Page 47 of A Fractured Song

“Undoubtedly,” said Zev. “We passed plenty of spaces at least as suitable as this one.”

“Well, they didn’t need to bother,” Marieke said frankly. “I’m far too tired to try running away tonight. And maybe Svetlana only said it for effect, but it worked—I don’t want to take my chances with those elves.”

“Yes, I think we’d be wise to be very careful with them.”

Zev followed her as she stepped into the space, an air of reluctance about him.

“I just can’t believe they exist!” Marieke said. “Elves. Like something out of a children’s story. How did the knowledge of them become lost?”

“I imagine you don’t want to hear it, but there’s no way every record mentioning elves was lost by accident,” Zev said, kneeling down and shifting one of the blankets to get to the pallet underneath.

Marieke watched him for a moment before responding. “You’re wrong,” she said.

Zev straightened, his brow furrowed as he looked at her. “Marieke, I know it’s hard to unlearn everything you’ve been taught, but—”

“No,” she clarified quickly, “I mean you’re wrong that I don’t want to hear it. Idowant to hear the truth. That’s why I’m here.”

Zev held her gaze, something crackling in the air between them. “Yes,” he said at last, his voice soft in the deadened space. “You’re different from most singers.”

“I’m really not,” Marieke told him simply. “I just asked the right questions, and even that only happened because of what I saw down here the first time. Many singers wouldprobably have the same reaction I’ve had if they were exposed to the same information.”

Zev didn’t answer. Even in the dim light, she could see the conflict in his eyes. It was hard for him, she realized, to accept that his family were wrong in their prejudice toward singers. Maybe even harder than it was for her to accept the lies she’d been told. Both of their foundations had been shaken since they’d met one another, and the realization made her feel more connected to him.

She stepped closer, the silence of the underground cavern suddenly deafening, and Zev’s presence electric.

“We can find our way to what’s true, Zev.” Her voice was whisper-quiet, but it filled the space. “We can find it together.”

Something jumped in Zev’s jaw, and his eyes were impossible to read as they stared down into hers. Feeling bold in the semi-darkness, Marieke moved even closer. They weren’t touching, but she could feel the heat radiating from his chest, inches from her.

“I’m not asking you to solve Oleand’s problems,” she told him. “All I want is for you to walk with me as I try to untangle the truth from the lies and the lies from the misconceptions.”

Still he said nothing, although his eyes stayed locked on her, his demeanor more like hypnotized prey than his usual confident self.

“Is that really too much to ask?” she murmured.

Zev swallowed, swaying slightly toward her as he at last spoke. “It’s…it’s not that simple, Mari.”

Warmed by the use of her nickname, Marieke reached toward him, the movement slow so as not to scare him off. She eased her hand into his, the back of her hand against his palm. His fingers were strong and warm as she slid hers between them.

“Isn’t it?” she whispered.

“Mari…” Zev’s voice trailed off into the silence with the hint of a groan. For a moment they stood, their gazes locked with an intensity that made it hard for Marieke to catch her breath.

Then Zev closed his eyes, raising their entangled hands in a swift motion and twisting them so that Marieke’s palm was trapped against his cheek. She could feel the scruff of his beard against her fingers, and the strength in his hand as he held hers in place. He drew in a ragged breath, his thoughts impossible to read now his eyes were closed against her.

“Mari, I…”

Again he didn’t finish the thought. She could feel his tension, but she didn’t try to ease it with light words. She wanted him to confront his own heart, to decide what he was willing to fight for. To her disappointment, he seemed bent on avoiding that.

“I’ll sleep in the corridor,” he said gruffly. “To keep watch in case anyone intends mischief.”

“You don’t have to be afraid to share a cave with me, Zev.” Marieke’s tone wasn’t quite as light as he was trying to make his. “I’m not going to force you to kiss me again, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

His eyes flew open again at her daring words, his expression startled as his gaze rested on her. Startled and something else, something lurking deeper.

“No one forced me to do anything.” His voice was low and husky.

Hope lifted Marieke’s heart again, and she tilted her face toward him. One hand was still against his cheek, and she raised the other, tentatively laying it on his chest. She could feel the tightness of his muscles through the thick fabric of his tunic.

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