Page 8

Iris

What the hell am I thinking agreeing to sit and eat dinner with Sorin and his father?

Especially considering the elder scares the living daylights out of me despite all the reassurances by Remi, Zara, London, and all the other women that Kala and his tribe are ‘friends’.

In the short time I spent with him, Sorin grew more adorable.

It was mostly because of just how sweet he is.

How could a child who holds my hand and gazes up at me with sparks of silver shining in his eyes be scary?

Kala, on the other hand? Terrifying.

I rush toward the tent I was given on my first night in the village, acknowledging, but not speaking, to people I pass.

Apparently, it had belonged to Remi, Zara, Sage, and Maeve at one time when they were all single and roomed together.

One by one, they found their mates and left until it sat empty.

I push aside the door flap and step over the threshold.

Inside, there’s an earthy, herbal scent from all the plants that have been stored in here since the women vacated it.

With the growth of the Tavikhi village, and the fact there are two full-time healers now, Kyler and Sage added a special, curtained off section to the healer’s tent for the humans who wanted some additional privacy to use.

It’s also where any future births will take place.

Because of that, they needed a place to store all their medicines and the plants they use to make them.

Interestingly enough, I learned that Bohna is the closest planet to Tavikh and that the Bohnari actually trade with the Tavikhi for a special plant that is also stored in my new home.

It would have been wild if I’d actually been chosen in the bridal lottery to go to Bohna.

Maybe I would have ended up visiting this planet anyway.

The basin on the table is filled with clean water and the leather cloth next to it is folded neatly.

I didn’t really need to wash like I told Kala, since I took a bath in the river this morning and haven’t done anything strenuous to get dirty.

It had just been an excuse to get away. Once I’d recovered from my initial fear, the wariness lingered, even though Kala was pleasant enough.

Recalling the intensity in which he studied me makes me fidget in discomfort.

My entire life I’ve been stared at, whispered about, openly talked about without shame, but no one has ever made me as acutely aware of myself and of them as Kala.

And now I get to spend the next hour or more sitting near to him and Sorin.

The unease is already settling in my gut.

Not wanting to be rude by making them wait, I quickly dip the cloth in the water and swipe my face and the back of my neck.

Some of the excess water I hadn’t been able to squeeze out runs along the length of my spine making it itch.

I try scratching it, but it’s in one of the tricky spots I can’t quite reach.

Instead, I rub against one of the wood support beams and let loose a sigh of satisfaction.

“You in here, Iris?” A woman’s voice calls out and she slaps on the hide of the tent like she’s knocking.

“Be right there.” I toss the cloth onto the table and swing away the door flap.

Astrid stands on the other side. “Evren and I wanted to invite you to sit with us for the evening meal.”

Of all the human women in the Tavikhi village, she’s been the most welcoming and has tried to encourage a friendship between us.

Not that the rest aren’t friendly, but the shefira, Remi, Zara, Maeve, and Sage tend to stick together most times.

Which isn’t surprising, considering they all became friends on the flight from Earth to Tavikh.

Well, except Sage. She’d already been here when the four others arrived.

Abby is nice enough as well, but she says herself she’s not really a people person.

“Thank you, but I already accepted an invite from someone else.”

Astrid perks up in the genuine bubbly way she has. “That’s wonderful. Who?”

I hesitate. “Kala and Sorin.”

Her wide smile doesn’t falter in the slightest and I love the fact she’s no longer self-conscious about her top two front teeth being crooked like she said she once was.

“I didn’t realize they were in the village today. Sorin is the sweetest, isn’t he?” Astrid cants her head and her forehead wrinkles. “Wait. How do you know them? You’ve only been here for a few days.”

My cheeks grow warm. “I was in the training arena with the kids when Talek brought Sorin down so they could all practice axe throwing. They wrangled me into trying once and I nearly fell on my ass. Kala caught me before I hit the ground.”

Astrid sighs and her entire body sort of melts when she crosses her hands over her heart. “Awww, that’s so romantic.”

I stare at her. “Romantic? You heard me say Kala, right? The terrifying alien who used to murder humans and Tavikhi apparently.”

She waves me off. “That was ages and ages ago. Besides, people do what they have to to survive. Their previous actions shouldn’t be held against them if they regret their choices, are truly bone-deep sorry, and make amends.

Kala and Sorin have been nothing but loyal friends to us.

He’s helped our people in more ways than I can count. ”

I rear back at the passionate defense Astrid takes on behalf of the Krijese.“Kala’s clearly made a good impression on you.”

