Page 123 of The Weaver

Ahmya slipped her arms around his chest and brushed her lips over the back of his shoulder. In a soft voice, she said, “As long as I have you, I don’t need anything else.”

He purred, settling his lower hands over hers and squeezing them gently. “You will have me always, Ahmya. Always.”

“This is still strange,” Urkot said from beside them.

“That they are finally mated?” Ketahn asked, turning to look at them from ahead before chittering. “I say it was overdue.”

“No, not that. The way he is speaking.” Urkot tilted his head as he regarded Rekosh. “He has given so few barbed words since yesterday that I fear he must have taken a blow to the head.”

“They must have knocked all those needles right out.”

Rekosh chittered and shook his head. “I thought it was fluffed silk in my skull, not needles.”

Urkot thumped the ground with a leg. “Who could guess what was lost in that fluff? We will never know, as those needles have been replaced by soft, tender words.”

“He sounds like Ketahn,” Telok said from behind.

“What?” Ketahn and Rekosh demanded simultaneously.

“It is true!” Urkot swung his gaze to Ketahn before returning it to Rekosh. “Perhaps it is a trait of weavers?”

Rekosh let out an exaggerated huff. “We do not sound alike.”

Telok let out a huff of his own. “You speak to Ahmya like Ketahn speaks to Ivy.”

“There is nothing wrong with the way I speak to Ivy,” said Ketahn.

Ahmya chuckled at their playful banter.

Rekosh’s mandibles were raised in a smile, and she could feel the warmth and joy radiating from him. He and Ahmya had been through so much to get to this moment, but they hadn’t let themselves be broken. They hadn’t relinquished their happiness.

“Do not heed them, Ketahn,” Rekosh said. “These two are simply bitter because they have only rocks and trees to speak to.”

With a chitter, Urkot bumped a foreleg against Rekosh’s. “Sharper, needlelegs, but not enough so to pierce my hide.”

“I know of little that could, stoneskull. For now, I shall hold my barbs for my enemies.” Rekosh glanced at Ahmya over his shoulder. A loving light gleamed in his crimson eyes. “My time with mywifeshall be filled with sweet words and smiles.”

Warmth spread through Ahmya, and her heart fluttered at the possessive way Rekosh said that human word. She’d never tire of hearing it.

After a brief trek across the valley floor, they reached the wide stairs that wound up and around the trunk of a huge tree, leading to the village.

As they climbed the steps, Ahmya pressed her body against Rekosh’s warm back, resting her cheek against his hide, and tightened her embrace. She didn’t cling to him due to fear of heights or falling, but in anticipation, in relief, and because finally, they were home. Together, and as mates.

Rekosh stroked her hands with his thumbs.

Thornskulls called out in greeting as the party traversed Kaldarak’s bridges and platforms. The air was literally abuzz with excitement, thanks to the countless chattering vrix gathered at the city’s heart.

Ahmya again peered around Rekosh as they approached the central platform, where Garahk and his mate denned. It was crowded with colorful thornskulls, a sea of summer and autumn. At the front of the group were several familiar faces.

Nalaki,daiyaof Kaldarak, stood foremost. Two little white broodlings and a larger reddish brown one were huddled beside her legs, while two more ochre broodlings clung to her back and hindquarters. Ivy stood beside Nalaki, holding Akalahn in her arms, with a huge smile on her face. The other humans were clustered around them, a few of them waving.

When Rekosh strode onto the platform and came to a stop, he crouched and helped Ahmya dismount. She’d barely settled her feet on the ground before she was swept into a tight hug.

“You scared the fuck out of me!” Lacey rasped. “When we heard those things howling, we went back to look for you, but you were just gone, and… I shouldn’t have left you. I shouldn’t have gone back without you.”

Ahmya hugged her friend back. “It’s okay. We’re okay. Rekosh kept me safe.”

Lacey drew back and firmly cupped Ahmya’s face. “Don’t youeverscare me like that again.”

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