Page 26 of Claimed By the Krijese

Chapter 13

Iris

I’m not sure I’ve ever been more embarrassed in my life. Not because I kissed Kala, but because I made myself bleed doing it. Who does that? How could I have forgotten how sharp his teeth are? But also, what was I thinking?

“Iris, are you well?” Kala reaches out, but drops his arms to his side before he can touch me.

A droplet of blood falls from his palm to plop onto the ground. In a weirdly fascinating way, I study the green liquid that absorbs into the dirt. Crap, we’re both bleeding. Aren’t we a pair?

“Yes, I’m fine.” I wave away his concern. It’s just a tiny cut anyway.

“I am sorry,” he says. “I should not have done that.”

Anger that I know is completely irrational hits me. “Stop apologizing for things you didn’t do wrong.”

Kala jerks at my harshness, and I wince. I’m annoyed for some reason and not sure why. My first kiss might not have gone exactly how I thought it would, but it also wasn’t the worst thing I’ve experienced. I mean, it was actually nice at the start. Really nice. Until I decided to stick my tongue in his mouth because I wasn’t thinking straight. He’s got me all flustered.

“I didn’t mean to snap, but I don’t need you to apologize for kissing me. I’m the one who initiated things in the first place.”

The vertical slit of Kala’s mouth parts, but I hold up my hand to stop whatever it is he might be about to say and he closes it.

“How about we just forget it happened, and move on?”

“If that is what you wish.”

That’s the problem. I don’t know what I want.

Sorin comes running out of the trees toward us with a large leather cloth in his hand. He comes to a skidding stop and thrusts it at me.

“I hurried as fast as I could.”

“You did great.” I’m actually glad he didn’t get here any sooner or he would have witnessed what happened between his dad and me and I have no idea how to explain it. I turn to Kala. “Here, let me.”

He hesitates only briefly before closing the distance between us. I take his hand in mine, thankful Sorin thought ahead to wet the cloth, and lay it over my shortened forearm. I gently wash away the blood that has already mostly dried on his palm. It doesn’t look deep enough to require stitches, which is a good thing, since I can’t sew for shit.

I can feel Sorin’s gaze bouncing between his father and me. I can also sense his confusion, because the tension in the air is thick and uncomfortable. Finally, I’ve gotten as much blood off Kala’s palm as I can.

“Here.” He holds out his uninjured hand and I pass over the blood-tinged cloth. “Are you ready to try again?”

“What? No. This is a terrible idea. I’ll probably cut off your toes the next time I decide to pick up that ridiculous axe.” I shake my head. “I’m obviously not meant to learn how to throw it.”

“Do you always give up on things so quickly?” Kala asks.

“Excuse me?”

“You have not even put forth your best effort and yet you are choosing to give up.”

“Did you forget the cut on your hand already?” I jab my finger in the general direction of his arm.

“I forget nothing. I also know you did not cause it to happen, but you appear to be using it as an excuse to not make another attempt.”

Here I thought I was starting to like Kala, but I take it back. He’s a jerk. “Fine. You want me to try again, then I’ll try again, but if I cut off one of your appendages you might deem more important, don’t come crying to me.”

I cast a quick downward glance in the direction of his crotch to get my meaning across. Then I stomp over to Sorin’s axe, pick it up, and get into position. My gaze homes in on the center of the target, and I don’t take it off of that single spot as I raise the weapon over my head and launch it.

End over end, it turns before it embeds itself in the target. Not exactly in the middle where I’d been aiming, but pretty damn close. I stare a minute longer, not sure I’m really seeing what I’m seeing. But judging by the sounds Sorin makes, my eyes aren’t deceiving me. I whirl around and before my brain sends a message to my body, I run to Kala, throw my arms around his neck, and kiss him squarely on that vertical slit in between his large tusks.

I drop down to flat feet from my tippy toes and grin up at him. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

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