Page 84 of The Weaver

“You are preening also.” Rekosh resumed caressing her skin with the silkblossom.

“Mmm… I think a better word would be content.” She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath, releasing it in a happy sigh. “I wish we could stay here, just the two of us, for a little while longer.”

He made a thoughtful hum as the petals glided up along her spine. “There is good water, and signs of nearby beasts to hunt. We need only shelter. Kaldarak will wait while this place keeps us.”

Ahmya opened her eyes and lifted her head. Wet strands of her hair slid over the back of her shoulder, allowing cool drops of water to run along her arm. “We can stay?”

“A small time, mynyleea. So my leg may heal a little more, so you may rest. And…because I wish to add to the memories we have made here.”

Happiness burst through her. She rose onto her hands and knees and crawled to Rekosh. Throwing her arms around his neck, she leaned into him and pressed a kiss to his mouth.

Rekosh trilled and wrapped an arm around her, rolling onto his back and dragging Ahmya atop him. She laughed as she straddled his abdomen and propped her forearms on his chest, her hair falling to one side. His crimson eyes shone as he looked up at her. She peppered more kisses over his face.

He chittered and cupped a hand over her ass as he banded another arm around her, holding her securely against him.

Her smile faded. “Won’t everyone be worried though? They’re probably looking for us.”

“Yes. But for many eightdays, I have wanted only to see you.” His big hands moved with their usual grace and gentleness as he caught her dangling hair, tucked it behind her ear, and slid the stem of the flower into it. Then he cradled her cheek withhis palm. “I would have you to myself a small time longer, my flower.”

Warmth flooded her chest, and her heart fluttered. She traced her fingers over his masklike face, so inhuman, so different, so beloved, and smiled once more. “I would have you to myself too.”

Ahmya tilted her head as her gaze followed the path of her fingertips around his eyes. Expressive and brilliant, their glow had frightened her all those months ago when they’d first met, but now they were a beacon in the dark that she sought for comfort and safety. They were the eyes of her mate.

Her husband.

Rekosh was silent as he watched her, mandibles relaxed, his own fingers stroking her skin in soothing circles.

In her head, she counted his eyes as her fingertips passed them. Four on each side, eight in total. Eight, a number sacred to the vrix. It was used when they cursed, when they prayed, when they invoked their gods. Their weeks were eight days, and whenever they divided anything into groups, be it vrix or objects, they were inclined to do so into groups of eight.

Ketahn had thought it a sign from the gods when he’d discovered Ivy, the eighth of the survivors aboard theSomnium, and the vrix had considered it fortuitous that there’d been eight humans. On top of Ahnset’s crushing guilt for Ella’s death, the female vrix had believed she’d cursed them all by sundering that sacred number—without Ella, there were only seven humans left.

But they’d overcome the challenges set in their path. They had found a home in Kaldarak. And Ahmya didn’t believe they’d made it so far because the vrix fixation on eight was just superstition. No…she believed that there’d been eight humans all along, throughout their harrowing journey, because they’d brought Ella along in their hearts.

“Many Japanese people believe the number eight is lucky,” Ahmya said. “It is because of the number’s shape.”

“Its shape?” His eyes narrowed briefly as though in thought.

“It’s different from the numbers we’ve shown you. This is the symbol inkanji.” Cradling Rekosh’s face, she used her thumbs to draw two lines between his eyes, starting close together and sweeping down and outward. “Hachi. Eight. It is lucky because the symbol spreads outward like a fan, opening wide at the bottom, which represents growth and prosperity.”

Rekosh moved his lower hands to her hips. With his thumbs resting on either side of her spine, he made the symbol upon her back, slowly trailing his thumbs down and outward to her ass in a way that sent a thrill through her. “Hachi.”

Ahmya chuckled and nodded.

A purr rumbled in his chest, and Ahmya’s breath hitched as the sound stimulated her nipples where her breasts pressed against his hide.

“Teach me more,” he said.

Ahmya grinned, hooked her thumbs together, and spread her fingers, wiggling them. “Kumo.”

He chittered, and an amused light filled his eyes. “I know that shape.Kumois the same as spider?”

“Yes, but it also means cloud.”

Rekosh let out a low groan. “Soallhumans use words that mean many things.”

Ahmya sighed dramatically and settled her hands upon his shoulders. “We are such confusing creatures.”

With a trill, Rekosh caught the back of her neck and lifted his head. “I am happy to be confused, because you are mine.”

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