Page 13 of Claimed By the Krijese

“Greetings. I am Kala.” I study her eyes that speak of hardship as well as strength and determination.

She clears her throat. “I’m Iris.”

“Iris.” It is a soft name, like her skin. Like her voice.

“Gogo, it is my turn.” Sorin interrupts.

She and I let go of one another, and she quickly turns her gaze upon my kit. I rub my fingers together almost as if I can feel the touch of her against them still. Sorin has his hand out, and Iris slips hers around it. The two of them do this handshake, and that rough stone rubbing sound falls from his throat again.

“I am next,” Talek announces, clearly not wanting to be left out.

The Tavikhi kit shakes her hand, but the two human kits decline.

“No offense, Iris,” Carter says. “We just already know what a handshake is.”

“None taken.” Whereas the amused sound Sorin makes is rough, the one that comes from Iris is lyrical. It is a sound unlike any other. It is more harmonious and melodic than the call of the mellenje. I do not have a word for it, but the way it hits my ear is soothing. It is a sound I am not sure I would ever grow tired of listening to.

“We were practicing our axe throwing.” Sorin glances in the direction where the target sits. “Although, I think Iris needs a bit more.”

She makes that beautiful amused sound again and her lips spread in a wide grin that exposes her blunt, human teeth. “In my defense, I’ve never held a weapon before today. Didn’t I tell you it was a bad combination?”

“At least you did not cut off your other arm,” Talek speaks up.

Iris expels a loud noise. “Thereisthat. Given my poor performance, though, it could have gone either way.”

“Your form is sufficient, and with more practice, you will improve.” I do not know what compels me to speak such words. Her fear has appeared to diminish, and I do not want to smell the acrid scent of it again by bringing myself to her attention.

She arches one of the thin furry lines over her eye. “Sufficient, huh? Careful there, or you’re going to make my head swell with all the pretty compliments.”

I freeze in uncertainty. My words were meant to be encouraging, but by a tone in her voice it would appear as though that did not come across. “Is sufficient not the appropriate thing to say?”

Iris makes her amused sound. “Relax, Kala, I’m just giving you a hard time.”

I cock my head and am certain I resemble Sorin when he is confused. Perhaps because I am.

“She means she’s messing with you. Joking around. Teasing you,” the human kit Cecily speaks up.

Teasing me? I glance between the humans and focus on Iris again. She shows me her teeth once more and both my hearts stutter, then beat again. I have never been teased before, expect possibly by my kit. Who else would do such a thing?

“I’m sorry.” Iris takes a small step forward and raises her arm slightly before dropping it again. Had she been about to touch me? “That wasn’t kind of me, since you probably don’t know what teasing is.”

“No, it is fine for you to do this teasing thing with me. I do not mind.”

The one side of her face turns a similar shade as the other, although the darker color appears to be permanent, since it has not changed once. She is the first human I have seen with skin consisting of two completely different colors. The others are either all a light color, all a dark one, or somewhere in between.Was she in battle, back on her planet? Is that how she came to lose her hand?

“Oh, okay, then.” Iris ducks her head and turns it slightly from me so the darkly colored side is hidden.

“I will practice axe throwing with you, if you would like.”

“Yes,” Sorin agrees. “Gogo is the best teacher. You will be as skilled as me in no time, Iris.”

She glances at my kit, and there is that softness in her eyes again. “Thank you for the vote of confidence.” She shifts her gaze to me. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m sure you’re busy in your own village or hunting or other things. Besides, as tempting as it is, my time is probably better spent learning a skill I can actually use to help the village. We all have to pitch in and somethingtells me axe throwing—while cool—doesn’t really have any benefits.”

“You could come hunting with us,” Talek says. “Once you have adequate skills. I am sure Benham would take you with him like he takes us on occasion. We could all join a hunt together.”

For some reason, I am not sure I like the idea of Iris going hunting with Benham. Why? The Tavikhi is mated, and I, along with Sorin, have joined him many times on a hunt when we have come across each other. She glances between all of us with a wrinkle between her furry brow lines.

“You’re actually being serious, aren’t you?”

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