both from locals and visitors.

“Hi there.” they greet with a quick smile, before immediately going through their interviewing routine. “Kennedy Stuart with Forks Daily. Do you mind if I ask you a couple of questions? It’s for the newspaper.”

𝐴𝐿𝐸𝐶 𝑃𝐴𝑈𝑆𝐸𝑆. 𝑇𝐻𝑂𝑈𝐺𝐻 𝐻𝐸'𝐷 𝑆𝐸𝑁𝑆𝐸𝐷 their approach, he certainly hadn’t been expecting the onslaught of questions. Forks Daily. He takes a step back. Alec’s expression remains impassive as he gives them a once-over, sweeping head to toe. 

He did have a habit of playing with his food, and his work— perhaps this ambitious journalist could wind up being both. Surely in their line of work, so apparently eager to investigate, they could make things a bit easier for him. . . or at least keep him updated on the human perspective of things.

As if he plucked a bit of pleasantry from the passing wind in front of his face, Alec plasters on a brief, but charming smile. “Lovely to meet you, Kennedy Stuart.” He allows his accent to lilt towards the English side, as he often tends to do when amongst the language. Placing his hands in his pockets, he looks around and steps out of the way of foot traffic, gesturing for Kennedy to do the same. “Ask away. I’ll try my best to answer, though I’m not sure I’ll be much help— not from around here.”

"such a messy eater, little brother," jane chastised as she clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, a sound of mock disappointment escaping her lips as she reached up a hand to wipe away a stray trail of blood from her twin brother's chin. it was a sign of affection that she wouldn't have displayed in front of anyone else. it was something that no one else would ever have the privilege of seeing. to everyone, their coven mates included, they were hard hearted, thick skinned, killing machines. 'soft spots' were the last thing anyone would ever correlate to the twins.

but that was just fine with jane. in fact, she preferred it that way. her dynamic with alec was hers and hers alone. no one else was worthy of the softer moments they shared; the smiles, the hand holding, the comforting. jane and alec were one soul split into two bodies. no one, besides aro and marcus, could really fathom just how deep their bond and connection went.

"how much longer until we have to report back?" the two of them had been scoping out olympia for the past few hours. other volturi guard members were tasked with investigating seattle and forks. not that jane was complaining. she preferred it when they went on their jobs alone. it was the blonde vampire that suggested they take a break to feed, and after picking off a homeless man that the two of them shared, she knew they had to get back to work.

𝐴 𝑆𝐶𝑂𝑊𝐿 𝑇𝑊𝐼𝑆𝑇𝐸𝐷 𝐻𝐼𝑆 features, eyes narrowing in a glare directed at his twin, but there’s no malice there— and if there were any doubt, it’s quickly erased by the begrudging smirk that lifts his blood-stained lips. “Fuck off,” he titters, wiping his own hand across the sharp jut of his chin just after Jane does. Had anyone else attempted such a gesture, especially in the midst of his feeding, they’d have found themselves quickly devoid of any inkling or awareness of where they were in time and space, or perhaps without a hand.

Alec looked toward the sky, the sun resting deep beneath the horizon by this hour, and then back to Jane. The color had returned to her eyes, and with it, a small spark of life— that glimmering mischief Alec knew to always be there, deep down, hidden from everyone but the two of them; the mirror of the one that shone in his own.

"The sooner the better, I'm sure," he huffed, disgruntled with their lack of anything to present as a solid solution— or really even a solid lead. "Though I wouldn't mind doing another sweep near downtown. Up to you." As he usually left it.

Alec stood and scooped up the homeless man's carcass, deftly ripping the remainder of the man to pieces that he crushed or tossed into the wood as he saw fit. Always calculated, but never careful with anything or anyone but his sister. He brushed off bits of dust and gore that had managed to stain the clothing beneath his cloak — yes, he was a messy eater — before offering a hand to Jane. "Shall we?"

ㅤㅤhe's calmly observing one of the many felled trees, the sight perhaps concerning - but thanks to his aloofness, it doesn't touch him. he speaks to the hulking vampire accompanying him, ruby gaze remaining focused on the damage before them. ❛❛ this was clearly no typical storm, ❜❜ he muses, wondering vaguely how long it would rest here until someone would be along to collect it. the tree is large, far too large for a regular storm for this area to bring down; and it's only one of many in a similar state around the little town. ❛❛ have you found anything of note in your explorations, alec? ❜❜ he inquires, head tilting to meet the other's gaze.

𝐴𝐿𝐿 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑊𝐻𝐼𝐿𝐸 𝐶𝐴𝐼𝑈𝑆 investigated the scene, Alec observed him. Knowing better than to expect to find a reaction on the leader's face, he still couldn't help but search for a revelation; unsurprisingly, he was met only with a question.

Of his three masters, his relationship with Caius had always been the most. . . unstable. In Marcus, he found something of a kindred spirit; in Aro, a savior and father figure. Caius was a father figure of his own, but the disciplinary sort: cold, disinterested, unwilling. Much like Alec's real father (or what little he remembered of him through the remaining bitter memories), Caius never expressed much, but was always ready to challenge or point out a flaw— something that frustrated Alec to no end, yet indescribably left him vying for even the slightest bit of the man's approval.

One scrutinizing stare met another, and Alec habitually lowered his own in respect. In that brief moment, he took the opportunity to study the massive, gnarled roots of the trunk that, even uprooted on its side, rose far above both their heads. Something about the sheer heaviness clinging to the air about them jogged a long-distant memory, the human instinct to shudder. As it was, Alec remained still, but a rare hint of apprehension bled into his ruby gaze.

"More of this, for the most part. Houses leveled, human death tolls rising, trees older than you or I uprooted— " he paused on that observation, older than you or I, as if asking for the permission to even ponder the implication of it. "And wolves. More than we were warned of, judging by the stench near the treaty line."