Page 13 of A Promise so Bold and Broken

“It’s me. It’s Merrick,” the figure said.

She blinked hard.

But she could still only see the dim outline of the Fae in Rioner’s cellars.

“It’s me.”

The voice rumbled through her as she blinked again.

Her vision sharpened, and the Fae’s silver hair and familiar features kindled something within her.

Lessia blinked again as he climbed into the bed, taking the spot beside her.

Merrick.

Dropping the daggers, she pressed her shaking hands to her face.

Merrick wouldn’t hurt her.

Not anymore.

She stiffened when the bed shifted, and strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her into a broad chest.

“It’s me,” he whispered into her hair, and as his low voice wrapped around her, her coiled muscles softened.

He held her closer, and his hair tickled her cheek as he continued. “I promise you, you’re never going back there. I will never allow them to hurt you again. Do you hear me?”

When she didn’t respond, Merrick repeated, “Do you hear me?”

Finally, she dipped her chin, and a low rumble vibrated in his chest.

When her body finally relaxed fully against his, her cheek resting against his soft tunic, and she breathed in the scent that reminded her of forests and wilderness, he shifted, gently unwrapping his arms and guiding her head to the pillow.

“You need to rest,” he whispered.

She peeked at him through her lashes, and an involuntary sound left her when his feet found the floor.

Freezing, Merrick glanced back down, and whatever he found in her eyes made his nostrils flare as he nodded once.

“I’ll stay here while you sleep.”

It was all she needed to hear for her eyelids to flutter, and she sighed as she curled up on her side, facing the wall, but her feet still touched Merrick’s legs as he sat down on the end of the bed with his back against the wall.

Fatigue seeped into her every muscle and limb, and she tried to focus on Merrick’s slow breaths as sleep pressed down on her.

For a while, the only sounds filling the cabin were the sparks as the candles sputtered, the soft breaths of people, and the rustling of fabric as someone moved positions.

But as she was about to fall into darkness, a barely audible whisper broke through the musty air.

“Is she sleeping?”

She made herself lie completely still, keeping her breaths even, unsure whether she could handle another conversation right now.

“It appears so,” Merrick responded.

“Is she going to be all right?” Ardow’s words were laced with worry, and she could hear him adjust his position somewhere on the floor.

A low rumble shook the bed as Merrick hissed, “Yes.”

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