“You shouldn’t be alone out here, not even with them. What if something came from the jungle? What if a naga was on the hunt?” All thoughts of Zaeyr and Delina fall from my head for a moment as my mother’s words about duty return.
“I can take care of myself,” he snaps. “I’m sick of everyone babying me. First Issa, now you? I’m not a child!”
Startled, my mouth purses. “That’s not—”
“Treat me like a man.” He shoves the basket of plants at me. “Here, this is for you. Though I don’t think you need it.”
“Leith, I’m sorry. The tribe—”
“To waters with the tribes!” he fumes. “I always thought you were better than them, Aida.”
“I’m sorry.”
He peers at me, and I remember that, just a month ago, Leith and I were going to be mates. The loss I felt when he was taken away… It blooms with the anger coursing through me now, but instead of envy, love settles instead. Familial love, brotherly love. Leith with his boyish features and wavy shoulder-length hair.
The way I feel about Leith is nothing like the way I feel about Zaeyr.
“It’s okay,” he says, forgiving me. “I should get back to Delina anyhow. She’s probably worried about me by now. And you know… you berating me will be nothing in comparison to what I’ll hear if anyone else catches me alone.” He chuckles, but there’s no mirth to it.
My mouth shuts tight.He doesn’t know. Of course he doesn’t know. Delina betrayed him like Zaeyr betrayed me.
Waters, I hate my sister more than ever at that moment.Leith doesn’t deserve this.
“Aida!” My name bellowed on the wind makes me stiffen.
“What’s that?” Leith startles, pivoting to the voice. “The dragon?”
I notice the mermaids both look in the direction my name came from. One of them says, “Dragon?” Their gazes narrow, their tails drop back into the water.
Leith turns to me and gets his answer.
“Is he the one who hurt you?” he asks, voice darkening, pulling a dagger out from a sheath at his hips.
“No, he didn’t hurt me,” I tell him. “But I’ve got to go.” I hand the basket back. “Thank you for this, but I won’t need them.” I turn to leave.
Leith grabs my arm. “Aida, what’s wrong? Where are you going?”
“What do you mean ‘dragon?’” one of the mermaids calls out to us.
“Nothing’s wrong. I’m going to Shell Rock for a while.” I tug my arm out of his grip. It’s much easier than I expect, already used to Zaeyr’s strength.Stop thinking of him!My pulse races.Every moment I remain, he gets closer.I back up, prepare to run anew—
When Leith grabs me by the shoulders and kisses me.
I drop my satchel.
His lips move across mine.
Stunned, again, I do nothing but reel. My body grows cold when his tongue tries to dip between my lips.
This is wrong. So wrong.I push him away.
“I always thought you and I would be mated,” he whispers. “I always dreamed it’d be you.”
I shake my head.
He continues babbling, but he’s drowned out when my name roars through the air, closer now than ever. “Aida!” Zaeyr yells. But Leith reaches for me again and I step back. The grey morning clouds overhead break and a streak of dappling sunlight hits us.
“I can protect you from him,” Leith tells me, trying to catch me.
