Page 21 of The Weaver

As Ahmya stepped out of her boots, she wondered if making fluffed silk was an instinctual thing male vrix did in preparation for their broodlings. Kind of like what women would call nesting.

With the soft fur rug beneath her bare feet, she approached the couple.

Ivy reclined against Ketahn’s chest, her golden hair woven into a braid which rested over one shoulder, and the big black and purple vrix sat behind her with his lower pair of arms around her middle. She cradled a blanket-wrapped bundle in her arms.

Ahmya stopped in the middle of the room. “I hope I’m not intruding.”

“You are,” Ketahn said.

Her eyes widened. “Oh.”

Ivy chuckled and glanced up at her mate. “Hush. It’s okay, Ahmya. Thanks to Telok, we were able to get some sleep without being interrupted by an unending stream of visitors.”

“I can come back later if you’d prefer,” Ahmya said. “I know it’s kind of early.”

“You’re fine. We’ve been awake for a little while.” Ivy beckoned Ahmya with a hand. “Come closer. You don’t have to stand all the way over there.” She grinned and patted Ketahn’s arm. “Despite his threats to do so, Ketahn won’t bite.”

Ketahn snapped his mandible fangs together, and his violet eyes settled on Ahmya. “If I must bite to ensure you get rest, my heartsthread, I will do so.”

Ahmya shuddered. She would not want to be caught between his fangs—or any other vrix’s.

Except for Rekosh’s?

Shut up, brain.

“He’s being extra protective right now, but he won’t hurt you, Ahmya,” Ivy said.

“No bite, no eat,” Ketahn said with a chitter. “No fun.”

The women laughed.

He lowered his head and nuzzled Ivy’s hair before looking back at Ahmya. “I will not hurt you. Come. See my pride, my hearts, my love. See our broodling.”

Unable to shake her nervousness, Ahmya closed the distance between them. Her unease wasn’t due to Ketahn. He’d definitelyscared her in the beginning, but he’d since become family. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her, knew his threats had been jokes. She’d seen firsthand just how selfless he was when it came to protecting Ivy, the other humans, and his friends—his tribe.

No, Ahmya’s anxiousness was due entirely to the baby in Ivy’s arms.

As Ahmya drew closer to Ivy, she noted the woman’s paler than usual skin and the dark circles beneath her eyes. Ivy was clearly exhausted, but she still bore a glow of vitality, and was as beautiful as ever.

Ahmya smiled and lifted the pink spiceblossom, offering it to Ivy. “For you. It’s not much, but there’s not exactly an abundance of flowers up here for me to make a bouquet out of. This was the first to bloom.”

“Aw, thank you,” Ivy said as she accepted the flower by the stem, bringing the blossom to her nose.

“How…did it go?”

When Ivy lowered the flower, Ketahn gently took it from her. His big hands, tipped with black claws, delicately slid the stem into Ivy’s hair behind her ear, tucking back the wayward blond strands.

“Truthfully? It was scary,” she said, taking Ketahn’s hand and lacing her fingers with his. “There were moments when I thought I couldn’t do it. When I thought I…wouldn’t make it. No matter how many times or how hard I pushed, the baby wouldn’t come. I was just so exhausted, constantly in and out of consciousness, but the urge to push was as powerful as ever.”

Ivy looked down at the bundle cradled on her arm and smiled. “When he finally came, it was such a relief. Then I saw him. He was so beautiful. And he’s…he’s perfect, Ahmya.”

She looked up with a short laugh. “Tore me up something fierce though. Thankfully Diego patched me up quick, so yay for Earth science. But despite all that pain… It was worth it just tohold our son. To look into his eyes. I would do it all over again.”

Ketahn growled and pulled her against him a little more snugly. “Not again, Ivy. You will not suffer that pain again.”

Ivy rolled her eyes, released his hand, and reached up to pat the side of his face. “Unless you’re willing to give up sex, it’s bound to happen again.”

His mandibles drooped. “I do not like these choices.”

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