Page 19 of The Weaver

“Ugh. Shut up.” She shook her head as though it could silence that pesky inner voice and the sounds that were so entrenched in her memory.

Plucking a couple green, serrated leaves from thexal’keishahl—the spiceblossom—growing from a clay pot on the table, she slipped them into her mouth. The leaves’ cinnamon-like flavor burst across her tongue as she angrily chewed. The leaves’ texture, while not exactly pleasant, worked well for cleaning teeth.

“There’s nothing wrong with being a little curious,” she muttered.

She was a virgin, but she wasn’t ignorant. Ahmya knew what happened when people had sex, knew that it could feel good—though she’d never experienced anything other than self-pleasure. And considering Cole was the only human male available…

Ahmya straightened, tugging down the hem of her silk skirt. “No. Just…no.”

Cole was handsome, and he’d changed a lot in the time she’d known him, having become a genuine friend to her since they’d left theSomniumthree months ago. At heart, he was thoughtful and dependable. But he just wasn’t her type, and she felt no attraction toward him. The only other single humans wereCallie and Lacey. They were both gorgeous, but Ahmya wasn’t interested in either of them sexually.

That left her with two choices—die a virgin or mate with a vrix.

You know exactly which vrix.

She groaned and scrubbed her hands over her face. “Why am I thinking about all this now?”

Because Rekosh is back, and you know the truth.

Ahmya snapped off the spiceblossom’s pink flower. “I’m done talking to you.”

She walked toward the doorway, only to come to an abrupt halt. Her head tipped back as she stared up at the ceiling. “I’ve been spending way too much time alone with my thoughts.”

And wasn’t that how it had always been? When she was still living with her father, it had been hours in her room doing homework, broken only by silent, stifling family meals. She’d been alone when she finally moved out, and though she knew that wasn’t the case here, it felt like it sometimes.

Especially for those first few days after Rekosh had departed a month ago.

Vrix had excellent senses of smell, and they apparently reacted...excitedly when humans were ovulating. Ivy had explained it to Ahmya, Lacey, and Callie. It was like when female vrix put out their pheromones, only stronger.

So when Ahmya ovulated for the first time since awakening, she’d been forced to spend several days cooped up in her little den, avoiding contact with all the vrix. She could only imagine what it would’ve been like had Rekosh been around when a male thornskull scented her during that time.

The peace between Rekosh’s kind and the thornskulls might’ve been put into jeopardy.

To say it had been an unsettling experience would’ve been an understatement, but the worst part had been the quiet. Even though she’d still seen Lacey, Callie, and the other humansevery day, something had been missing. Something that had become so natural a part of her days, that had become so natural a part of her life.

Not something. Someone.

Don’t you dare, Ahmya. Don’t you dare admit that...that you missed Rekosh being around. That it was too quiet without him. That…

“Okay, time to go!”

Proceeding to the door, she tugged on her boots, slung her backpack over her shoulders, and brushed aside the silk hanging to step outside. Bright rays of sunlight gleamed through the canopy above, casting dancing shadows of the leaves and branches swaying in the breeze. She walked along the platform toward the descending stairway. There was no sign of Callie or Lacey. This early, they were either sleeping or having breakfast in the lounge. Cole was always up with the dawn, either busy with one of his many projects or joining the thornskulls’ hunts.

What was Rekosh doing? Was he resting, or was he awake? How would he spend his day?

Ha! See, still thinking of him.

Ahmya sighed. The last few months had been filled with labor as the humans worked alongside the vrix to help make a place for themselves here in Kaldarak. Most nights, she’d gone to bed exhausted, with every muscle in her body aching, and had passed out the instant she hit her pallet.

But there’d been other nights when she’d lain awake, longing for the days when it had just been their small tribe. When they’d all gathered around a fire beneath the stars and talked. Everything had been so much more intimate then, and they hadn’t been so busy and scattered. Sure, they’d been running for their lives, but…Ahmya had enjoyed that time with her newfound family.

And during this last month, she’d missed Rekosh’s presence.She hadn’t realized how bright her days had been when he’d shown up to work alongside her, watch over her, or talk to her—which he’d done often, as he was eager to learn English. He made her feel seen. Made her feel included. He didn’t treat her like a burden or make her feel like she was in the way.

Then he was gone, and every day had been gloomier than the last.

Rekosh had been kind, supportive, protective. He was her friend.

You know that he wants to be more, Ahmya.

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