Page 16 of A Kiss of Frost

“This planet does not seem to be very lucky, does it?”

He tilted his head, the light catching on his horns, but as he did she heard his stomach growl. She smiled, picked up the plate, and handed it to him.

“I’m sorry. I’m keeping you talking instead of feeding you.”

He took a cautious bite of the food, then his eyes widened.

“This is delicious,” he said, chewing thoughtfully. “I had no idea that food could be so delectable, even after I smelled your cooking–”

Oh my God. The only way he could have smelled her cooking was if he had been close to them. She narrowed her eyes at him.

“You were there in the woods, weren’t you? I didn’t dream you.”

He gave that stiff, painful nod again.

“Have you been stalking us?”

She took a step back towards the door, suddenly afraid that Johnny had been right all along.

“Not at all,” he said hastily. “Our destinations simply coincided.”

“But you still hid from us.”

“I did not consider it wise to reveal myself, given my differences.”

He gestured at his horns and some of her anger died away. Humans could be intolerant. And given that it was apparently against his protocol to interact with “primitive” species, she supposed it made sense to remain concealed.

“I guess I can understand that,” she admitted reluctantly.

Was it really so bad that he had been following them?

“I also removed all traces of your passage,” he added, and she frowned.

“I already did that.”

“You did well enough for an… untrained warrior.”

“I rather suspect you intended to say either woman or primitive, but you’re not wrong. I don’t have any training.”

He gave a cautious nod, but she saw his eyes flick towards the plate of food. She shook her head.

“Go ahead and eat.”

“Thank you, zeretta.”

“What did you call me?”

He didn’t raise his eyes from his plate, but she thought he seemed uncomfortable.

“It is a Tandroki word. It means female… esteemed female.”

He looked so uncomfortable, she couldn’t help asking. “Is it complimentary?”

“Oh yes.”

He finally looked up, and when their eyes met, it was almost as if a bell chimed in her head. Perhaps it was foolish, but she trusted the sincerity on his face.

“This really is most delicious,” he added, clearly changing the subject.

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