Page 134 of A Promise so Bold and Broken

“But if… if this sword was your father’s… what about the dagger?”

Merrick’s eyes sparked. “It was my mother’s.”

Lessia choked on a breath, and her hand flew to the dagger.

“I am so sorry! Here…” She started pulling it from the scabbard attached to her belt.

“Don’t.” Merrick’s hand wrapped around her own.

“Please,” he added. “It was a gift.”

Lessia was still shaking her head when a loud crash sounded above them.

And when a cry followed it, they all started sprinting toward the stairs.

Merrick first, with Lessia on his heels and Raine and Kerym behind her.

“My magic isn’t fully back, but I can see flickers of minds. There’re a lot of soldiers up there,” Raine hissed when they came to a halt beneath the stairs, their heavy breathing echoing between the stone walls. “As ina lot. And…” He hesitated for a moment, stealing a glance at Merrick before continuing. “The regent is there.”

Lessia’s gaze flew up to the ceiling as she took a calming breath, trying to soothe the pulse thundering through her.

She would do this.

She would.

Determination joined the unease roiling in her gut, and when she met Merrick’s eyes as she tilted her head back down, she nodded once.

“Time to burn,” he whispered.

ChapterThirty-Three

She’d thought she’d have to fight Merrick to take the lead up the stairs, but as soon as she lifted her foot to take the first step, he moved to the side, allowing her room to pass.

The pounding footsteps above them rumbled right through Lessia, the dust falling from the ceiling tickling her nose, and when Loche’s deep voice reverberated down the spiral staircase, she almost turned right back around.

Only because Merrick’s hand clasped around her own did she find the strength to continue upward.

“You are surrounded,” Loche called out. “And we have your friends, so do not try anything, or they both die.”

“My magic is still not back,” Kerym hissed. “I’ll have to fight the normal way if it comes to that.”

Trying to pull on her own, she found her veins still filled with that horrible clogged feeling, and she could tell Merrick’s magic wasn’t back, either, from the sound that rumbled in his chest.

Lessia threw a glance over her shoulder when Raine whispered, “I am getting some back. Do you want me to try to take out his guards before we ascend?”

Flicking her gaze from him to Kerym, she hesitated but finally shook her head. “Me using my magic was what ruined everything last time. Let’s… let’s try without first. But… be ready.”

As she turned forward again, Merrick rushed his steps so that he climbed the final ones beside her, and Lessia prayed they wouldn’t have to control Loche’s mind the way they had on that cliff.

She would do it if needed.

But she wasn’t sure if she could bear it.

If it would be the thing that finally changed her forever.

Her blood roared in her ears as she took the last step, and every muscle in her body went taut when gray eyes snared hers.

Lessia’s heart skipped a beat as she took the regent in.

---