Urkot trilled low.
“Now it’s your turn.” Diego lifted the hanging silk aside and gestured Urkot in. “Come inside so I can take a look at your wounds.”
Urkot’s legs were a little steadier as he strode forward, lent strength by his swelling spirit.
“We’ll bring you both food and more water,” Ahmya said, taking one of Rekosh’s hands.
“Careful not to break your tools on his hide, Diego.” Rekosh said, but there was only warmth in his voice. “See you soon, my brother.”
When he reached the doorway, Urkot paused and looked back at his friends. At his tribe. They were all so different, and yet they’d come together to forge bonds closer than blood alone could ever create. And no matter the hardships he’d overcome or had yet to face, he would always choose them.
His hearts were full, and his soul thrummed. “Thank you. All of you.”
Then he ducked into the den, following the pull of his heartsthread back to his mate’s side.
The pungent smell of the plants the humans called herbs struck him first, despite the breeze blowing through the open windows.
Diego walked over to a table where Will was standing, upon which were strips of silk cloth and various tools. “Urkot has some gouges we need to clean and patch up.”
Will nodded, rearranging some of the items on the table.
But Urkot’s attention shifted entirely to Callie.
She lay in the center of the room, atop a high, raised bed, silk blankets draped over her body from the chest down. A soft, fluffed pillow cradled her head. Her eyes were closed, but the rise and fall of her breathing was not yet deep and steady. He could tell as he neared that some of the color had already returned to her face.
He stopped beside the bed.
Callie stirred and murmured, “Urkot?”
“I am here.” Urkot brought a hand to her face and caressed her cheek. Her skin was too warm, but not alarmingly so, and soft as ever.
Her eyelids fluttered open, and her weary eyes glittered at him as she met his gaze. Her lips curled into a smile so pure and genuine that Urkot swore it would make him melt like gold in a forge.
Callie cupped his hand in hers and turned her face, pressing a gentle kiss to his palm. “Missed you, big guy.”
He leaned down and nuzzled her forehead, drawing in her scent, filling himself with it. “And I missed you, my suncrest. How do you feel?”
“Shitty. But less shitty than before.” She kissed his hand again and took a deep breath before rubbing her cheek against his palm. “Actually, right now…I’m doing pretty good.”
Urkot smoothed some of her curly locks out of her face. “You look beautiful.”
“Liar.”
He chittered. “I cannot lie about that. Never. Every moment I see you, you are more beautiful, Callie.”
She looked up at him, a mirthful light dancing in her gaze, and her smile widened. “Rekosh feed you some lines before you came in?”
“No. I have not eaten.”
Callie’s laughter was the sweetest sound he’d ever heard, even as soft and weak as it was now.
Keeping his eyes locked with hers, he lowered his headcrest to her forehead, cupping her cheeks between his upper hands. “Your beauty will soon be beyond my words, mynyleea. Because these are the first of many, many moments to come, and I do not intend to let you out of my sight. Every day, I will look upon you with more wonder than I would the cresting sun or the sparkling stars.”
She slipped her fingers into his hair and kissed his mouth. He could feel the slight trembling of her lips as she held them there.
“I love you, myluveen,” she whispered.
Urkot purred. “And I love you, my heartsthread.”
