Enthralled (The Spider's Mate, #2)

by Tiffany Roberts

“You will see soon enough, Rekosh, and it will be more shocking than any of the gossip you have ever heard in Takarahl—and it will seem more unreal.” “Even more so than the rumors that the queen has an identical broodsister locked away in her chambers who she bleeds a little every day?” Ketahn cocked his head to the side. “What? Rekosh, what nonsense is this?” “Ugh.” Urkot thumped Ketahn’s hindquarters with the tip of a thick leg. “Please, Ketahn, do not excite him. It is I who must always listen to his chattering when he is in such a state.” Rekosh, Ketahn, and Telok chittered, but the humor faded all too quickly.

He couldn’t say whether he did or not, but he was certain of one thing—why he was doing it. And he’d be back with his reason, his Ivy, soon.

“Oh fuck, fuck, fuck. It’s going to eat her!” Callie cried. He turned his face toward Callie and snarled, “Ketahn no eat Ivy!”

He purred gently and dropped a hand to cover hers. “That does not trouble me, my nyleea. I have you, and you will always be enough.” You will always be enough.

He touched his forehead to the back of her head and inhaled deeply. When he exhaled, she felt his warm breath on her neck through her hair. He growled, “Kir telenas kess, kir’ani nyleea.” I need you, my mate.

“That you are small, soft, and human does not matter. That I am big, hard, and vrix does not matter.” Ketahn brushed his rough knuckles across her cheek. “Our heartsthreads, our spirits, are all that matter, and they are bound. Fate brought me to you, my heartsthread, and even if it tried to turn me away, I would defy it. Nothing will come between us. So long as the sun, moons, and stars make their treks across the sky, you will be mine, Ivy.”

Diego narrowed his eyes and leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees as he glanced at Ivy. “Is he joking? That almost seemed like he was being funny.” Ivy chuckled. “He’s kind of a smart ass.” Ketahn snapped his gaze to Ivy and clicked his mandible fangs together. “I told you do not call me what poop comes from, female.” Callie choked and coughed, spitting out a small chunk of food she must have inhaled. “What?” Ivy grinned. “Lost in translation kind of thing.”

“I’m dying, aren’t I?” Ella asked, opening her eyes to look up at Ivy. Despite her sickness, there was such clarity within their green depths. Unable to lie again—but also unable to speak around the tightness in her throat—Ivy nodded.

Ella smiled in return. “I can see why you care for him. I’ve seen how protective he is of you, the way he looks at you, cares for you. I guess deep down, we’re all the same. Our souls see what our eyes can’t, and they connect no matter what’s on the outside. Our bodies…they’re just shells.” Our souls see what our eyes can’t.

Ella smiled, her eyelids drooping. “I can’t believe how big she is. And she’s so kind with me. I just wish… I wish I could have had a real conversation with her. You’ll tell her thank you for me?” “You can tell her later when they get back, and I’ll translate. I think she’d like hearing it from you.” As her eyes drifted shut and her grip on Ivy’s hand loosened, Ella spoke again; her words were slightly slurred. “Yeah. I…think so…too.”

“I am with Ketahn because I choose to be. He is who I want. He is my choice. And I’d never betray him in any way.” Her skin still crawled from Cole’s touch. “It doesn’t matter what he looks like, or what you think of my relationship with him, it’s what I feel here”—she struck her fist against her chest—“that matters.

You make it sound like we’re soulmates. Maybe you are. How else could you have found each other? She had no idea if soulmates were real, if fate existed, if everyone in the universe had one person they were meant to be with. But she knew with all her heart that she had chosen Ketahn to be her forever—and he would be imprinted upon her soul for all eternity.

“My beautiful, beautiful female,” Ketahn rumbled. He carefully wiped another tear from her cheek. “Why do you cry? I am here with you. You will never have to live without me.” A small laugh escaped her. “Promise?” Ketahn made a low, rolling trill, soothingly sweeping his thumb across her cheek again. “Kir rayathi kir’ani ikarex elush ul sythal, Ivy.” I weave my word into a bond, Ivy. “I promeese.”