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My claws didn’t go deep, having just skimmed his face. The red liquid streamed into his eyes, and he dashed it away, baring his teeth at me. He charged at me with a war cry, then we rolled, exchanging a series of punches.
“Stop them!” It was Clara, but she wasn’t alone. Some of the Vokiren had arrived.
“The fight ends when one concedes you to the other, or one dies,” the matriarch’s voice was firm.
“What? No! That’s barbaric.”
“That is our way. Your Kadrixan has not yet begun to fight. He is holding back.”
The matriarch was right. The edge of the rut teased at me, and I worried the violence would bring it on this very instant, in the middle of the trade mission. I worried I’d ruin relations with this native tribe.
Tolan slashed his claws at me, barely missing my face and I rolled, pinning him. Then my fists were flying. Punching him again and again as the hormones inside me surged and my vision filled with a red haze. The rut was coming, and soon I’d be unable to control myself as I turned into the beast they said we were.
Several hands pulled me off the male: Vostak and Trsak.
“We are not part of the tribe. We can intervene,” Vostak said.
They turned me toward Clara, who watched with terror in her eyes.
“Your mate is frightened,” Vostak murmured. He looked around the room created by the trees. “You cannot start your rut now with an unfinished nest. Do you not wish to impress your little human?” He gestured to Clara to come, and she did tentatively. He put her hand in mine. “Calm him, human. He will settle for you.”
“I’m right here, Krxare.” Clara rubbed my arm in small circles as the tide of rage receded, though the world remained tinted red.
I met her gaze, and those big brown eyes still looked scared and unsure. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her to me. “Do not be frightened of me. I’d never hurt you.”
“I know,” she said. “You were protecting me.”
She hugged me back, and we stayed there until I calmed.
Chapter 14: Clara
The matriarch’s voice broke into our little world. “Well, that was interesting. Tolan and his two brothers have decided to leave our tribe and live on their own.”
I turned to her, still focusing most of my energy on calming the angry Kadrixan. As long as I touched him and focused on him, Krxare had control. It was almost as if I was the one in control; the one with the power to tame this mighty beast.
“I'm sorry this happened,” I began.
But the matriarch simply waved her hand. “Nothing you could have done about it, and it is best that it happened. Those brothers still have much anger they must work through before they can live here.”
“The colony sent people to burn down their homes. He has the right to be angry.” Despite not having had a say, I felt guilty to have been part of the colony that had hurt him so much.
“You are not your leaders. Just as his attack on Krxare, is not a reflection on my tribe as a whole. Even in my small tribe, not all believe the same things. Krxare would say the same of his warriors.”
Krxare grunted in agreement next to me.
She gestured for us to follow, and I did, guiding my now-tamed beast along.
“Violence was once a large part of our culture, female of Krxare. It was essential to carve out our land and secure our way of life.” She turned to me, offering a toothy grin as we walked across the hanging bridge to the next tree. “Did you know, when the Kadrixans first arrived, I sent a war party to greet them? They subdued us and asked for trade instead.”
“I hadn't known.” That was why the matriarch had known Krxare wasn't fighting at his best.
“This Vokiren tribe is much impressed with the Kadrixan’s strength and power, as well as with their mercy and willingness to work with us. They make strong enemies but even stronger allies.”
We reached a gap between the trees, and the matriarch leaped into the air, swinging from branch to branch to get across. I balked. I couldn’t do that, not this far off the ground. We were at least thirty feet from the forest floor. Even if the thick leaf litter broke my fall, I’d break an arm or a leg.
I’d been shocked the male Vokiren had so easily swung me from tree to tree with just one arm. They had evolved to live here.
“I will carry you,” Krxare declared, lifting me up. “Wrap around me.”
