He brushed a hand over his short-cropped hair, brow furrowing. “You guys can be as loud or as quiet as you want. I’m just, uh, thinking about having to help two women through birth at the same time.”
Diego patted Will’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Will. You’re an experienced veteran now. Besides, all the hard work is on them.”
“Anyway.” Callie slipped off the table and embraced the two men. “Thank you both. Ahmya and I know we’re in good hands.”
“So you two seriously haven’t been sick?” Ivy asked after Callie backed away from the men. “No horrific cramping? Crippling nausea?”
Ahmya pinched her thumb and finger together. “A little bit.”
“Some pain, but no sickness yet,” Callie said.
Ivy scrunched her nose. “Ugh. I had the worst pregnancy.”
“We know,” Callie and Ahmya said together.
“It’s still early,” Diego said. “You could still experience more as your body continues adapting to the alien DNA.”
Callie settled her hands over her belly again and met Ahmya’s gaze. She could see the spark of fear in the woman’s eyes, the same fear that lurked deep within herself. Not of the baby growing inside them or the changes they might experience, but of the unknown. Childbirth was already a risk, even on Earth, but out here? They had no special equipment to aid them. The tiniest complication could be the difference between life and death.
However, that fear didn’t erode her happiness.
I’m going to be a mom.
She couldn’t wait to tell Urkot. Couldn’t wait to see him holding their child, playing with them, teaching them.
“Shall we go find our mates and share the good news?” Callie asked.
Smiling, Ahmya nodded enthusiastically.
“Were they doing their tournament thing today?” Will asked.
“Yeah,” Callie replied. “Urkot’s been super excited about it, but he says it will all be meaningless unless he gets a rematch with me.”
“We’ll tag along, then,” Diego said. “Always fun to watch.”
All five humans exited the clinic. The sun was high in the sky, making the leaves especially vibrant against the patches of blue visible through them. Their shadows danced on Kaldarak’s platforms. The air was fresh, sweet, and familiar.
It’s great to be alive.
Such a simple thought, but it struck Callie profoundly. All the misery and hardship she’d faced to get here had been worth it. Those dark moments only made the good times shine all the brighter, and so much of her light since she woke up on this alien world had come from Urkot.
She chatted with the others as they walked, navigating the city’s platforms and bridges with ease and confidence. It still amazed her that this was her life—living up in the trees, callingthese big spider people her friends and neighbors. Calling one of them her mate. Her lover.
Her everything.
They found their mates on the central platform with a crowd of thornskulls. The vrix sat around several black circles that had been drawn on the wood floor in charcoal, leaning forward on their hands and bent forelegs, as they took turns tossing small stones into those circles.
Their version of marbles.
It was funny that despite being separated by the vastness of time and space, and being an alien species, the vrix played a game so similar to one that had once been a popular pastime for children on Earth.
She’d never played marbles as a kid, but this version of it held a special place in her heart. She fondly remembered the day when Urkot singled her out and coaxed her to play with him one-on-one. They hadn’t understood each other’s languages then, but they’d communicated in a different way—through a simple game and friendly competition.
But what had truly connected them was their passion. She hadn’t realized it then, but those games were the spark that had ignited something which had smoldered beneath the surface for months after.
And now what they shared was like a blazing bonfire, big and bright and warm.
Cole’s blond head stood out amongst the large vrix, as did the black hides of the shadowstalkers who were with him. But it was the vibrant blue-on-black vrix that drew Callie’s notice.
