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“Not that. I can’t eat that, no way. First of all, you have to cook it.”

He glared at her, clearly not understanding.

“Cook. Here, look.” She took a small torchlight from one of her suit pockets and clicked it on to show him the fire. She then put the fire under the meat he was holding, the bright orange flames licking against the flesh.

A single fang slipped from his lip. “Ah,burak.”

“Yes, cook.”

He snuck away. She heard things clattering around until he returned with a large metal bowl and a bottle of some clear liquid. He poured the liquid into the bowl and gestured for her torchlight which she gave to him. Using the flames from the torch he lit the inside of the bowl, and it caught instantly, creating a bowl of fire. He set it down then started to tear pieces of meat from bone, pinching it with his talons as he turned it in the fire.

Several minutes later, the meat was a golden-brown and didn’t smell nearly as bad as she had expected. He offered it to her, and she took it reluctantly.

He watched her as she held it, waiting. Well, it couldn’t hurt to try…could it?

She took a careful bite...and found the meat to be surprisingly tender. But the taste was…

She grimaced as she forced herself to swallow.

Kryxis bared his teeth in that funny grin. He took the rest of the thigh and held it over the fire.

“Niza riash, veema xi sheesh.”He tore it with his fangs, bone crunching as he ate everything, shaking his head like he wasstill trying to shake it dead. She stood there in both horror and fascination.

She forced herself to eat one last bite out of politeness but refused any more. Kryxis ate a thigh and a half before setting the rest aside. He came back and petted her head. “Xia ish esha, lillak.”

She took hold of his wrist and gently took his hand away. “You’re very thoughtful, aren’t you? When you’re being nice.”

“Ka xia, Dani, Xa.”

Dani fixed him a little smile. She thought over her next words. “Will you do something for me again?”

He tilted his head.

“Will you…help me again?”

“Help,” he repeated.

“You know, like with my arm.” She touched her arm. “Or the tanks.” She pointed to them. “Helped.”

“Xa,adiza.”

“Adiza…again?” She put up her finger. “One more time?”

His eyes shifted from her finger then back to her. He bowed his head. “Xa, lillak, xi eisha leesh ish.”

She slipped by him and pointed up to the sign that said Crysis Labs. “I need you to take me to the labs. I need to help one of my crew in the research sector.” She lumbered over to a map of the city by the table and tapped on the research sector. “Take me here?”

Kryxis scratched at the side of his jaw as if thinking. “Esha nizetra.”

That sounded like a no. She dropped her arm. “No?”

He shook his head and looked around him. He grabbed the sharp end of his tail and waved it at her. “Nizetra.”

She stared at it. “Dangerous?” she guessed.

He grunted, dropping his tail. “Dangerissss.”

She frowned, biting the inside of her cheek. Of course it was. But what place wasn’t at this point?