There was a theory going around that luminescence made you horny because it caused a forced ovulation, which made sense from an evolutionary standpoint. Which is why it wasn’t surprising that each couple who had luminesed alsoended up pregnant a month later. First it was Gabby, then Julie, and in a few weeks we’ll find out if that was true for Taylor too.
I liked the idea of our mountain home being full of babies. I liked babies. They were so cute when they toddled around, exploring everything around them. I wouldn’t mind having one of my own one day, but only if I luminesed. I don’t want to risk a relationship without luminescence.
“Okay, I’m ace,” I refocused my attention. “and I’m comfortable with that identity. Now what?”
That was the big question. I was happy with who I was, but what if I luminesed to someone who wanted to have sex more than once a month?
I liked sex, especially if I was horny, but I wasn’t interested in having sex if I wasn’t in the mood for it. And I would not be made to feel guilty about not putting out either. I’d been there and done that. No, thank you. Not doing that again. That could have tipped me off to my ace identity when I was still on earth, but I just assumed that guys were more interested in sex in general.
Maybe one of the guys here is ace too. Ugh, that was wishful thinking and I knew it.
The mated couples leave events and meals early all the time to go back to their caves and get it on, especially Taylor and Brexl. I swear, every ten minutes they are back in their cave moaning so loud the entire dekes can hear it. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other.
I ran a hand down my face. Was I doomed to be in a frustrating relationship? Could a compromise be made between me and my luminescence mate?
Axon’s face ran though my mind, which made me feel even worse. He was the only guy I found attractive. Too bad he didn’t want to touch me. No, I wouldn’t think about Axon. I couldn’t afford to have a crush. Me being ace is going to make my relationship with my mate tricky no matter what. I didn’t need the added complication of an ex-boyfriend. Because that’s what Axon would be if we got together and didn’t lumines, an ex-boyfriend that I’m pretty sure I’d never be able to get over.
I may be ace, but I do want to be touched. I love the idea of cuddling with my mate by the fire or sitting on his lap on a nice sunny day watching the clouds pass by. My preference would be to sit together while reading a good book, but they didn’t have those on Valo Prime.
“Maybe I won’t lumines at all,” I sighed as I sat down against the wall.
There was no reason to think that I would. Sure, all the mated sirrets like Drondia and Karo had luminesed to each other, but I was a human. Maybe that made things different. Besides, there were more women than men in our dekes, so maybe everyone will get paired up and I’ll be one of the women who stays unmated. But that would mean that someone else would be mated to Axon, and that didn’t sit right with me, either.
God, this was starting to feel hopeless.
I pulled out the fur blanket I’d packed as a cool breeze whipped my hair around my face. Dark clouds started to roll in, making the chilly fall day get even colder.
Shit. Please don’t tell me it’s about to rain. It hasn’t rained in weeks. They said it doesn’t typically rain here in late fall.
Drip, drip, drip. The sound of small droplets of water hitting the trees above the kala was undeniable.
I pulled my blanket over my head as a light rain turned into a downpour.
Shit! Shit! Shit!There was no shelter here, just high walls to keep any animals out. What the fuck was I supposed to do now?
Chapter 6
Axon
No, no, no! It can’t be raining now! The rain would wash out Ashley’s scent and her hu-man body couldn't handle being in the cold rain for very long. If I didn’t find her soon, she’d be in real danger of not making it through the night.
Calm down. I told myself. Her scent might be weakening with the rain, but it was still there.Think, where is this path leading?
The well-worn path led to the river and to the kala. We had a stream next to the mountain, so it wouldn’t make any sense for her to head to the river, but why would she go to the kala?
I shifted and picked up my pace. My spider legs might look spindly from a distance, but up close, anyone would be able to see how thick and strong they were. They were also fast. It had taken me a while to get used to them when I first shifted as a young hunter, but now I was a force to be reckoned with. My thick spider abdomen could be used as a blunt object to hit predators with if I spun it around the right way, and the webbing that extruded from special veins from under my fingernails worked well to keep myenemies tied up while I finished them off.
I was one of the few shifters who carried a spear with me. It was the most humane way to finish off a predator such as a jagwa. One swift jab to the neck would puncture their main artery, giving them a painless death. Though they might try to hunt and kill us any chance they get, they were still animals and we were not.
The other dekes, however, if they ever tried to steal Ashley like they had stolen Taylor, I would have no qualms about letting them suffer.
My fellow shifters cared very much about giving an offering to the goddess. They feel they must beg for her blessings or forgiveness. I do not. I know I didn’t cause the stiffness. I know I’m not cursed. None of us are.
So it would be very foolish for anyone from the other dekes to step up to me. My brothers care if they lose their right to the offering. I do not.
If there ever was a war between our two groups, I would be first in line to strike. Well, right behind Jax. He had the most reason to seek vengeance. What the other dekes did to him was unforgivable.
I turned the corner and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw the tall walls of the kala in sight.
