“You could still change your mind, you know,” he said, his voice hardly above a whisper. “You could come back with me. You don’t have to face this test, risk your life to win a place among people who are trying to kill you.”
Merletta shook her head, still held in thrall by the intensity of the moment. “Trying to find a place in your world would be an even more terrifying test, I think,” she murmured.
“But you wouldn’t be alone.” Heath’s voice was suddenly intense, and before she knew what he was doing, he’d slid along the log so that their legs were touching, and clutched her hand in his again. “You’d have me to help you, to keep you safe.”
Abruptly, he let go, which was probably a good thing, as Merletta seemed to have forgotten to breathe while he was touching her. Heath pushed himself to his feet, turning his back on her.
“What am I talking about?” he said bitterly, and she had to strain to hear his words. “I can’t protect you. I can’t even keep my own family from turning on each other.”
Merletta stood, moving silently until she was right behind him. “Heath,” she said softly, placing a hand on his back. His muscles twitched beneath her touch, and he stiffened, but he didn’t turn. “You’re not responsible for their choices. And you can’t be responsible for mine. Whatever comes of them.”
He turned, again moving so quickly that Merletta was startled. Her hand, whipped from his back, hovered strangely in the air for a moment before Heath seized it, trapping it against his chest instead. His other hand was somehow on her neck, although she didn’t remember him putting it there.
“You say that like you think you’re going to die,” he said, his voice rougher than she’d ever heard it. His eyes searched hers for a silent moment, their expression pleading. “Please don’t die, Merletta,” he whispered.
“Well, I’m obviously going to try not to,” she said, in an attempt at lightness that failed dismally.
The intensity in Heath’s eyes didn’t lessen at all, and Merletta found she didn’t want it to. She could sense the tension building inside him, and she suddenly realized she wanted it to reach breaking point. She needed to know what would happen when it did. She needed to know desperately.
She took a step toward him, so that they were almost touching. Heath’s whole body stiffened, and his eyes flicked rapidly between hers, searching, asking, although what, she wasn’t entirely sure. She shifted even further forward, and his eyes dropped to her lips. She found she wasn’t interested in more words.
Apparently, Heath couldn’t read her thoughts, because he spoke, his voice a strangled whisper. “I feel like I’m being torn into pieces, Merletta. There’s only so long I can be pulled in opposite directions before I break.”
“Stop letting yourself be pulled then,” she said, her voice soft.
“I don’t know how to do that,” Heath said helplessly.
“Heath, you’re trying to keep everyone else happy. When was the last time you asked yourself what you want?”
Heath didn’t immediately answer, but his eyes once again dropped to her lips, and his hand tightened on her neck. Merletta read it in his eyes a moment before he moved. She closed her eyes as he leaned toward her, her heart somehow racing and soaring at the same time. If she was honest, she’d wondered before now whether humans kissed, like merpeople did. Wondered, and hoped. It seemed she had her answer.
But just as she felt Heath’s lips brush hers—something in her stomach exploding as they did—a gravelly roar drowned out the rain, causing both of them to jump apart.
“Heath!”
Heath turned to the dragon who had appeared between the trees. Even through her confusion and disappointment, Merletta felt surprise at the anger on Heath’s face.
“This is none of your business, Reka!”
“Heath,” Rekavidur repeated, disregarding his words. “It’s your brother.”
“My—what?” Heath sputtered, thrown by the dragon’s words. “Percival? What about him?”
“He’s in danger,” said Rekavidur.
Heath frowned, looking skeptical, although Merletta had no idea why he would doubt the dragon’s words. “How do you know?”
“I told you that I would start keeping an eye on him,” said Reka, with a touch of impatience. “I have been doing so. He is at present riding for Bryford, and I see a group of armed men moving toward him from the capital. My focus is on Percival. There is no reason for me to see those others, who are still a few hours from him, unless they are connected to his course. I deduce that they mean to attack him.”
“What?” Heath paled, and Merletta gripped his arm.
“Go to him, Heath.”
“But…” Heath turned back to her, and she could read her own frustration at their interrupted moment in his eyes. But she knew they couldn’t recapture it, and he must realize it, too.
“Go,” she repeated, actually chivvying him toward the dragon. “Your brother needs you.” She stepped back, leaving the space clear for the dragon to take off.
“But your test,” said Heath, turning back to her and looking anguished. “You’re in danger too, Merletta, and I—”