I grumbled,huffing as I wiped the dried blood from Kur’tok’s face. “You’re really stubborn, y’know that?”
Kur’tok pouted like a sour-faced komodo dragon, but he didn’t move as I cleaned up his injuries. Ever since the krokutta attack, he’d been less argumentative. Hell, he hadn’t even snapped at Haz’rull or Arr’tow since we returned.
I traced the claw marks on his cheek with a sympathetic grimace. “These are pretty deep. They might leave scars.”
He grunted proudly. “Good. Battle scars from saving my—”
He cut short like he’d bit his tongue.
I raised a brow and asked, “Your what?”
“Nothing,” he grumbled, although he clearly wanted to say something. No doubt it was about his arch-nemesis:feelings.
I stifled a grin. He was one step closer to admitting something, but I’d let him figure it out on his own. He was so close to an emotional breakthrough, I could almost taste it.
And then, like a miracle, it happened.
“Paz.”
His deep voice sent a shiver down my spine.
“About last night,” Kur’tok muttered, averting his red gaze. “I... I should not have abandoned you.” He hesitated, as ifstruggling to speak past a lump in his throat, then said, “I am sorry.”
A huge smile spread over my face. I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it and draw unnecessary attention to Kur’tok, but inside, I was squealing and waving congratulatory banners.
“It’s all right,” I reassured him. “You’re here now, and that’s what I care about.”
His eyes snapped to mine. “I won’t abandon you again. Ever.”
My heart fluttered faster and faster, stumbling over itself. The blazing intensity of his gaze pinned me to the spot, and his words were a comforting embrace. He intoxicated me.
I swallowed past my racing pulse. “Good, ‘cause I want to be near you.”
Kur’tok placed his large palm against my cheek. My skin hummed as his claw gently grazed my skin.
Kur’tok huffed through his nostrils. “I have to tell you something.”
My heart flipped like a gymnast. I sat upright, my heart hammering in my chest. “Yeah?”
Staring into my eyes, he took a long breath and said, “You’re my filum.”
Holy crap.
Fuckingfinally.
I was so relieved and ecstatic that a laugh bubbled out of me.
Kur’tok’s feelers flared out like a puffed-up cat. “Stop laughing,” he blurted.
“No, no, it’s okay, I’m really happy,” I assured him, throwing in a hug for good measure.
His feelers settled down. “You... are?”
“I’ve been waiting for you to say that this entire time!”
His jaw fell agape like someone had hit him in the face with a frying pan. I stopped myself from bursting out laughing again athis hilarious expression. With a flustered growl, he demanded, “Why didn’t you say so sooner, flesh-bag?”
I hugged him harder, careful not to touch the dressed wounds on his back. “It doesn’t work ifItell you. Gotta figure it out on your own, with your Maeleon skills or whatever.”
