Page 4 of Rhaz's Redemption
“It’s a troubling time for some,” Gabby frowned. “I can’t imagine how difficult the news of the ship must be.”
“It hit Brexl pretty hard,” Taylor confessed. “For better or for worse, so much of his identity is wrapped up in the goddess. The idea of her not being real is quite unsettling for him.”
“It’s the same for Tarak,” Gabby confirmed.
“Orsu hasn’t talked to me about it yet, but he’s been more quiet since the news broke. I think he’s still processing,” Julie added.
“Drovo says I’ve been his goddess since the day he met me,” Kayla laughed, but her smile quickly faded when she added. “But I can tell it’s effecting him too.”
“I think they’ll land on their feet,” Ashley was more hopeful than the rest of us. “Their identities might change with this news, but they’ve adjusted to things much harder than this before.”
We all nodded. The loss of a goddess they’d never seen might not prove as difficult as being exiled from their home as children.
“What about you?” Taylor turned her attention to Ashley in an attempt to change the subject. “Should we expect an announcement from you soon too?”
She looked at the baby in her arms in silent indication of the kind of announcement she was referring to.
“Maybe,” Ashley blushed. “We were certainly pretty active during our luminescence.”
“Five babies in six months,” Talia adjusted her count from earlier.
I looked at Tabby and wondered what it would be like to hold a child of my own in my arms. I’d like that, but just one, any more than that might feel overwhelming, but I think one child would do nicely.
My chances of actually having a baby were very low, however. Rhaz had no desire to mate with me and I don’t find any of the other males attractive. My mind keeps circling back to the idea of us coming to an agreement. That would solve so many issues. We could explore the possibility of having a child and ease each other’s suffering during luminescence. It was a win-win. All I needed to do was convince Rhaz and I feared that would be easier said then done.
Chapter 3
Rhaz
“And Rhaz, I’m going to put you right here,” Ashley coordinated the dekes into groups. The last of the wheat harvest had come in and been dried. Now we were shaking the grain from the stalks and storing it in barrels.
“I’d rather stand somewhere else,” I informed the yellow-haired human. She’d put me next to Beatrice and I needed to keep my distance from her. It was already hard enough for me to stay away from the female who looked at me with eyes I could get lost in. It would not be a good idea for me to stand next to her for the entire afternoon.
“Well,I’drather have you right here.” Ashley was quick to answer and even quicker to walk away. All the other spots had been filled, which left me with no choice but to stay where she’d placed me.
“Good afternoon,” I greeted Beatrice. I couldn’t help myself. If I was going to be forced to be near her I would at least be plesant to be around.
“Good afternoon, Rhaz,” the way she said my name sent a shiver down my spine. It dripped from her lips like honey. Hertone was deep and her voice strong, but she was so shy that she spoke the least of all the females. It felt like a loss knowing that such a soothing voice existed and yet it was barely heard above the rest.
We stood side by side as we shook out the stalks into the barrels. Beatrice was strong and did not need my assistance but I wanted to offer it nonetheless.
“If you need help or want to take a break, I’d be happy to assist you.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that,” she lifted her eyes to mine and gave me a shy smile. I cherished her smiles. So few of them were for me, and I preferred it that way. But the one’s I did receive I held locked away in my memory only to be let out at night when I felt the most lonely.
“Um, Rhaz,” she began again. “May I ask you something that might make you uncomfortable?”
I stopped shaking the wheat from the stalks and met her gaze.
It was easy to assume she’d want to ask why I’d been avoiding her. I would not cower like a sietling. I would face her questions like the adult hunter I was.
“You may,” I nodded.
“Do you think we could be friends?” she asked.
I hadn’t expected that. I thought she might curse me for not attending to her needs during luminescence. I certainly wanted to curse myself for that.
“I, uh-” I began but she cut me off.
