Page 106 of A Promise so Bold and Broken

“A name is powerful, Elessia. As you must have known, denying your own for so long.” Her eyes traveled over Lessia’s face. “And how do I know you don’t carry the darkness of your family?”

Lessia waved her hand toward the group. “Surely you all, out of anyone, must understand? What with the actions your leaders took back in the war times?”

“Ah, that was all so very unfortunate, wasn’t it?” The woman didn’t appear to think it was unfortunate at all, as a slight smile drew at her lips as she peeked behind Lessia. “I assume that’s your sister clinging to the mind-bender? You have the Rantzier hair. I heard the Death Whisperer traveled with you already. Oh! And that’s one of the Siphon Twins, isn’t it? I thought you and your brother were inseparable… I guess love can truly break us all.”

The shifter pierced Lessia with her dark brown gaze as she straightened again. “I am the leader of the rebels. My name is Meyah, and I know more than you think I do, princess of Vastala.”

Her stomach flipped, but she fought to hide it.

They’d stumbled across therebelleader?

Moving her eyes to Merrick’s, Lessia found his brows drawn down, thoughts working across his face as distrust brightened his dark eyes.

It all seemed very convenient, didn’t it?

As Lessia turned back toward the rebels, she forced a laugh when she realized Meyah was staring at her. “I am no princess. Like you, I want Havlands to be a better place, but if you don’t listen to me, there will be no Havlands—at least not how we know it—left, including any of your rebels. There is another threat coming. One that is much worse than the fight you’re planning for.”

Some of the people behind Meyah began mumbling, the whispers brushing Lessia’s ear, but she made herself hold the rebel leader’s gaze.

“But you’re not like me.” Meyah’s lips lifted into a cold smile. “It’s as easy to see as the bonds tying this broken group together. You won’t do what’s necessary to win—to drive actual change. I know all about you, Elessia Rantzier. Or is it Lessia Gyldenberg? You ran for regent in Ellow and, according to my sources, even managed to get the infamous Loche to take a liking to you… which I guess isn’t too hard, as someone who can control minds.”

Something sinister glinted in Meyah’s eyes. “But you weren’t strong enough to use it to your advantage—to your people’s advantage! Instead, you ran. Like a coward.”

Merrick snarled softly beside her, and Lessia struggled not to bare her teeth at the shifter herself.

With a glance at Lessia, Merrick took a step forward.

“Careful how you talk to her, shifter.” Ice dripped from every word leaving Merrick’s mouth. “She might not want to hurt any of you, but I certainly have no such qualms. I’ve killed your kind before, and I’ll do it again if I must.”

Meyah’s eyes flared for less than a second, but it was enough for Lessia to understand Merrick’s words had landed precisely as he’d intended.

“Me and my brothers”—Merrick gestured toward Raine and Kerym—“lived through the last war. Fought in it. Your people were slaughtered. How many of you remain now? A couple of hundred spread out across Havlands? There will be none—none!—left if you do not listen to her.”

Meyah turned around to hush some of the louder people behind her, and Lessia decided this was the best moment they’d get.

“There is another race of Fae traveling here on their warships. There are thousands upon thousands of them, and they’re as desperate as you are. Perhaps even more. And Rioner has struck a deal with them.” Lessia moved her eyes from Meyah’s to meet with those of a few of the others behind her as she continued. “If they help Rioner keep Vastala safe from rebels, he will help them take Ellow once it’s weakened from the rebels’ attack. There will be no human or shifter left in Havlands after that.”

The whispers grew louder and more worried until Meyah screamed, “Silence!”

As she took a step to get into Lessia’s space, her eyes narrowed. “Why should I believe you?”

“Why would I lie?” Lessia slitted her eyes right back. “I have nothing to win by deceiving you.”

“Why would you lie, indeed.” Meyah sucked her teeth when her gaze snagged somewhere over Lessia’s right shoulder. “Ardow, it’s been too long. Come greet me.”

There was a wrinkle between Ardow’s brows as he stepped up to Lessia’s side.

“Oh! Forgive me. You’ve never seen me in this form.” Meyah smiled sweetly, although no warmth touched her eyes, and within a second, the air filled with rushing wind.

The scent of shifter wrapped around them, masking the salty tang of the sea and the leathery aroma of clothing and sweat that had filled Lessia’s nose over the past days.

Before Lessia’s wide eyes, Meyah’s image blurred, almost mirroring how Merrick’s magic sent ripples through the air—like oil spilling on water with the soft colors of the rainbow tangling with each other.

When the magic drifted away with the breeze, another woman stood in the raven-haired’s stead.

This one was younger—perhaps in her early twenties—with curly blond hair, amber eyes eerily similar to Lessia’s and Frelina’s, and a much shorter stature.

Lessia would almost have to bend her neck if she wanted to meet the girl’s eyes.

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