Page 76 of The Delver
“I do not know that word. He claimed her by force, without her want.”
“Is that common for vrix? Is it…normal?”
He smoothed his hand up and down her back, soothing himself through that touch as much as he hoped to soothe her. “It was, much years ago. A male would show interest in claiming a female as his mate, and if she denied him, he could prove he was worthy, could prove his strength, by conquering her. By taking her and planting his seed. It is instinct. But even if the male won, the female did not always accept. Males would get hurt. Sometimes get dead.”
Callie thrust a finger at the dead spiritstrider. “And then this happens?”
Urkot followed her gesture with his gaze and let out a huff. “This male did not take care in his hunger. And she…had a different hunger.”
“I can’t say he didn’t deserve it, but ugh.” She shuddered. “I really, really could’ve gone my entire life without seeing that.”
“I am sorry I could not shield you,” he said, turning his eyes back to her. “And when I said I would eat you, it was a joke. I will not eat you, female.”
She let out a small laugh. “Not in this way, no.”
Blinking, he cocked his head. “There is another way to eat?”
“I am so not explaining that after what we just saw.”
He could only stare at her, mandibles twitching as though unable to decide whether they wanted to rise or fall.
Callie ran a hand through her curls, pulling them back as she said, “I can’t believe I’m joking about this while there’s a mutilated, half-eaten corpse in front of us.”
“What are you joking about?”
“I’ll explain it later. When we’re not…you know.Here.”
The way she’d talked about this—whatever it was—had him intensely curious despite the situation. What could she possibly mean by there being another way to eat her? And why had she laughed about it?
“You will,” he said firmly.
When Callie nodded with the tiniest smile curling her lips, Urkot forced himself to lower his hand and crept to the doorway. She kept close behind him, giving the body a wide berth. He peered into the tunnel and checked both directions. There was no sign of the female spiritstrider.
“We will go back and take the other path,” he said to her, keeping his voice low. “This one may lead to the spiritstriders’ dens.”
Callie placed her hand on his arm and gave it a squeeze. “Lead the way, big guy.”
CHAPTER 19
Callie didn’t knowhow much time had passed since they’d entered the smaller tunnel, but it felt endless. It was long, narrow, and winding. There were places where they had to climb up or crawl down, and though she was able to move with of room to spare, some spots were tight enough that Urkot barely managed to squeeze through.
Every time he had to contort his body to navigate some especially narrow or awkward passage, Callie’s stomach knotted, and her heart clenched. But despite his broad shoulders, ample hindquarters, and large frame, he maneuvered through it all with a sense of calm and confidence she wished she could emulate.
Because she was feeling it here.Reallyfeeling it. Even if she hadn’t come close to getting stuck, this tunnel, more than anywhere else they’d been, made her feel trapped because it was so, so dark. The only light came from the crystals she and Urkot held. It felt like the tunnel was closing in around her, like at any moment, the ceiling would buckle and collapse upon them.
It felt like they would be stuck down here forever.
Like they would die here.
Callie clutched the crystal, and its jagged points bit into her skin. Her body ached, her legs were weak, her feet heavy. Her boots shuffled across the floor with every step. Exhaustion grasped at her from the darkness, threatening to drag her down into nothingness.
We’re going to die here.
No… No, we’re not.
Sweat beaded on her skin, trickling down her temples, along the back of her neck, and between her breasts. Her skin felt cold and clammy, and her heart was thumping so fast and hard that its every beat echoed in her ears. With each step, her chest grew tighter, constricting her lungs and making it hard to breathe.
We’re going to die. We’re going… We’re going to…
