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disappointment. “I was going to give this to you last night, but
you distracted me with your scary dagger skills.”
    “Ha ha.” I propped myself so my forearms
rested on Forse’s chest. There was no way I was moving any farther
away from him than necessary.
    Forse pulled his fist from his pocket and
held it above my hands. “I got you this.”
    “You got me a present?” My cheeks flushed. We
exchanged gifts on Christmas and our birthdays, but that was
it.
    “ It’s
just something little. I saw it and I thought …well, it made me think of you.” He opened
his fist and a necklace fell into my palm. It was exquisite, a
pale-blue crystal with green swirls that appeared to glow from
within, held by a delicate silver chain.
    Time stood still as I held the stone between
my fingers. “This is a larimar crystal. I’ve wanted one of these
forever. Where did you find it?”
    “I was walking by the jewelry store in
Arcata, and I saw it in the window. Something about it made me
think of you, and I knew I had to get it.” Forse brought his hand
to my lower back and rubbed softly. I tried not to melt into the
touch, but considering I was holding a stone that originated in
mythological Atlantis, the purpose of which was to heal a wounded
heart while guiding it to its soul mate, I was finding not melting
inordinately difficult.
    “ This
is…I can’t even…” I blinked up at Forse’s eyes, the exact same
shade as the green in the crystal. I didn’t have to check a mirror
to know that mine matched its silvery blue. “Thank you.”
    “I’m glad you like it,” Forse said simply.
Then he held out his hand. “May I?”
    “Of course.” I dropped the crystal into his
palm and tugged my hair to the side. He fastened the clasp behind
my neck, and the larimar fell, resting calmly against the hollow of
my neck. My entire body warmed as the crystal’s subtle vibration
pulled on the energy of my heart, and Forse’s. He raised an eyebrow
at my knowing smile.
    “Do I want to know?” he asked. “Or is the
fact that I suddenly feel warm and fuzzy one of those mysterious
High Healer things?”
    “ All you
need to know is that I’m very happy you gave this to me. Takk .” I pushed myself
up so I could kiss his cheek, pulling back before I could scare him
off. But Forse still didn’t look afraid—either the larimar was
having its desired effect, or we were finally making progress.
    Either way, I was feeling pretty darned
optimistic.
    “Any time.” Force’s eyes turned a deeper
green as an intensity consumed his gaze. It moved slowly from my
face down my torso, then came to an abrupt stop at the pale pink
mark on my forearm. His eyes narrowed as he ran a finger lightly
over the wound. “You cut yourself pretty badly with that dagger
last night. This one’s nearly healed over, but is anything else
hurting?”
    “My muscles are a little sore,” I admitted.
“But I’m a lot more confident than I was yesterday. You gave me a
solid foundation to fight the dark elves, or trolls, or mountain
giants, or whatever questionably guided being we come across.”
    “True, but remember, most fights are
avoidable. And I don’t want you engaging unless it’s absolutely
necessary. Self-defense is one thing, but the second you’re in a
position to get yourself to safety—”
    “I know,” I interrupted. “You want me to run
away from conflict—not into it.”
    “Exactly.”
    I lay my cheek on Forse’s chest and let the
rise and fall of his breathing ebb my anxiety. I could have stayed
right there all day.
    Unfortunately for me, Justice was swift this
morning.
    “Much as I hate to move, I’m sure Tyr’s ready
to catch the Bifrost.” Forse gently lifted me off him, and guided
me to my feet as he rose. I stared wistfully at the couch,
committing the feel of our bodies nestled together to memory. The
way things went with us, it could be months before Forse dropped
his guard enough to let us get that close again. Why did boys