Larksong Grotto Living in a glass house

vuk found she was frightened, but not of reek -- of herself. of the hunger that clambered so readily onto the pedestal of her loins, the intensification of her heartbeat. her eyes closed as reek touched her gently, flames licking at her belly, and she drew away to ponder him with the turqouise of her gaze now darkened with want.

and yet -- terich. their mateship was one of necessity, and yet she had come to love him all the same. it was beside terich she slept each night, seff between them -- it was the demonte who hunted for her, who kept her body nourished enough to feed her son. would it be a betrayal? 

yes, she felt, and no. the enormity of it weighed upon vuk, even as she turned her muzzle to press her lips along the line of reek's proud jaw.