8
As the sea began to calm, I let go of the daggers and untied the rope connecting me to the human, avoiding his gaze, which felt like flames on my face as he studied me closely.
I drew my blade from the tree trunk and hoisted myself on it, moving toward the roots to let the soldier climb up near the branches.
Then, I used my weapon to carve a small cavity into the wood to collect rainwater before the rain ceased.
The man waited a few moments before mirroring my actions.
At each end of the tree, we stared at each other as the storm gradually passed.
When the sky was clear and the water was still, he let out an exhausted exhale and leaned his back against the tree trunk.
I watched him rest until noon, replaying every single moment we shared in the last few hours in my mind.
Every look. Every touch. Every breath.
What had I been thinking? How could I have even let him touch me? And how could I have felt such visceral and . . . carnal emotions?
He was a human; I was an elf. Not only was I forbidden from feeling attracted to him, but it was also impossible for me to be. Aside from Mornon the Abomination, our kind had never been contaminated, as the Spirits assigned every elf a mate to share their life.
Or, at least, nearly every elf.
So why was I still here? What was it about this man that kept me from leaving?
But above all, why did I senselessly believe my place was beside him?
“You know, if you’d stopped staring at me for even one fucking second, maybe I could have taken a damn nap,” the soldier complained suddenly. “Your eyes feel like a volley of blades on my body.”
I immediately looked away, embarrassed that he’d sensed me gazing at him the whole time. But despite my efforts, as if I couldn’t help myself, I found my eyes drifting back to him again the very next moment.
“What is your name?” I asked.
The man sat up and looked at the finger I was sliding across the dagger still in my hand, then at my hair, which was nearly dry and frizzy from the sea salt. His lips, slightly cracked, curled into a smile, as if he were pleased that I had lost my elven composure.
He took a deep breath, slightly raised his chin with pride, and answered, “Amlach.”
A name that had become quite common among humans over the past three centuries, as they named their children to honor the current King Amlach III and his predecessors.
“I’m Nauriel,” I said.
His brows wryly quirked upward. “Yes, I heard you loud and clear during your little speech as the future queen.”
I glared at him, and he grinned. I looked toward the horizon on my right, hoping the storm had brought us closer to the continent, but I didn’t see a single patch of land.
However, I was relieved to realize that one thing was certain: We were within the borders of the Lands of the East, for I still sensed the supernatural abilities of my race and our magic flowing through me.
“Listen, Amlach,” I said, annoyed by the intoxicating taste of his name on my tongue. “I will help you return to your people. But we can’t stay here waiting for my brother to find us. You need water and food.”
He looked at me with curiosity. “You don’t?”
“I can survive much longer than you without both,” I replied, a bit too harshly.
Amlach clenched his jaw and tossed me a sharp look. “Then what do you suggest, Elf?”
I regarded him right back. “There is an archipelago to the north. Once night falls, we will row towards it guided by the stars.”
“Or we could use them to head east,” he suggested, as if it were the more obvious choice. “Where our land is.”
“We are way far from the continent. We’re more likely to encounter the islands sooner.”
“And what if we have ended up way far south?” he bit back.
“We have not,” I snapped, ending the conversation as I sheathed my dagger. I ignored his scornful noise and glanced at the tree roots behind me. None of those sprouting from the sea seemed suitable. So, I turned back to the man. “Drink what’s left of our water, then take your dagger and follow me.”
I didn’t give him time to ask questions and immediately dove into the sea. While underwater, I examined the roots first and then the branches that the strong currents hadn’t broken. When I heard Amlach’s thud in the water, I swam over to him and surfaced.
“I found only one root that’s straight enough to use as an oar,” I said.
“I believe there’s a branch on the other side that might do the trick.”
I nodded. “Show me.”
We took a deep breath, passed under the tree trunk, and came out on the other side. Amlach pointed to a strong branch positioned quite high above the water. He should climb up to saw it off.
“What do you think?”
“Yes, it will do.” I glanced sideways at him. “You think you can handle this yourself?”
He gave me a subtle look. “Does the elf believe the human isn’t strong enough even to cut off a branch?”
I scowled at him. “It’s just that it’s not in an easy position. And you’re huge.”
His lips curled into a lazy, mischievous smile. “Am I?”
A second later, I realized the obscene double meaning in my words. I blushed all the way to my pointy ears and started swimming away.
“Hey.” Amlach caught me around the middle to stop me and pulled me slightly toward him. He stared at me, suddenly serious. “Thank you.”
For a moment, I was lost in the pine forests that his irises seemed to hold within them. Then my gaze hardened. “You need to stop touching me like that.”
His eyes looked like burning embers. “You didn’t seem to mind so far.”
As soon as I felt his fingers press more forcefully into my side, I pulled his arm off me and dove back to the other side of the tree. I leaned on the slimy bark with one hand, gasping for air, my heart pounding as if it might burst out of my chest.
After waiting a few moments for my heartbeat to stabilize, I drew the dagger and dove in to cut off the root.
As evening neared, we finished sharpening the two oars with our blades.
I admired the sunset over the peaceful grey waves, which were tinged with orange and gold. As the sky gradually darkened to indigo, I looked up, searching for the first faint stars. When the constellation that would guide us appeared, I met Amlach’s eyes and nodded.
He nodded back and shifted his position, sitting on the tree trunk with his back to me. He turned to check that I also had lowered my oar into the water. Then we started rowing.
Together.