Page 24 of Echoes of the Tide

He dove face first through the waterfall, riding it down onto the floor with a wet slap that echoed through the room. Immediately, he looked around. His eyes noted the strange stone sculpture, the rotting furniture, the view that was just as pretty even though he was outside of this achromo home. But then his eyes found her. Her leg was awkwardly raised, but he watched with rapt attention as that leg flexed.

Had any other of his people realized how strong the achromos were? Her legs strained with the effort she put on whatever she was holding. He could see the tension in her body and how swiftly her back arched into the movement. Veins popped out on her forehead and it was the most impressive act he’d ever seen in his life. For someone so small, so delicate, and so out of her element, she was capable of such strength.

Then the metal groaned. Whatever she was holding made a noise like a shriek and suddenly she dropped to the ground. A giant clanging accompanied her fall.

He’d never moved so fast in his life.

Using his arms and tail, he shoved himself across the room. Far beyond the water where he was safe. All the way to her side, where he loomed over her, looking down into her red features.

Her eyes were a little unfocused when she looked up at him and wheezed, “Ow.”

“Where are you hurt?” He ran his hands up and down her sides, trying to find the wound that pained her. He skimmed his fingers down her sides, finding more of that softness that was so intriguing, but right now, he had to focus on the injuries that she’d thrust upon herself. Foolish female. Foolish achromo taking risks like that.

“I’m fine!” she insisted, slapping at his hands.

But she was still making that awful wheezing sound. It didn’t sound like it was coming from her throat, but he didn’t know what else would make that noise. She made a few coughing sounds, and he wondered if she’d broken her ribs. He could feel them when he squeezed her hard, so he knew she had them just like he did.

Leaning down, he pressed his head against her sternum. Right between the rather full, interesting breasts that he definitely wasn’t looking at because he needed to listen to her heart beat. Perhaps it was her heart that was struggling.

The moment he pressed his head down, he knew what the problem was. She had seriously injured herself because there was only one beat in her chest. One thud. Steady and even, but it was still only the one.

He left his head against her skin, not wanting her to see his expression as he realized she was dying. “Oh, Ace. This is grave indeed.”

“I knocked the wind out of myself, you moron! Get off of me.”

He leaned into her harder, ignoring how she put her hands on his head to push him away. “No, kefi. You only have one heartbeat. It will not be long now. I will hold you until the end.”

Why did it hurt so badly to think he had lost her this early? She had said they were friends. That is what she wanted from him, and therefore, that was what he would be. He’d never wanted to be someone’s friend so badly. Perhaps more, of course. He would have been very happy with more, but he would take what he could get.

And if that meant holding her until the end, guiding her soul into the deep where the sea mother would watch over her, then that was exactly what he would do.

“Maketes—”

“Shh, kefi. I am sorry I failed you. I should have kept you safer.”

If he had been here, prepared to enter the room with her, perhaps she wouldn’t have made such a mistake. Perhaps she wouldn’t have risked her life. This was his fault. This was all his fault, and how was he going to live with this guilt? He was usually so good at thrusting aside his emotions, but right now, it was almost impossible to do.

Then her fingers carded through his hair. Those talented, thin fingers brushed through the coiled tangles on his head and gently rubbed at his scalp. The same way he’d done to her.

He waited. Listening to her heart beat while her grip made its way down to the back of his neck, massaging tense muscles that couldn’t release. No matter how hard she worked at them. No matter how wonderful it felt for her to touch him.

It set in that her heart wasn’t slowing. She was still here. Touching him. Breathing. And her heart was still beating.

Slowly, he lifted his head from the comfortable pillows of her breasts and looked at her.

She gave him the smallest smile, and it was the first time he’d seen any expression on her face other than sullen seriousness. “Humans only have one heart.”

“One heart?” he repeated.

“One heart.”

Well. He felt silly.

And then he realized he was pressed against every inch of her. His tail had somehow looped around her ankles, holding her legs together while he was still on top of her. While he did that, her hips were pressed into his belly. His arms were on either side of her body and he’d had his head nestled between her breasts.

He was screaming the word “friends” in his mind and somehow, that wasn’t helping. He was still here. Still leaning against her. Still staring down at her as he realized just how close he was to her.

“You have small flecks of gold in your eyes,” he mumbled. The gills on the sides of his neck stood up, fluttering slowly for her.

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