Page 24 of Klaz

Cinta’s eyes lit up. “I have an idea. Can you lure it to that overhang?” She pointed to a precarious-looking ice shelf.

I nodded, already moving. “Be careful.”

She nodded, then began scaling the ice formation with surprising agility. I circled the beast, drawing its attention with sharp whistles and sudden movements.

I darted out from our hiding spot, waving my arms. “Over here, you overgrown furball!”

The beast’s head snapped towards me, its jaws opening in a fearsome snarl. It charged, shaking the ground. I ran, leading it beneath the ice shelf. At the last second, I dove to the side.

“Hey ugly! Up here!” Cinta’s voice rang out, mimicking the beast’s roar with surprising accuracy. The creature’s head whipped around, confused by the sound coming from above.

The creature reared up on its hind legs, trying to reach Cinta where she perched atop the ice formation.

She leapt to the next column, shouting over her shoulder. “Klaz, now!”

I shoved at the base of the formation, straining with all of my might.

It didn’t budge. I pushed harder, desperate.

This had to work. With the final bit of strength, I shoved again, ramming my shoulder against the pillar.

An eerie groan echoed all around us. Then with a sudden shake the ice shelf groaned, then collapsed, burying the beast beneath tons of frozen debris. Its roars faded to whimpers, then silence.

I rushed to where Cinta was climbing down. “Are you alright?”

She grinned, eyes shining with exhilaration. “Never better. We make a pretty good team, don’t you think?”

Before I could stop myself, I pulled her into a fierce embrace.

Cinta’s body pressed against mine, her warmth seeping through our layers of clothing. I forgot about the biting cold, the looming danger, everything except the feel of her in my arms. My heart pounded, a war drum in my ears.

She tilted her head back, looking up at me. A strand of auburn hair had escaped her hood, curling against her cheek. Without thinking, I reached out to brush it away. My fingers lingered on her skin, tracing the curve of her jaw.

Cinta’s breath hitched. “Klaz...”

The sound of my name on her lips broke something inside me. Years of control, of holding back, shattered like the ice we’d just brought down. I cupped her face in my hands, my thumbs stroking her cheekbones.

“I shouldn’t,” I murmured, even as I leaned closer.

“Then I will,” Cinta whispered, her hands fisting in the front of my suit.

As our lips met, a war raged within me. Part of me screamed that this was wrong - she was too young, too vulnerable. But another part, a part I thought long dead, roared to life. It whispered of belonging, of a connection I’d never felt before.

Cinta’s mouth was soft, warm, a stark contrast to the frigid air around us. I tasted her desperation, her fear, her relief - all of it mingling with my own surging emotions.

The kiss deepened, grew hungry. My hands slid into her hair, dislodging her hood. Cinta pressed herself closer, a small moan escaping her. The sound sent a jolt of desire through me, and I growled low in my throat.

I backed her up against the nearest ice formation, my body caging hers. Cinta’s hands roamed over my chest, my shoulders,leaving trails of fire in their wake. I nipped at her lower lip, relishing her gasp of pleasure.

I lost myself in the sensations. Her scent, her taste… I wanted to devour her, to claim her as mine.

Reality crashed back in with the distant roar of another ice beast. I tore my lips from Cinta’s, both of us panting heavily. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips swollen from our kiss. The sight nearly undid me.

“Don’t ever scare me like that again,” I murmured into her hair.

Cinta pulled back slightly, her face tilted up towards mine. “Scared? The big, bad Vinduthi warrior?”

I cupped her cheek, thumb tracing the curve of her jaw. “When it comes to you? Terrified.”