Elise smeared the rest of her exposed flesh with the paste, feeling miserable. Why did everything between them have to turn sexual? Why, when letting those feelings come to light was exactly what she was trying to avoid? Inside her the hunger roared like a starving animal which had been given a single bite of life-sustaining food and then deprived of the rest. God, how long could she stand this? As long as I have to, she thought desperately.
She handed the pot back to Merrick silently and he stowed it in the backpack he was wearing. “Well…” He gave her a long look. “Guess we might as well go.”
Elise nodded. “Yes, I guess so.”
“We’ll walk you to the edge of the jungle,” Shuura said diplomatically. “After that, you’re on your own.”
They left the house with its two roof-piercing trees and walked through the town. The native Ragerons watched them silently but every now and then, one of them would touch a single finger to their forehead, lips, and heart and then point to the jungle. The fourth time this happened, Elise asked for an explanation.
“They know you’re going into the Deep Blue,” Tongs explained in a low voice as they walked.
“How would they know tha—oh, the camouflage. Of course,” Elise murmured. To be honest, she’d almost forgotten she was wearing the blue paste. It seemed to be reaching a powder-like consistency as it dried, almost like the mineral foundation powder she put on when she wore makeup. There was no doubt it was still there, but it was so light she barely felt it.
Another native made the signal Elise had asked about and Shuura spoke up.
“It’s a gesture of respect and protection. I can’t really translate it very well but essentially it means, ‘May the Ancient Ones listen to your mind and heart as well as the words that pass your lips.’”
“Why would they want the Ancient Ones to do that?” The idea of some strange, older-than-God beings getting into her head and listening to the desires of her heart made Elise shiver. She’d had enough of having someone rifle through her private thoughts and memories when she’d been captured by the AllFather, thank you very much.
“Because most people are fucking idiots and what comes out of their mouths is stupid garbage,” Merrick growled. “But the Ancient Ones can read people—figure out their true thoughts and intentions. That ability probably kept more than one fool who wandered into the Deep Blue alive.”
“Are we really going to meet them in there?” Elise felt a cold fist clench in her gut. “How dangerous are they, anyway?”
Merrick turned to study her for a moment. “Very fucking dangerous, but don’t worry, we’re going to try to avoid them. If they find us, keep calm and let me do the talking.”
“But what if they want to do more than talk?” she demanded.
Merrick gave her a long, level look. “If they attack, I’ll protect you. With my life, if necessary.”
Elise felt sick. “Oh, you don’t have to—”
“Yes, I do,” he snapped. “You’re my responsibility. My female to care for and protect…at least until our bond is broken and I have to hand you back over to that son-of–a-bitch who didn’t even know you were missing until after I found you.”
His words struck home in a way that really hurt. It was true—James hadn’t even known about her abduction until long after she’d been rescued. “Leave James out of this,” she flared, put immediately on the defensive.
Merrick stopped walking and turned to her. “I’d be happy to, baby. But even if I did, he’s not the only thing standing between us, is he?”
“I…” She opened her mouth to reply and closed it again when she realized they had all stopped walking and were standing at the edge of the dense gray-blue vegetation that marked the beginning of the jungle. “Are we here?” she asked, ignoring Merrick and turning to Shuura instead.
“Indeed we are, my dear.” He smiled at her and made an expansive gesture toward the jungle. “Go and may the Goddess go with you.”
“Thank you,” Elise said faintly. “It was very nice to meet you.”
“And you, my lady fair.” Tongs smiled and captured her hand. He rubbed it against his rough cheek as he had when they first met before relinquishing it. “I hope to see the two of you alive and in one piece again very soon.”
“We’re shooting for a week,” Merrick said shortly, apparently deciding to ignore his uncle’s courtly gestures. “If you don’t see us after then, assume the worst. I won’t ask you to come looking for us…”