Page 20 of The Weaver

Her thoughts flashed back to two days ago, when Rekosh had come to speak with her after his month-long absence.

Words from my heartsthread,kir’ani vi’keishi.

My little flower.

Ahmya’s heart thumped, and she pressed a hand to her chest. What had he been about to say? What had he been about to profess?

His unspoken words were an unknown that loomed as large and as intimidating as what she’d faced by boarding theSomniumto leave Earth.

But they weren’t entirely unknown, were they? She had a pretty good idea of what he might’ve confessed, and if her guess was right, it only led to an entirely new set of uncertainties.

He…he wanted her as his mate.

Ahmya chewed on the inside of her bottom lip.

Was that so wrong? Was it so unappealing? Ivy was mated to Ketahn, and she was happy. Based on the sounds she made when the two had sex, she wasreallyhappy. But their relationship went well beyond sex. They loved each other, cared for each other, and it was evident in everything they did, even when they weren’t together.

Could Ahmya find that same happiness with Rekosh? When she’d first seen the vrix, that answer had been a firmheck no, but in the time since…

Ahmya jogged down the stairs to the main platform.

In the time since, her heart fluttered with Rekosh’s every crimson glance, her skin tingled with his every touch, and she ached and yearned for him in a way she had for no other.

Seeing him again had reminded her of all that, had made her body react, had made her crave. And last night, when Ahmya had given in to temptation and touched herself in the darkness of her den, it had been Rekosh she’d imagined as she stroked her clit. It had been his name, muffled in her bedding, that she’d cried as she came.

Cheeks flushing, Ahmya shoved that memory aside. “Ivy. I’m going to see Ivy and the new baby.”

She crossed the rope bridge connecting the humans’ platforms to the rest of Kaldarak and hurried toward Ketahn and Ivy’s den, replying to the thornskulls who greeted her along the way in their own tongue, albeit a bit haltingly and likely mispronounced. But the natives of the tree village were used to the strange accents of the humans who’d become their tribemates, and they’d found ways around the lingering language barriers.

When she finally reached her destination, she found Telok standing on the platform outside the den, scanning Kaldarak with his bright green eyes, both sets of arms folded across his chest and abdomen. He turned his head toward Ahmya as she approached, mandibles ticking upward.

Ahmya smiled wide. “Good morning, Telok.”

He dipped his chin in acknowledgement. Though he wasn’t nearly the largest vrix she’d encountered, he might’ve been the most intimidating. With all those scars on his black and green hide, that piercing gaze, and a deep, rasping voice, he often seemed rather intense. But she’d seen how deeply he cared, and how quickly he’d come to the aid of the members of their tribe when there was trouble.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Why are you standing out here alone?”

Telok huffed and waved toward the rest of the village, replying in English, “All go here to see. I tell all go away. Ivy and Akalahn no rest with thornskulls seeing.”

“Is it okay for me to see them if they’re awake? I won’t stay too long.”

He closed his hand into a fist and raised his thumb in a gesture that Cole and Will had taught him. It was both strange and comical seeing him do it. “Awake now.”

Ahmya grinned. “Thank you.” She knocked on the intertwined branches of the doorframe. “It’s Ahmya.”

“Come in!” Ivy called.

Shifting aside the cloth door, Ahmya slipped inside the warm den. It had been given to Ivy and Ketahn when they’d first arrived in Kaldarak, and it was larger than those that had been built for the humans—a den for a mated pair.

There were spears standing next to the doorway, nets and coils of silk rope hanging on the wall, and built-in pockets and shelves containing all sorts of items, including tools, herbs, and small jars. Clay pots and woven baskets sat in one corner, and near them was a vrix-made furnace crafted from slabs of stone. The slabs formed a box that was open on one side, revealing a bowl with a low, blue-green flame burning within.

And beside the fire were Ketahn and Ivy, resting upon a mountain of fluffed silk. It would have put the biggest, comfiest bean bag to shame.

Looks like someone was busy.

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