Page 54 of The Elven Healer's Apprentice

“Merlon.” Her hand pressing the middle of my chest abruptly centered all my attention on that point of contact. My breath caught when I realized her face was barely inches from mine. The heady sense of connection intensified as I gazed into her eyes. “What did you mean when you said that you loved me?” she asked.

For a moment, I couldn’t think. Then, I just blurted it out. “I wish to marry you.”

Her lovely brows lowered, and she leaned back to get a better look at my face. “Human marriage or elven life-force joining?”

“Both, either, whatever you will agree to.” I groaned. “I mean—” I couldn’t think while I touched her. Reluctantly untangling my fingers from her curls, I took a step back. “I think you are my soul mate.”

I watched her warily, and she studied me in return.

“When I touch you, my senses intensify, my heart eases, and—it is like a part of me that had been missing my whole life has suddenly fit into place. But it is more than that. I can’t stop thinking about you, caring about you, and trying to figure out how to convince you to stay.”

“I have nowhere—”

I crossed the space between us and pressed my fingers to her lips. “Please don’t say that.”

She gently pulled my hand away from her lips, but she didn’t let go. Instead, she interlaced our fingers. “It is true, though.”

“It isn’t. I could find you another place. It would be against all that I desire, but I could.”

Understanding slowly dawned in her eyes. “You want me to have a choice, so I won’t be trapped into staying with you?”

I nodded. “I don’t want to force you or make this a choice between me or leaving.”

∞∞∞

Adela

“I don’t want to leave,” I confessed.

It was strange to see him like this, vulnerable and so insecure. Part of me wished to reach out and assure him that I wasn’t going anywhere no matter what happened, but that wasn’t true. I would die someday, and he would live on without me.

I was torn. Part of me wanted what he offered, a kind of closeness I had observed between Casimir and Veta. I wanted to love him in that way. But to accept that was selfish. Agreeing toit would condemn him to grieve my death someday, living that half-life he mentioned. I couldn’t do that to him. No matter how much I wished to.

“We argue.” It was a lame response.

To my surprise, Merlon perked up, his eyes flashing silver. “I love that about us. You don’t let me push you around.” Something about his mouth softened as he smiled. “I love your fire, Adela.”

“But I am human.”

“Which I also love.” Amusement flared in his gaze. “You offer a unique perspective I rarely consider. You are kind, something I struggle with, and you love and accept like I never can.”

He looked so endearing in that moment that I wanted to reach for him, but I couldn’t. Instead, I gazed down at our joined hands. Could I give this up? The touch, the warmth, the fact I could count on him coming for me like he had done just that day. He had rallied the very king of Eldarlan to rescue me. Warmth coursed through me. If I said yes, I knew he would give his all to me at every moment, but what did I have to give?

“As a human, I will die far sooner than you.”

“Not necessarily.”

I lifted my head to find him watching me intently. “What do you mean?”

“If we join our life forces, our connection will lengthen your life to match mine. Illeron has been searching our archives, and I have been gathering observations of the human wives of elves. The conclusions are clear.”

“And if we are the exception to the rule?” I dropped my gaze, avoiding the desire burning in his gaze.

“It is a risk I will take. Adela, look at me.”

Reluctantly, I complied. His gaze was assessing, similar to when he was diagnosing a problem or figuring out a riddle. Thistime the mystery was me, or at least why I was hesitating. Then, with the finesse of a skilled surgeon, he cut straight to the heart of the issue.

“Adela, do you love me?”

---