Page 50 of The Delver (The Vrix #2)

Telok swept aside the cloth hanging in the den’s entryway and stepped out. All eyes fell upon him. His mandibles snapped, making the fangs at their tips clack together, and his hands curled into fists.

“She will be fine.” In Telok’s rough, raspy voice, those words had an edge of harshness, but that couldn’t taint them for Urkot.

His mate would be okay. She would .

Exhaling, Urkot tipped his head back. The patches of clear blue midday sky were vibrant against the green of the leaves.

The familiar scents of Kaldarak filled his nostrils as he breathed in—plants and wood, drying meat, a hint of burning spinewood sap and waterfall mist. A warm, soothing breeze flowed over his hide.

When he lowered his head, Telok was immediately before him, intensity blazing in those green eyes. Growling, Telok grasped the back of Urkot’s head and brought their headcrests together.

“Thought you were gone,” the hunter grated. There was no missing the trembling of his limbs.

Urkot threw an arm around his friend. “You are not rid of me yet.”

They remained that way for a time, Telok still tense, still bristling, but not ungentle. Once he withdrew, Ketahn and Rekosh made similar gestures, as did the humans. Kaldarak’s leaders were the last to approach.

Nalaki settled a big hand on Urkot’s shoulder, squeezing it. “Kaldarak is grateful to have two of ours back safely.”

“We are glad to be back, daiya ,” Urkot replied.

“I must ask, Urkot…” She lowered her hand, her posture not quite so solid and sure as normal.

His stomach tangled into a knot, and his chest constricted. “We were across the chamber from the others when it collapsed. We found only Zotahl in the rubble, already gone. If you could not find any of the rest from the other side…”

“It is not what I hoped, but it is better to know. Thank you.” She bowed her head and made the sign of the Eight. “They have earned their rest.”

Garahk stepped up beside his mate, brushing a foreleg against hers. “You must share your words, Three-Arm. Give us your story, so we may know all.”

Urkot was tempted to say he was too tired for stories. He wanted nothing more than to go into the den and see his mate, but as he looked at his friends, his family, gathered around him, he knew he could not do so.

They had suffered in his and Callie’s absence, and the thornskulls had lost beloved kin. They had grieved and known pain. They needed to hear what had happened so they could heal.

And more than that, the threat of the spiritstriders was much too close for him to leave it unspoken any longer. Garahk and Nalaki needed to know so they could act to ensure Kaldarak’s safety.

So Urkot shared his words, shared the story.

He told them of the collapse, of dragging himself and Callie from the rubble, of discovering Zotahl.

Told them about the tunnel they’d found themselves in, and how it appeared to have been carved out by vrix hands, weakening the floor of the crystal garden above.

He told them about their trek through the dark, about the spiritstriders that lurked there.

That drew alarmed sounds from the vrix who were listening, though it meant nothing to the humans.

“I knew the whispers were always true,” Rekosh said.

“How could you have known that?” demanded Telok.

Ketahn regarded Rekosh with his head cocked. “Those were tales to frighten us as broodlings.”

“For ours as well,” said Garahk, concern apparent in his voice.

Rekosh displayed his hands, palms up. “Every tale, even the most unlikely, begins with a thread of truth.”

Urkot thumped the wood planks beneath him with a leg. “I wish it had been a different thread.”

“How many spiritstriders down there, Three-Arm?” Garahk asked, leaning toward Urkot. “Can you say?”

“Many. More than a hundred, I think. They live in a place that may have once been a shadowstalker city.”

Ketahn’s eyes flared, and Telok’s mandibles twitched high, his body tense.

Rekosh eased closer and gently tapped Urkot’s foreleg. “I must wring every detail from you after you have rested.”

“I am sure you will.” Urkot turned his attention to Nalaki and Garahk. “Spiritstriders chased us to the surface when we fled. The sun was too bright for them. They retreated after a fight, but I do not know if they tried to track us after dark.”

Nalaki let out a thoughtful hum, eyes troubled. “Do you believe they will see what you did as giving war to their kind?”

“I cannot guess that. Though they speak, I did not know most of their words, and it is not words they wanted to share with us. They gave only fangs, claws, and death. We were prey to them.”

“We must keep close watch,” Garahk said to Nalaki.

“But we must not give war, not unless they do,” she replied evenly. “Kaldarak will not do as the Blooddrinker Queen and make war without cause. If they leave us in peace, we will grant them the same.”

