Page 23 of Claimed By the Krijese

Before I can speak, she squats down to be eye-level with Sorin and palms his jaw. “You are perfect exactly the way you are, because this is what you’re supposed to look like. Just like this is how I’m supposed to look. Like how your gogo is supposed to look. Please don’t ever wish to look like anyone other than who you are. You wouldn’t be the Sorin that we all know and love if you looked like someone else.”

His eyes widen. “You love me?”

“Of course I do.”

Yet again, he throws himself into Iris’s arms nearly knocking her over in the process. Until this moment, I do not know if I realized the depth of his need for a female in his life. Sorin has always appeared content with the affection he receives from the Tavikhi mates, but he only sees them on the occasions we visit the village. Now that they are having their own kits, their time will be spent attending to them. Once again, my kit will most likely miss out.

Finally, they separate and I am surprised to discover her eyes shimmer with wetness. Iris swipes across them and it is wiped away. I will ask her later what it means.

“Come, we should get started.”

As though he cannot stand being apart from her any longer than necessary, Sorin takes her hand. They follow me onto the path that begins at the break in the hillside wall and we walk up the winding path through the trees. I set up a target not far from our village, so we will be close enough if anyone needs me. Ashrif had shown increased signs of pain at the morning meal. He had tried to hide it, but it was obvious to anyone who paid attention.

“We are near our home. Perhaps you can come visit when we are finished training and I can introduce you to our tribespeople,” Sorin tells her.

“I am sure Iris will be anxious to return to the Tavikhi village when we are done.” I glance back over my shoulder and narrow my gaze at him.

“Why don’t we see how late it is when we’re finished? You might be so frustrated with me by then you’ll be glad to see the backside of me.”

Sorin shakes his head, his unbound floks twirling through the air. “I only ever wish to see the front side of you.”

Iris produces her sweet sound that is a delightful melody. “Thank you.”

We continue along the ascending path, the silence broken by my kit’s constant chatter. It is a good thing we are not hunting at the moment or he would scare away all the prey.

Chapter 12

Kala

“Are you listening, Iris?” Sorin asks.

“I’m sorry. My mind was elsewhere for a second. Can you repeat what you said, please?”

What had she been thinking of that had her so distracted?

“Have you seen Healer Sage’s kit yet?”

“Not yet. She and her mate have been staying in their tent with the baby since she was born. I’ve heard from London and Maeve she’s adorable though.”

“I had been hoping to see her on the previous turn when we were in the village, but Gogo said we need to let Healer Sage rest because giving birth is hard work.”

“Your gogo is right. Plus, babies don’t sleep a lot when they’re babies. Which means neither do the parents.”

“I slept a lot when I was a kit.”

Iris chuckles. “You’re still a kit.”

“When I was a littler kit.”

“Your parents were very lucky then.”

“What about your parents? Were they lucky?”

I glance over my shoulder after the silence extends an unusual length of time. Iris has lost the amusement that I often see her with. To my surprise, Sorin must sense it as well, because he does not push her to respond like he normally would when someone is not fast enough to answer one of his many questions.

“My parents gave me away when I was a baby,” Iris finally says.

“Why would they do such a thing?” Sorin’s anger is evident.

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