Merletta nodded her thanks, still not looking at him.
“Merletta.” His soft voice forced her to bring her eyes around to him. He pulled his horse close to hers, taking her cheek in one warm hand. Clearly he was also determined not to waste their unsupervised moment. “I can’t tell you what it means to me that you want to stay.”
She smiled at him, and he leaned in, pressing his lips softly to hers. Even though her conscience was squirming, she couldn’t help leaning forward to respond in kind to the quick, chaste kiss. She didn’t think they’d been this genuinely alone since their private moment at the ball. Intoxicated by Heath’s nearness, Merletta would have deepened the kiss if she’d been a little more steady in her saddle. But her attempt to lean further toward Heath had her wobbling dangerously, and he helped right her with a laugh that broke the moment.
She couldn’t bring herself to correct Heath’s assumption—that she planned to stay indefinitely. The truth was that she’d grappled with her situation, and reached a conclusion. She had to return, and face whatever consequences arose. She owed that much not just to Sage and the others, but to Tilssted. To the whole triple kingdoms.
But if she went back now, she’d probably just get killed on arrival. Nothing would have changed, and the Center’s lies wouldn’t be exposed. She needed a way to convince everyone that they’d been deceived. And Heath couldn’t do that. Not safely, at least. He was too vulnerable.
But there was someone else who might help. Someone whose life wouldn’t be in danger no matter what the Center threw at them. And Merletta was staying only until she could pursue her idea.
True to his word, over the next few weeks, Heath scrutinized Vazula from afar with his incredible gift. When he told her that he’d seen no sign of anyone on or near the island, Merletta was satisfied. If the Center had sent someone to investigate Vazula, they were long gone by now.
That evening, Merletta asked Heath to join her down at the water for the first time. The sun had been shining weakly all day, but it had grown cool as sunset approached. Heath remained bundled up as Merletta pulled off her heavy dress, leaving it by the water’s edge.
“I don’t really understand why you feel the need to turn your back,” she informed him. “This shift, as the maids call it, covers as much of me as the dress. Much more than my shells ever did.”
“I just do,” Heath said firmly. “It’s a human thing.”
Merletta shrugged, flicking water at the exposed back of his neck in a teasing gesture. “If you say so.”
Checking that no one else was in sight, she slipped into the water, breathing a sigh as she felt her tail shift. It felt good to be back in her natural form. She liked her legs, but she didn’t like going so long out of the water all at once.
Once fully submerged, she pulled off the shift. It was impractical for swimming. She broke the surface again and threw the wet bundle at the back of Heath’s head.
“Wring that out for me, would you?” she said cheerfully.
She could see his cheeks reddening, and she let out a chuckle as she dove below again. Even after all the weeks she’d spent in his world, Heath was delightfully easy to bait.
Her laugh was long gone by the time she coaxed Tish out of the cave where the rest of the group were living. Her friend finally gave in to her entreaties, but her reluctance was clear as she followed Merletta up to the surface.
“But what if someone else sees us?” she insisted, hovering just below the waterline. “We could get speared.”
“There’s no one else around but Heath,” Merletta assured her patiently. “And he would never spear anyone.” She broke the surface as she spoke, tugging Tish’s arm gently but firmly.
When her friend’s pale hair emerged into the brisk evening air, Merletta beckoned Heath over. Abandoning her wet garment on the shore, he picked his way over half-submerged rocks until he was out far enough to speak with them.
“Letitia, is it?” he said politely. “I’m Heath. I’m delighted to finally meet you.”
Tish eyed him warily, her gaze flying to Merletta then back to the human. “Yes, I’m Letitia,” she said at last. Her tail flicked nervously in the water.
Merletta smiled encouragingly at her. “Do you remember I told you that Heath is gifted with magic? He can see things from far away. He’s been watching the island for me. Right, Heath?”
He nodded earnestly. “I’m confident it’s safe. No one’s been near there in weeks, if not longer.”
“You think we should go back to the island?” Tish asked slowly. “The one near the triple kingdoms?”
She seemed pleased with the idea, so Merletta nodded. “I won’t be coming just yet, but the rest of the group will.” She met her friend’s eyes seriously. “I know it scares you, Tish, but you’ll be much more comfortable—and safer—if you can spend time on the island as well as near it.”
Tish shook her head frantically. “No, thanks.”
“It’s quite simple, once you get over the shock of it all,” Merletta assured her. “Let me show you.”
She swam to Heath’s rock and hoisted herself up onto her arms. Tish let out a warning cry—apparently involuntary—as Merletta flipped her tail up and around her. With a last heave, Merletta completed the change. Heath offered her a hand up, and next moment she was standing beside him, water dripping from her scaled skirt. Tish stared with wide eyes at Merletta’s feet, her gaze traveling up her friend’s legs and back down again.
“It’s perfectly safe, Tish,” Merletta assured her.
Tish gave no response, clearly unconvinced.