Page 121 of The Delver
Ahmya drew her lips back with a soft hiss. “Yeah, I don’t know.”
Cole snickered. “Wanna place bets on who wins their next spat?”
“Lacey,” said Ivy. “It’s always Lacey.”
Rekosh chittered. “It is because they are fighting different battles.”
Ketahn cocked his head as he sat, drawing Ivy and their broodling down onto his folded forelegs. “Different battles?”
“Lacey fights Telok. Telok fights himself.”
“Ah.”
“Yeah, okay,” Cole said, rolling his eyes. “Makes perfect sense.”
Rekosh’s gaze flicked to Callie and Urkot, bearing a knowing gleam. “I am not wrong, Cole, just because you cannot see.”
Urkot snorted and shook his head. “I do not know how your spindly legs can hold up so much pride, Rekosh.”
Ahmya chuckled and traced a finger down the side of Rekosh’s face. “Speaking of pride…” She caught Callie’s gaze. “Ready to tell them?”
Callie nodded.
With a long-fingered hand, Rekosh caught Ahmya’s chin, turning her face back toward his. “Tell us what,kir’ani vi’keishi?”
She beamed at him. “I’m pregnant.”
Rekosh froze, staring at Ahmya with flared eyes. “Truly?”
When she nodded, his mandibles ticked upward into a broad vrix smile before he trilled loudly and wrapped her in a tight embrace. Ahmya giggled and hugged him back.
“Ah, my heartsthread,” Rekosh crooned.
“Well shit,” Cole said, eyes wide. “Congrats on the upcoming lil bugger.”
“Cole,” Ivy scolded.
“Not bug. Vrix,” Ketahn growled.
Cole chuckled and waved a hand. “Yeah, yeah.”
Urkot also caught Callie’s chin, forcing her attention away from Rekosh and Ahmya to meet his gaze. His eyes were the deepest pools of blue, filled with uncertainty and hope. “You have a secret of your own, my suncrest?”
Callie grinned, took his hand from her chin, and placed it over her belly. “We’re also having a broodling. You’re going to be a father too.”
His trill rivaled Rekosh’s, and his voice was gruff when he said, “Mynyleea.” He gathered Callie close and spun her about, his legs thumping the planks beneath him.
Callie laughed, clinging to him as the world twirled around them. “Okay, okay! Stop before I puke!”
He stopped abruptly, drawing his head back with eyes wide. “You are sick? Like Ivy was?”
Urkot and Rekosh looked at each other, mandibles falling as fear shone within their eyes. No words needed to be spoken to convey all that was communicated between them in that single glance.
“No.” Urkot shuddered as he clutched Callie close. “I cannot protect you from sick. Cannot shield you from this.”
Callie shook her head and cradled his jaw, stroking the base of his mandible with her thumb. “I don’t need protection from this, Urkot. I just need you.”
“Is it not dangerous and painful?” Rekosh asked Ahmya in a rush. “You are so small. What if something goes wrong, or you are harmed, or you…you?—”
