Page 58 of The Weaver

“I do not know this ground,” Rekosh said as he scanned their surroundings with those intense crimson eyes.

“Couldn’t we just follow the river back?”

“The river will lead us back, but we are…down. Must climb.” His gaze shifted upriver, in the direction of the waterfall. “But rain has made the ground weak, and the cliff is too dangerous. We must go around.”

“And we don’t know how far out of the way that will take us, soooo…we’re kind of lost.”

He chittered as he looked at her. “Yes.”

“I think I’d much rather go around the long way than try and climb a steep cliff anyway.” Ahmya settled her elbows on her knees, propped her chin in her hands, and grinned. “It can be an adventure. Just the two of us.”

Rekosh cocked his head. “I do not know your word. Adventure.”

“It means to explore. To find new, exciting things. To have fun.”

A thoughtful hum rumbled in his chest, and his gaze raked over her. “What if new things want to eat us?”

The heat between her thighs rekindled, and she dug her toes into her boots. Ahmya couldn’t quite tell if he was talking about wild beasts eating her…or himself.

Stop thinking about his tongue!

“Well, that part isn’t fun,” she said. “But the exploration is. And…the company is good.”

He smiled, and the fangs at the ends of his mandibles gleamed.

They should’ve unsettled her. She’d seen their strength, knew what they were capable of. But all she could think of was the way they’d teased her skin as he’d rubbed his face on her belly, their tips grazing her with the perfect blend of pleasure and pain.

“Yes. The company is best.” Rekosh leaned toward her, propping his lower hands on the ground in front of him. “I like to see you, Ahmya. To speak with you.”

Ahmya’s belly fluttered. “I like seeing and speaking to you too.” She had the urge to cover her face and hide so her next words would be easier to say, but she resisted, keeping her eyes locked with his. “I…missed you, Rekosh.”

“Ah,kir’ani vi’keishi. For many eightdays, I have felt my threads coming undone.” He tapped his chest, over his hearts. “I will not be away from you again.”

Her skin was flushed, and the fluttering in her belly had increased tenfold. Ahmya smiled and traced her fingers along the ridge of his headcrest and down the side of his face. “I hope not. It was very lonely without you.”

He captured her hands with his upper ones, pressed them palm to palm, and laced their fingers together. Hers were so small compared to his, but seeing them like this was so, so right.

“Kir rayathi kir’ani ikarex elush ul sythal, Ahmya.”

I weave my words into a bond, Ahmya.

Rekosh eased closer. “I will stay with you.”

The smoldering intensity in his eyes and the conviction in his voice made Ahmya’s breath catch. She curled her fingers, squeezing his hands.

I want to stay with you too.

CHAPTER 14

The jungleonly seemed to have two types of weather—cold and rainy or hot and muggy. Today fell into the latter category. Ahmya had appreciated the warm sunshine this morning while they lounged beside the river, but as the day had worn on, the heat had steadily grown unbearable.

She gathered her hair off her neck and pressed it to the back of her head. The air was a balm upon her sweaty skin.

“Leaking again?” Rekosh asked, calling her attention to him. He strode beside her, matching her leisurely pace, with the sharpened stick serving as his spear tucked along his upper right arm.

Ahmya chuckled as she slipped between two trees, using the point of her own spear to check the vegetation in front of her for any lurking beasties—or hidden carnivorous plants. “Be happy that you vrix don’t have to worry about sweating.”

“I am. The jungle is already wet. I do not know why humans must make themselves more wet.”

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