Page 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?”

“Perhaps.”

My hold on his loosens and I playfully smack him on the chest. “You’re a jerk.”

“Perhaps.”

I snort and shake my head before turning to glance at the target again.

I’m stopped by the sight of Sorin staring at me and his dad.

The silver speck in his eyes sparkles and shines brightly.

Crap. He’s going to read more into that kiss than he should.

It was an impulsive move I should have stopped.

“Iris, you kissed Gogo.”

“Yes, I suppose I did.”

He cocks his head. “Does that mean you have affection for him?”

This is exactly the reason why I’m glad Sorin hadn’t seen the earlier kiss. Why couldn’t I have reined in the impulse this time? Of course, Kala remains quiet and leaves me to explain things.

“Sometimes humans get over excited about certain things and they express that excitement in odd ways. Kissing is kind of like crying. We cry when we’re sad or happy. There are a lot of meanings behind actions.” I already know my answer isn’t going to satisfy Sorin before he speaks.

“How do you know what meaning to give an action if it has many meanings?”

“It’s called context.”

“What is context?”

He doesn’t pronounce the word like I do, but I still understand it.

How do I explain context to a ten-year-old?

“It sort of means the situation where this particular action happens. When you wanted to kiss me, it’s because you wanted to show your affection.

I kissed your gogo because I was excited that I accomplished a task I didn’t think I could.

It was just a demonstration of that excitement. ”

Sorin continues staring and it’s clear the wheels in his head keep turning. “I have never seen any of the human females in the Tavikhi village give a kiss to anyone when they are excited.”

“What I believe Iris is saying is that the kiss was an accident,” Kala finally adds his own thoughts to the conversation.

That’s not at all what I was saying, and I’m annoyed at him for putting words into my mouth. But I let it go, because adult emotions are complicated and I don’t know how to explain them to myself, let alone to a little boy.

“Yes, it was an accident and won’t happen again.” I glare at the older Krijese and hope I’m getting my point across.

Except Kala won’t meet my eyes. The only person he’ll look at is Sorin.

“I still do not understand.”

“You do not need to understand. All you need to know is what Iris says. It will not happen again.” Kala walks over to the target and yanks the axe from it. “I do not think it is a good idea for us to teach Iris how to throw. Take your weapon and we will escort her back to the Tavikhi village.”

What? Is this because we kissed?

“But Gogo.”

“No, Sorin. I have made a decision and it is not for you to question. Now do as I say.”

He takes the axe from his father and sheaths it without another word. Kala turns to me. “We will go.”

“Lead the way.”

I’m not going to argue in front of Sorin, but I do plan on finding a way to get the older Krijese alone so he and I can have a little chat.

He can’t accuse me of giving up quickly on a task and then turn around and do the exact same thing.

Especially when it’s an issue that’s far more important than throwing some weapon at a target.

Kala practically stomps across the field toward the trees and the path hidden within it. Sorin falls in line next to me behind his father and takes my hand. He’s so dejected, my heart aches at his downcast head. I squeeze his fingers. It’s the only reassurance I can offer at the moment.

The walk down the hill takes far more time than it did going up or maybe it just feels that way because the silence is so damn uncomfortable.

I’d enjoyed the fresh air of the day as well as the beautiful weather and the clear lavender sky.

If Tavikh has cloudy days I’ve yet to see one.

The sun has shined brightly since the ship arrived.

I’m grateful to be on this planet for that alone.

It’s also a long trudge through the grass field.

Or bari field, according to the Tavikhi.

It’s a pretty yellow color and looks less like grass and more like cotton balls on skewers.

Yet another different, but lovely view Tavikh offers.

We might have been played by Earth’s government in regards to many things, but at least they offered us a beautiful planet to settle on.

It could have been a far worse place where the ship brought us.

Just past the field, a weird bird call resonates in the air.

Kala responds with a rough growl. The trees rustle and a large body falls out of one to land on two feet.

I screech and jump back, dragging Sorin with me until I recognize that it’s a Tavikhi warrior.

My racing heart takes forever to slow to a regular rhythm.

“Greetings, Evren.” Kala fists his chest. “We ended our target practice early, and I am bringing Iris back.”

The Tavikhi returns the gesture. “You are always welcome in our village.”

“You have my thanks.”

Kala inclines his head and takes off again through the trees, forcing Sorin and me to follow.

Evren watches the two of us pass, and I force myself to smile.

Astrid’s husband is a nice guy who’s also been as friendly to me as she has.

I’ve observed them at dinner and his love and devotion to her makes me yearn for someone to feel that way about me.

Instantly, my gaze shifts to the back of Kala.

Not that I had any expectations he could—or would—be that someone. But he’s the first guy—alien or human—that’s remotely interested me. Or maybe I’m just projecting the adoration I have for Sorin onto his dad. I’ve never been so confused in my life. That much I do know.

At last, the front gate of the Tavikhi village comes into view as well as the two guards who man it.

Kala stops just before he reaches it and waits for us to join him.

He still won’t look directly at me. Sorin and I come to a stop and the younger Krijese releases my hand and moves to stand next to his father and doesn’t take his eyes off me.

When the silence extends to a greater level of uncomfortable, I figure it’s up to me to break it. “Thanks for letting me practice.”

Kala dips his head, but remains silent. I rock back on my heels and forward. Well, I guess that’s that then. Since it’s clear Kala’s finished with me, I turn my gaze to Sorin.

“Thank you for being my friend.” I sniffle, because this feels like goodbye. Although judging by his father’s tense form, it probably is.

Before I can blink, the little boy runs forward and hugs me tightly.

I wrap my arms around him, breathe in his woodsy scent, and kiss the top of his head, just so he doesn’t forget what it feels like.

He holds me far longer than I suspect Kala wants him to, but I’m grateful that he doesn’t rush us.

Finally, Sorin releases me and tips his head back.

To my surprise, the shiny silver sparks in his eyes are slightly tarnished.

“I love you, Iris.”

Son of a bitch. The tears I didn’t want to fall do. “I love you, too, Sorin.”

He returns to his father’s side and Kala’s hand goes to his shoulder. Together they turn and walk away from not just the village, but away from me.