Garahk looked at Urkot. “Where did you emerge from understone?”

As best he could, Urkot described how to reach the cave, adding, “I will lead you there, to be sure it is found.”

Nalaki snapped her mandible fangs. “You will rest. That is my command as daiya .”

Urkot tapped a knuckle to his headcrest. “Then I must obey.”

“I will gather a party,” Garahk declared.

His mate turned toward him, dipped her head, and touched headcrests with him. “Stride with care, my heartsflame.”

“Always, my daiya .”

“Come. I will see you off.” She straightened and walked side-by-side with Garahk toward the bridge leading off the platform. Over her shoulder, she said, “Send word of Callie as soon as you know.”

Urkot lowered himself onto the platform, allowing his legs to rest. His friends, human and vrix alike, remained nearby him, save for Cole, who headed up to the higher platforms, returning a short while later with a waterskin.

“Drink up, man” the male human said as he thrust the waterskin into Urkot’s hand.

Urkot drank gratefully and deeply. The water was a balm to his throat after the grueling journey and so much talking. He wasn’t sure how Rekosh, who rarely went a moment without speaking, managed to get by without guzzling water constantly.

When he was done, he handed the waterskin back and thanked Cole. He shifted his legs, finding more comfortable positions for them, and forced his arms to relax, letting out a soft groan as aches and twinges assailed him.

“Let us help you to your den,” Ketahn said. “You need rest, Urkot, and we can tend to you there.”

Urkot shook his head.

Rekosh huffed. “You need not be stoneheaded now.”

Biting back a growl, Urkot let out a slow, heavy breath. “No. I will not leave my mate.”

Rekosh chittered. “Finally.”

“Finally,” Ketahn echoed.

“Wait, what?” Cole said. “When did that happen?”

Ivy rolled her eyes as she allowed Akalahn to climb down to the floor. “You’re completely oblivious, Cole.”

Lacey crossed her arms and smirked. “Well, damn. Just needed a little danger to turn up the heat and get things moving, huh Urkot? You’ve been eyeing her ass for months.”

Heat suffused Urkot’s hide. “Her ass is beautiful, but I have looked at all her parts.”

Ivy snickered, and Ahmya chuckled quietly.

“I do not think your words make it better,” Rekosh said with a chitter.

Cole moseyed up next to Lacey and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He grinned down at her. “Guess it’s just down to you and me now, Lace.”

A low, barely audible growl called Urkot’s attention to Telok, who stood nearby with arms folded tight across his chest and the fine hairs on his legs raised, his green glare fixed on Cole.

Lacey stuck her palm into Cole’s face and pushed him away. “Not happening. Not on this world or any other, Cole.”

“Ouch.” Laughing, Cole allowed himself to be shoved, stepping back with his hands raised, palms out. “I mean it’s just the two of us left single now. Third wheels, the both of us. What did you think I meant?”

Lacey stared at him. “You know exactly how it came off.”

“You’re the one with her mind in the gutter. I’m totally innocent.” He drew a finger down his chest then across it. “Cross my heart.”

“As much as I’d like to see Lacey punch Cole, I have to interrupt,” Diego said from the den’s entryway.

Everyone turned their heads toward him.

Urkot rose onto his legs, hide tingling. “Callie?”

“She’s going to be fine.” Diego stepped outside, letting the cloth fall behind him.

“I cleaned and bandaged up her wounds. I also applied a salve, so she’s not feeling much pain.

And her fever’s already coming down. That herbal tea Lacey concocted is doing wonders.

But it was your first aid that saved her life, Urkot.

She lost a lot of blood, and if you hadn’t patched up her leg the way you did, she would’ve bled to death. ”

Urkot squeezed his eyes shut as his body shuddered. He had come so close to losing her after only just making her his. Her light could have been snuffed out so easily, like a flame blown out by the wind. Now more than ever, he understood just how precious every moment was.

He wouldn’t waste any more of them.

“Callie’s drowsy,” Diego said, “but I’ll make sure she gets to her den to rest, and I’ll check up on her periodically.”

Urkot opened his eyes and stepped closer to Diego. “No. I will take my mate there, and I will stay with her.”

“Mate?” Diego’s brows rose high. He rubbed the back of his neck with a chuckle. “Damn, guess you two were busy while you were gone. Congratulations.”

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, my nyleea . 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, my luveen ,” she whispered.

Urkot purred. “And I love you, my heartsthread.”