He growled.
"—and she's ready to risk everything for you. What would keep her from taking the final step?" She raised an eyebrow. "You know the rep we have. Humans tend to think of leopard changelings as affectionate but casual."
"That's not it," he insisted. "I told her this was serious right at the start."
"Let me share a secret with you, Zach. Men have been telling women things for centuries. Then they've been breaking our hearts."
Zach's mind filled with the memory of Kimberly Kildaire's shattered face as Erik Kildaire walked away. Promises, he thought, lots and lots of broken promises.
"Only way," Mercy continued, "for you to gain her trust, might be to forget the pride that seems to come embedded in the Y chromosome. You ready to wear your heart on your sleeve and hope she doesn't crush the life out of it?"
He met her gaze. "You got a streak of mean in you, Mercy."
"Thank you very much." Finishing off the water, she threw him the bottle. "I'd better head off—have to meet Lucas."
He watched her climb back up into the trees, her words beating at him. Had he really been that much of an idiot, thinking he knew what was going on in Annie's head while being so very wrong? More importantly, was he willing to swallow his need for dominance, for control, and put the most important decision of his life into her hands? What if she rejected him? The pain of the thought was paralyzing.
Annie finished putting away her things with eager hands. It was five on Friday, which meant she had the entire weekend to spend with Zach. He'd promised to show her some of the secret treasures of his forest, and she couldn't wait. Of course, she thought with a smile, even if he'd told her he wanted to watch the entertainment network all weekend, she'd have had the same reaction. She flat out adored be
ing with him, wicked teasing and all. Especially since she'd gotten pretty good at teasing him back.
"Hey, Teach."
"Zach!" She walked over to hug him. "What're you doing here?"
His expression was solemn. "I need to talk to you."
Her stomach knotted. "Oh." She stepped back, trying to appear calm.
"Mercy was right," he said.
Annie knew who Mercy was, having met the sentinel at the picnic. "About what?"
"You're waiting for me to leave you."
The world fell out from under her feet. She trembled, unable to move, as he closed the door and walked to her. "I will never leave you, Annie." Cupping her cheeks in his hands, he bent so his forehead pressed against hers. "Not unless you ask me to." He frowned. "Actually, I won't leave you then, either. Just so you know."
"Wh-what?"
"You're my mate," he said simply. "You're in my blood, in my heart, in my soul. To walk away from you would cut me to pieces."
The room spun around her. "I need to sit down." He let her go, let her lean against her desk.
"Mate?" she whispered.
"Yes." His face grew bleak. "It's a lifetime commitment. Mercy was right about one thing, but I'm right about this—you're not too keen on that, are you?"
She didn't answer his question, her mind spinning. "Are you sure that I'm . . . ?"
"Baby, I was sure the first day we met. You fit me."
It brought tears to her ears, because he fit her, too. Perfectly. "Zach, I . . ." She blinked, trying to think past the rushing thunder of emotion. "I never thought I'd marry," she admitted. "But it's not the commitment I have a problem with. It's what comes after." A confession made in a voice that threatened to break. "It's this cold terror that the promise, the love, will one day turn into a trap."
"I know."
"She still waits," Annie found herself saying. "For a Valentine, or a birthday present, or just a loving word. She still waits."
"Oh, sweetheart." He tried to come closer, but she held up her hand, fighting to think, to understand.