She winces. “Sorry. I just know what it’s like to be lonely and desperate for someone to see deeper to the real person that’s hidden behind the preconceived notions and opinions of other people as well as any past misdeeds. Especially ones that are truly regretted.”

It’s my turn to flinch, because she’s summed up my entire life in a single sentence. I’m not sure even I can admit to the depths of my loneliness. People look at me and rarely, if ever, try to see beyond what’s on the surface. To be guilty of the same thing is hypocritical of me.

“You’re right. It’s not fair to judge anyone before I get to know them.

If anyone should know better, it’s me. The entire interaction with Kala, after the initial shock, was…

well, he did his best to appear non-threatening.

” I’d been surprised by how gently he held my hand during the handshake lessons.

His palm had been slightly rough, but not unpleasant.

It was the skin of someone who worked a lot with his hands.

Astrid nods. “Kala’s a little gruff, but that’s because it’s all he’s known. It’s how the Krijese are taught. Sorin is different, because his father is doing his best to be different and to raise him in the way he wasn’t. I think it’s admirable.”

Now I feel even worse about how I reacted to Kala, especially when all he did was keep me from bruising not only my tailbone, but my pride. Although, I still wouldn’t call what he did romantic. It was…kind, though.

“All right, you’ve made your point.” I smile to take out any of the harshness of my words. “Kala and Sorin are friends and it will be nice to sit with them for the meal.”

Astrid grins back. “Yes, it will. Which means we shouldn’t keep them waiting.”

I step out and let the hide door slap closed behind me so we can start for the central fire. “Kala offered to teach me how to properly throw an axe. Talek then suggested I could use my skills and go hunting with them.”

She side-eyes me. “Oh, really? What did you say?”

“I said it was a ridiculous idea for me to become a hunter and that I would be better off finding some other way to contribute to the village. You know Talek, though. He’s innocently positive and couldn’t see any reason I can’t be a hunter like Remi and Abby.

” I did also promise Kala I’d think about it before making a final decision.

“What’s so ridiculous about it?” A wrinkle appears between Astrid’s brows. “I’m with Talek on this one.”

My steps falter a second before I catch my balance. Is this an alternate universe I’m living in? Of course, I didn’t take Talek’s assurances too seriously because, well, he’s a child. But now Astrid appears to be championing this idea that I could potentially become a hunter?

“You’re kidding, right?”

Astrid stops me with a hand on my arm causing me to turn and face her.

“I think the idea has merit if you possess the skills for it, yes. You won’t know if you have them unless you practice, right?

I’m not saying you should do it if it means getting hurt or if you aren’t fully trained and prepared.

But if you discover you’re good at it, then why not? ”

On impulse, I hug Astrid. “Thank you.”

She chuckles and pats my back. “You’re welcome.”

We break apart and reach the central fire.

I can’t believe I’m giving serious consideration to this idea.

Actually, it’s more than consideration. I think I’ve already decided to take Kala up on his offer.Kala’s about a head taller than any of the Tavikhi.

He’s also much bulkier. Not fat, but solid muscle.

I felt the hard lines of his chest and stomach when he caught me.

The memory of them won’t be easy to forget.

It’s probably the closest I’ve ever been to a half-naked man before.

None of the Tavikhi wear shirts either, but for some reason I haven’t looked twice at any of them. At least not after the first day.

The Krijese, on the other hand, is…compelling. Maybe because I’m trying to reconcile what I’ve heard about his people and the fact that he is nothing like what I expected. Meeting Sorin first probably helped since I didn’t know he was Krijese and I only saw a little boy, albeit an alien one.

Kala spots me and although his eyes are a solid black, there’s a slight shift in their color.

Not a lot, but certainly enough to be noticeable from this distance.

I don’t know what’s caused it. He touches Sorin’s shoulder and the young boy swivels his head until his gaze lands on me.

He bears his teeth in that different smile of his and weaves his way through the various tribespeople approaching the fire until he reaches Abby and me.

“You came.”

“Of course I did. I said I would, didn’t I?” I tug on a lock of his rope-like hair.

“Gogo said I should not be disappointed if you decided you were unable to join us after all.”

I glance over at his ‘Gogo’ and back to Sorin. A wave of fierce protectiveness rushes through me.

“You should know one thing about me, and that is: I don’t break my promises. Ever. If I tell you I’m going to do something, I’ll do it. Okay?”

“Okay.” Sorin jerks his head in a short nod. “Come, let us get Gogo and find a place to sit.”

He snags my hand and I let him lead me toward his father.