Without asking, Katem sits beside me, his thigh brushing against mine. The giddy fluttering starts up in my belly at the sensation. He brushes a lone curl over my shoulder. “Is all well? Do you need to see Healer Sage?”
I have to hold back my huff, because no, nothing is well and I don’t know who this Healer Sage is, but I know there’s nothing she can do for me.
“I’m just tired is all.”
“That is my fault. We should have waited to ascend the hills until a later time.”
I grab his arm, shaking my head. “No, yesterday was perfect. I didn’t want to wait.”
Katem relaxes beneath my hand. “Still, I do not wish for you to be fatigued. I can ask either Kyler or Healer Sage for something to help you sleep.”
“Truly, I’m fine.” I squeeze his thick forearm, the muscles shifting with my touch.
Several seconds pass before he finally nods.
“Thank you for sending someone to let me know I’d see you later.”
“You are most welcome. The shefira found me as soon as I returned from my hunt and mentioned she spoke with you.”
“Yes. She told me one of the mated humans gave birth. That’s exciting.”
Katem breaks out into a giant grin. “Evren barely made it back in time to witness the arrival of his kit. I am happy for him since he and Astrid wanted one so badly.”
I gasp in surprised happiness as well. “I don’t think I knew your friend was the father. Congratulations to them both.”
“All of my former tent mates who are mated are now Babas,” he says with no lack of awe. “Up until the humans arrived, no kits had been born in nearly ten warm seasons. To finally see new life arrive in our village is one of the greatest blessings.”
My stomach sours. “Do…Do you want children?” I force the question out, even though I don’t want to know the answer.
Katem’s smile doesn’t change. “If Deeka wills it, I will cherish any kits we might have.”
“What if she doesn’t will it? Will you be disappointed?”
“The goddess has a path for each of us. Not all paths are alike, but I trust her to know which one to put me on. No matter where it leads.”
I lean more fully back into the tree I’ve been against. “You should probably know that any faith I might have had in a god or some higher power has disappeared. Does that make me a heathen in your eyes?”
Katem picks up my hand and threads our fingers. It’s such a simple gesture, but each time he does it, there’s a shift inside me. I’ve never really been one for hand holding, but if he keeps it up, I might change my mind.
“You are perfect in my eyes. Whether you have faith or not does not change that. It does not make you any less mykeeshla. We are all who we are meant to be.”
Which means, I’m a woman who’s going to die far too soon.
Chapter 9
Katem
It hurts to see Piper not feeling well. Even though she says she is fine, it is evident she is not. There are dark smudges beneath her eyes and her color is off.
“If you are not too fatigued, would you like to walk with me to the village? Alesha says she would be happy to teach you how to make clay items, but she wanted to discuss a few details with you. If not this turn, then perhaps another.”
Piper’s eyes widen and she makes an excited noise. “Truly? I’d love to go.”
“Would you like to wait until the next turn?”
She scrambles to her feet. “We can go now, if that’s okay?”
Her anticipation is a joy to witness. I rise as well and give her my hand. “It is more than okay.”
