Page 92 of Diamond

I push the painful memories aside, unwilling to dwell on them any longer. "Can the women on your planet have more than one round of three children in their lifetime? Has it ever happened?"

The question is a bit random, even to me, but anything to steer the conversation away from my own past. Honestly, I would have asked about the color of the clouds on his planet if it would shift the mood.

He seems just as glad as me about the topic change. "They have children near the end of their lives. Very few survive, and the process is so dangerous they don't want to risk it again. As far as I know, we've never discovered if it's possible."

It's a disturbing topic, but it feels good how easy conversing with him is now. I've spent more time with him than Roshan today, I realize.

It feels good, though.

I wonder what society would have been like on Earth if the situation were the same. I imagine the mass panic and forced puritanical ideals that would follow and realize the entire planet would likely be just like the place where I grew up.

"Human women can have multiple children in their lifetime. As many as this," I raise both of my hands and display all ten fingers in his face. "Even more, but it's rare."

He looks at me, confusion flickering in his eyes. Then, slowly, I see something shift in his expression—a glimmer of understanding. Though calling it understanding might be generous.. He's shocked and I think I've delivered enough of those for one day. It's light outside now, but the wind is blowing so hard that we might as well sleep.

I turn my back to him again, pushing myself back up against his chest, a contented sigh coming out as he splays his hand out on my stomach and pulls me close.

I really want to go search for Olivia, but judging by the howling sounds outside the cave, it isn't safe. Considering we are in some sort of odd mountain-surrounded valley, I assume that must mean it's really bad out there.

47

Kuret

The howling wind wakes me a few times, but I simply fall back asleep each time, my body demanding the rest I've been withholding and my mind no longer overriding it because of how safe we are now. No one will be moving around in that storm.

It's daytime now, though it's hard to tell with how thick the clouds are. If it's this violent in such a protected valley, I can only imagine how destructive it must be elsewhere. I hope Ree, Thivoll, and the rest of the women are all safe.

For now, I allow myself the luxury of rest, my mind drifting in and out of sleep until my body feels sated. Rin wakes up soon after, stretching her body out and making the most endearing little squeaking sounds. Her arms get tangled up in her long hair and she grumbles about it.

"I should have cut it a long time ago," she says with a yawn. "I keep tripping over it, getting it caught on things, now it's trying to choke me."

"I could braid it for you," I say without thinking, then pull in a sharp breath.

She sits up, eyes wide. "What do you hear?"

"Nothing. Sorry, on my honor. There is no threat."

She flops back down with a huff. "Then what?"

"Braiding is something only a brother does for another," he explains, his tone carrying the weight of tradition. "And mostly only with their close bonds. Never for a female and as far as I know, they don't usually braid their hair."

"I see," she says, tilting her head slightly. "Well, you don't need to do—"

"No," I say, cutting her off. "I want to."

She smiles at me. "Alright. But, no offense, I'm not sure how your fingers manage it."

I look down at my hands. Sure, my fingers are thicker than hers, but they are just as nimble. When I look back up she has a wicked look in her eye and I use the hands she just offended to grab her.

She's starts laughing as soon as I touch her sides and it's so rewarding I just keep touching her until she tells me in heaving breaths to stop.

"I can't breathe, Kuret."

I don't tell her that I've found the perfect way to end an argument. I'll let her find out later.

Instead, I gently shift our positions, settling her in front of me, before starting to work on her hair. I instantly know what she means about my fingers being able to braid her hair. It is much thinner than mine, soft and slick, but I keep at it until I figure out the different ways it needs to be held.

After finishing the braids in the back, I have her move so I can access the ones on her side, this time pausing to undo some of my own braids so I can access a few of the ornaments.

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