Page 71 of A Fractured Song

Zev took a step forward, the swift movement seeming unconscious. “Mari…”

She felt her heart pick up speed, the shawl slipping a little way down her shoulder as she stood frozen. The light fabric ofher sleeve underneath wasn’t enough to ward off the chill of the air, and a shiver went over her.

Zev lifted a hand. For a moment she thought he would touch her cheek, but instead he slid the shawl back up her shoulder, using both hands to pull it more tightly around her.

“It’s cold,” he said.

“Yes,” Marieke agreed, her skin tingling as his fingers brushed the base of her throat. She took hold of the shawl with one hand, reaching out boldly with the other to tug playfully at his open collar. “You should know.”

Zev gave a chuckle that was lower and throatier than his usual laugh. “I followed you in a hurry.”

Marieke’s heart skipped another beat, but she kept her voice steady. “I get the sense your family would like you to stop doing that.”

Zev’s brow lowered, a pained look coming into his eyes. “I’m sorry about last night, Mari. They were taken off-guard, but that doesn’t excuse being inhospitable.”

Marieke shrugged. “You’re not responsible for your family’s behavior, Zev. Only your own.”

He bit his lip, his discomfort apparently not eased by this assurance.

Marieke’s smile held a hint of sadness. “For what it’s worth, my parents would love you,” she said. She gazed north, toward her distant home. “A strong, intelligent farmer who’s unimpressed by academies and songcraft, and works the soil with his own hands?” Her eyes returned to his, the smile more pronounced. “They’d probably lock the doors so you couldn’t leave if I brought you home.”

Zev took another step closer, his eyes fixed on hers. “I want to meet them someday,” he told her.

“Do you?” Her voice cracked a little, but she was pastfeeling self-conscious. “Do you even know what you want, Zev?”

By way of response, Zev lifted his hand again, this time tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Instead of lowering his hand, he brought it to rest on the side of her face, his fingers tangled in her hair and his thumb rough and warm against her cheek. Marieke closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. She scolded herself for her weakness, but even knowing Zev was probably going to once again draw back, she couldn’t bring herself to be the one to pull away first.

“I know what I want.” His voice surprised her—she’d thought he wouldn’t answer. Her eyes flew open to see his gaze fixed on her. “I knowwhoI want.”

Marieke felt her cheeks warm, her heartbeat once again erratic.

“I want to keep you safe, Mari.” Zev’s voice was low and earnest. “I want to keep my promises to you, and do right by you. That’s what I want. But I also want to do right by my family. It’s hard to explain, but the mess I’m in isn’t of my making, or my family’s. Everyone has their reasons.” There was a hint of pleading in his voice. “Please don’t think badly of them for it.”

“I don’t,” she told him, her voice a murmur. “They have high standards for you, and so they should. You’re special Zev, everyone who meets you can sense it.”

“No.” By contrast, Zev’s voice was sharp. “That’s not it, Marieke. It has nothing to do with you not being good enough, I swear.”

“Then what?” she asked, her eyes adding a silent entreaty to her words.

“I wish I knew how to explain.” His voice was agonized, his hand taut with tension on her face. Did he realize how close his thumb had strayed to her lips?

“Well, you’re running out of time to do it,” she told him. “I’m not staying, Zev. I have to leave.”

“Where are you going?” he asked quickly. “Back to Oleand?”

Marieke shook her head. “Further south.” She closed her eyes, relishing the feel of his fingers still on her skin as she took a breath and slowly released it. “I’m exhausted, Zev. I feel like I’m chasing the answer, but every step I take, it remains just as far out of reach. The things we saw at Port Taran sent me to the capital with my head full of questions. All I found was more questions, leading me to the canyon in search of the monarchists. And I found them, but instead of answers, they gave me new questions again.”

“And these questions lead south?” Zev pressed, his voice prompting her to open her eyes again. Sudden understanding sent his brows up. “The elves? You want to go looking for them.”

Marieke nodded. “Surely this time I’ll find the source. If talismans all come from them, theymustknow what Gorgon was really up to, and how the disasters have continued after his death.”

“But we only just escaped from the elves,” Zev said, his hand tightening slightly in its grip. “Svetlana and Trina both warned us about Rissin.”

“About Rissin, yes,” Marieke acknowledged. “But they made it sound like most elves aren’t as dangerous as him. I want to find their leader, the Imperator Trina mentioned. Maybe he can be reasoned with.”

“Bargained with, more like,” Zev said. His frown was uneasy. “I don’t like it, Marieke. It’s a long way, and you’d be at their mercy, even if you did find them.”

Marieke gave a twisted smile. “Unlike you, with your farm to run, I have nothing better to do.” When he didn’t reply, just continued to look at her with a troubled expression, shepressed her palm gently onto his chest. “I can’t give up now, Zev. I might be exhausted, but I’m determined. I want to save my country before it’s too late to reverse its deterioration. And I can’t fix whatever’s happening until I find out what’s causing it.”

---