Page 25 of The Delver
Not like Urkot.
God, he’d make a good father.
Eyes widening, Callie halted.
Why the hell did I just think that?
Because it was true. Urkot was protective, kind, considerate, and as gentle as he was strong. He loved his friends like siblings and had wholly accepted the humans as part of his family. And seeing him now, playing with the broodlings…
He would make a fucking amazing father.
Callie had never thought about having kids. At least, she had never thought about having them soon. She’d always been focused on her career. Being a mother had been a possibility for the murky, far-off future, once she’d established herself. When she’d joined the HWI and committed to the one-way journey to Xolea, she’d known it would’ve been expected of her eventually, though it never would’ve taken priority over her mission. She’d been a chemist foremost. A vital specialist, crucial for the success of the colony.
But now, watching Urkot playfully growl at the broodlings and them growl and chitter back, she felt as though her ovaries were about to explode.
One step at a time, Callie. You’re not even mates!
Yet. We’re not mates yet.
Because she had her sights set on a target, and she was going to take her shot.
As though he’d heard her thoughts, Urkot’s bright blue eyes flicked toward her. They flared.
Callie smiled wide and closed the distance between them, stopping beside him. “The mighty Urkot has been defeated.”
His mandibles rose in a vrix smile. “They will make fine warriors.”
With one chubby little fist, Akalahn took hold of Urkot’s mandible, staring at it like it was the most amazing thing he’d ever seen.
Urkot’s eyes softened as he gazed at the child. “Or weavers, potters, delvers…whatever they choose, they will be most good.”
Well, that’s it. My ovaries just exploded. I’m a goner.
Mindful of the broodlings crawling atop him, Urkot rolled onto his side, positioned his thick legs beneath him, and pushed himself upright. While he was considered short by male vrix standards, his powerful frame towered over Callie. She couldn’t stop her gaze from roaming over him as he plucked a broodling off his chest to set upon the ground.
Stop staring, Callie. He’s going to notice.
Blinking, she shook off her stupor and met his gaze as he straightened. She gestured toward the rowdy game going on nearby. “Why aren’t you playing?”
“Too tired.”
Callie laughed. “So you chose to wrestle with a bunch of kids instead? From what I’ve heard, taking care of one baby is exhausting enough, but six?”
Chittering, Urkot lifted an arm. Honuhn, Garahk and Nalaki’s son whose hide was as white as his father’s, dangled from the limb.
“Different tired,” Urkot said. “More good tired.”
Callie smiled at the broodling. “Considering all the work you and the other delvers did to make this place a starlit wonderland, you deserve a break.”
Urkot tipped his head back to look up at the crystals glowing above. “You like it?”
Moving a little closer to him, she peered up. “It’s beautiful. Makes me want to do the same thing in my den, so I can feel like I’m looking at the stars every time I go to sleep.”
“All you need, Callie, I will give,” he rumbled, his voice barely audible over the music and shouting from the game.
She lowered her gaze to find him staring at her. There was a glint in his eyes, but it was no reflection; it was an inner light, a fire, heated and heavy, that said far more than his words. It was a vow.
When he told her he would give all she needed, he wasn’t talking about crystals alone. He was promising much, much more.
