Page 61 of Make Out With A Merman

“No,” she whispers. “That was athreat.”

We sit in the dark, dripping, cold, and quiet.

The lake doesn’t move.

But something in me does.

Because this time, I didn’t justsensethe rift.

Ifeltit break.

We sit on the dock for a long time.

My breath finally evens out. Her fingers don’t leave mine.

The lake looks innocent again.

Glass and moonlight.

But we both know it’s a lie.

“Callie,” I say, voice like gravel, “I need to tell you something.”

She looks at me, brows drawn. “Yeah?”

I force myself to meet her eyes.

“The next time it calls” I pause. Swallow hard. “It’s not going to let go.”

Her grip tightens. “Don’t say that.”

“I’m serious. That pulse? It wasn’t meant to scare me. It wastestingme. Seeing how deep it could pull without breaking me. And next time” I shake my head. “Next time it’ll pullharder.”

She’s already shaking her head. “Then we stop it before that. We plan. Wefight.You’re not going under. Not like that. Notalone.”

“It wants me,” I say, softer now. “I don’t know why, not completely, but it does. It’s tied to my blood. My tribe. My power.”

She cups my face with both hands. “I don’t care what it wants. It doesn’t get tohaveyou.”

I close my eyes.

Because gods, I want to believe her.

But deep down, I can still feel that current in my veins.

Still hear the hum of the rift calling my name like it already owns me.

And I don’t know if I can fight it off forever.

But I do know this:

If it takes me, if Iletit, I won’t go without a fight.

And I won’t go without saying goodbye.

We end up back at my cabin.

Not because I suggest it.

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