Page 38 of Kryxis

Dani approached him, stopping only a foot away. Glancing at his arms, she noticed the blue pair were smaller than his red, with only four large fingers. She took one of them, holding it in hers.

Kryxis tensed suddenly, and she wondered if the blue hands were more sensitive than the others. She ignored his reaction and forced him to look at her. “Please, Kryxis.”

He studied her, hopefully recognizing the desperate look on her face. He reached out with a red hand and brushed a lock of her hair away. “Izet eisha.”

She shivered a little at his touch. “Is that a yes?”

His lip twitched, and he exhaled as if with a sigh. “Xa, Dani. Help.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Kryxis

He did not like the idea of taking her to the labs. They were occupied by others. Not just the great one with her webs, but others who would dare to harm her. And he would not react well to anything trying to take her.

A part of him wanted to say no. To keep her safe in his den. It had not been very long, and she was ready to leave so soon.

He understood her urgency to an extent. She was anxious to find her companions. Something he didn’t have.

Still, he had hoped his den would have enticed her enough to want to rest for a while. He was proud of it. Of the things he had collected. She appeared curious, and he found he wanted to impress her by showing his possessions. He had seen other creatures here gather things to show potential mates. Create nests to entice them, to show they could provide. He had more than any creature here, everything and anything to provide for her.

And yet, she only seemed slightly intrigued. Even when he thought he had her with the plant library, seeing her face light up, he was certain she would want to stay.

But then she requested a bag with more items and started to prepare them as if to leave.

Out of desperation, he went hunting. It seemed instinctual that a mate would want to make sure he could hunt. And he was a master at that game. The furry beasts with tusks were known to be especially hard to catch as they kept themselves in burrows. But he was determined and so snuffed one out before presenting it. They tasted the best out of anything he’d tried by far. Surely that would be enough.

It wasn’t.

He started to suspect that her kind were not as easily impressed by what he had to offer. He also understood that she was very wary of him, which factored into her approval.

Clearly, hunting and chasing her in the beginning did not thrill her into finding him a worthy male. Despite that, she had fought him, and that had certainly done it for him.

What little he knew about companionship was not enough. But she liked when he was “nice” as she called it. The food and gifts had helped as did the plants. He could tell she was warming to him.

Perhaps he was being impatient. He had held himself back in touching her as much as he could, which was hard. But he didn’t want to scare her or disgust her more, and he wasn’t entirely sure he was failing at that.

She didn’t run from him, at least, and wanted more of his help. That was something.

He just wished it wasn’t to go to the labs.

Not that he thought he couldn’t protect her. That was no issue. But something about that place, he didn’t like. Something that made his brain fuzzy with the beginnings of a headache.And he didn’t like the idea of her near it. It was dangerous in a way he couldn’t explain.

Still, he wanted her approval, and her pleading eyes had warmed his black hearts. If they didn’t linger inside for a long time, maybe there wouldn’t be an issue.

That didn’t mean he was going to take her right away. She was still injured, and she looked drained of life. She was tired, he knew, from what she’d gone through.

He tried his best not to sneak up on her while she was going through her pack again for the second time. When she noticed him however, she still flinched. She tried to hide it, but it still stung. He ignored the ache and reached around her, taking the bag.

“No,” he said in his tongue. “We can’t leave yet.”

Her mouth turned upside down and he understood that meant she was either confused or not happy. “No wat?” She replied in her tongue.

“No leaving.” He pointed to the doors.

She glanced at the doors then back at him, giving him a little grimace. “Yu wonnt tayke me?”

Her language was simple enough most times that he was learning quickly. Repeating at her appeared to help.

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