Page 117 of A Promise so Bold and Broken

But the space was empty.

A consuming ache spread through her veins, shortening her breaths once more.

She’d only had her sister back a few days, but she’d already gotten used to it.

Lessia stared so deep into the fire that the orange-and-red flames were the only thing filling her vision.

She’d get her back.

And…

She’d get her revenge on Meyah.

And Rioner, should she need to.

Not for herself…

No, while she hated him with a vicious intensity, she didn’t care about what he’d done to her.

But if he harmed her sister?

The taste of iron filled her mouth, and she realized she’d bitten her cheek so hard, blood pooled within it.

“You all right?” Merrick eyed her as he finally sat down, his nostrils flaring, probably picking up the scent of blood.

Lessia swallowed.

Swallowed the blood.

Swallowed the hurt.

Swallowed the small ember of helplessness that fought within her.

Lifting her eyes to Merrick’s, she stated, “I want to kill them.”

Merrick remained quiet as her eyes burned into his.

Lessia nodded. “I… I want to. But I know I shouldn’t.”

Merrick kept her gaze, and for some reason, her vision blurred with tears.

Pulling her to him, Merrick wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and she couldn’t help but curl into him, tucking in her legs so her knees rested over his.

“You’ll get your revenge,” Merrick said hoarsely. “I promise.”

Lessia nodded as she stared into the fire while Merrick’s hand drew circles on her back.

“Tell me something,” Lessia whispered when Raine’s and Kerym’s soft breathing betrayed that sleep had taken them, and the world around her seemed to become too quiet—too gentle to keep her spinning mind distracted.

“What do you want me to tell you?”

Peeking up at him, she met his eyes, and one of those jolts—the ones that seemed to run through her more often when her eyes collided with his—hit her like a spark of electricity.

As she shivered in response, Merrick held her closer, a slight wrinkle appearing between his brows when she placed her hands on his chest.

“Tell… tell me what changed between us?”

He hesitated for a moment, and despite the cold night, Lessia’s cheeks warmed.

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