And she wants me.
Unbidden, a trill escaped him.
“You would have thrown a hundred barbs at me had you caught me staring at Ahmya like that a few moon cycles ago,” Rekosh said.
“Seems this is your opportunity,” Urkot replied, not looking away from Callie.
“My opportunity or yours, stoneskull?”
Urkot blinked, finally breaking his gaze away from Callie to look at Rekosh, and cocked his head.
“You are not unworthy, Urkot,” Ketahn said, bumping a leg against Urkot’s. “You deserve happiness as much as any of us.”
“You have simply been too hard-headed to see it,” Rekosh added.
“Perhaps you are right.” Urkot chittered to himself, swinging his attention back to Callie. “Just like you to pierce my hide, needlelegs.”
“So you will finally stop pretending you do not want her? It has grown rather exhausting.”
“I want her. All of her, now and for the rest of my days.” Urkot drew himself taller as a new sensation filled his chest—a new certainty. “I will claim her as my mate. As my everything.”
CHAPTER 7
Excitement bubbledwithin Callie as she followed Ahgratar into the wide cave mouth, her pack bouncing against her back. The atmosphere change was instantaneous. The sounds from the jungle dulled, and the sunlight faded with each step, allowing darkness to close in all around. Only the glowing crystals on the walls and the one in the orange thornskull’s raised hand lit the way. Every few yards, crude lumber supports braced the walls and ceiling, reminiscent of the ribs of some huge beast.
She clutched the handle of the basket she was carrying. Anxiousness fluttered alongside excitement in her belly.
The moment she’d overheard Ahgratar announce he was bringing food to the delvers, Callie had pounced on the opportunity, offering to help carry the food.
Urkot was down here.
It wasn’t simply a chance to explore a cave, but to see him, to spend time with him. To witness Urkot in his element.
Callie tucked her hair behind her ear as she peered around the thornskull and looked down the eerily dark tunnel ahead.
She didn’t understand her nervousness at the prospect of seeing Urkot. Only three days ago, she’d bathed naked next to him, had even spanked her own ass in front of him. And duringthe festival yesterday, she’d danced with him, grinding not so subtly against his body. His desire for her had been evident in the hard bulge behind his slit against her backside. And Callie had taken pleasure in it.
She had kissed him, had told him she liked him. She’d been anything but shy.
So why this timidity now?
Maybe it was because she was looking at Urkot in a different light. He wasn’t just her friend. He was…more. Andmorewas new, thrilling, unknown. Even a little frightening.
What she was experiencing was the kind of giddiness someone felt around a crush. And God, she hadn’t felt anything like this since high school. But this felt like…more.
The ground sloped downward, and Callie touched the rocky wall for support, thankful for the treads of her boots despite how worn they’d become. While the floor was mostly flat and clear of hazards, she didn’t want to risk a slip.
The jungle sounds were long gone, replaced by the scrapes and taps of her escort’s legs on the cave floor and the gentle crunch of tiny stones under her feet. Gone were the scents of vegetation and flowers and hot humid air, overtaken by the earthy smell of stone. The air was cooler in here, the sensation pronounced by her blue crop top and skirt, which barely covered her ass.
Even when she wasn’t touching them, she could feel the walls around her. It felt like they were pressing steadily inward, shrinking the space between them. Some primal part of her brain recognized this place as a trap—she was stuck down here with nowhere to run, no room to move, to breathe, to?—
Take it easy, Callie. You’re fine.
Callie drew in a deep, calming breath. Urkot was down here somewhere. He did this every day, and he’d lived underground in Takarahl for most of his life. Everything was all right.
When the ground finally leveled out, another sound, faint but distinct, echoed through the tunnel from somewhere ahead. The steady clacking of tools against stone.
“Almost, hoo-man,” Ahgratar said in English.
