Odd wording, as usual, but I appreciate the sentiment.
We stand in silence for a moment, the weight of my words settling heavily between us.
"No wonder draks are all about fighting," she finally mutters.
I let out a huff of air, a sound that could be interpreted as either agreement or amusement. "It's in our blood, the need to protect ourselves," I state simply by way of agreement.
"Right," she concedes, her voice thick with sarcasm. "Because what better way to ensure your new home is safe than by turning all the cute, cuddly, single-celled organisms into lightning-spewing monstrosities?"
I open my mouth to retort, but she holds up a hand, silencing me.
"Alright, alright," she says, a hint of sympathy softening her voice. "I get it. You were young, you were scared. We all make mistakes."
I scowl, the sting of her words unexpected. "We were not scared," I growl.
She sighs, a weary sound that seems to carry the weight of her own battles. "Look," she says, her voice softening, "I'm not judging. Just pointing out the irony of it all."
There is a truth to her words that I can't deny. A truth that has always left a bitter taste in my mouth. In the mouths of all Maj'Ras.
She turns away from me toward the water.
"That's beautiful," Kira breathes, her voice filled with appreciation and her gaze fixed on the inviting water.
The sight of her standing there, bathed in the dappled sunlight, sends warmth through me.
I like it.
"This is perfect," she says, a smile gracing her lips. She unclips the straps of her backpack, her movements fluid and practiced.
I watch, mesmerized, as she shrugs it off and drops it to the ground. Then, with a swift movement, she wades into the water.
Without a word, she moves deeper and deeper, the sunlight glinting off the droplets that cling to her.
"If this place has fornicatingleeches," she mutters, her voice barely a whisper, "I'm going to kill something."
The unexpected humor in her words snaps me out of my daze. I let out a startled snort, and then a surprised laugh.
"Leeches?" I ask, the word unfamiliar to me.
"Blood-sucking worms," she explains with a grimace. "They're not a threat, just annoying."
A satisfied sigh escapes her lips as the cool water envelopes her up to waist level, sending shivers down my hide.
I watch, transfixed, as she swims toward the center of the pool, her movements graceful and powerful. The way the water clings to her curves sends a jolt of desire through me.
Why... why can't I look away?
My breath hitches as the top half of her dark leathery skin falls away, revealing a form I hadn't dared to imagine.
She isn't covered in a black hide, as I had assumed. Instead, smooth, brown skin stretches across her body. The water cascades down her in damp waves, clinging to the curves I hadn't noticed before.
Heat flares in my belly, an urge that surprises me with its intensity, causing a stirring and tightening in my belly.
28
Kira
The cool water seeps into my skin, washing away the grime and sweat of the fight. It feels heavenly, a contrast to the searing pain in my side. Wincing, I turn to inspect the damage.
