Page 138 of A Promise so Bold and Broken

Loche nodded. “It doesn’t refer to half-Fae, half-human. It refers to someone loved by both.”

An unwelcome feeling crept across her skin, something lurking just beyond her awareness.

She shook her head.

No.

There was no way.

“Merrick,” Lessia whispered, needing him to reassure her.

Needing him to tell her she was strong enough for this.

Just… needing him.

As if he could read her mind, he glanced at the others quickly before removing the arm around her waist and taking her hand, lifting the arm with the traitor mark branded into it.

His fingers traced the snake that was barely visible beneath the black letters. “The blood oath.”

Their gazes intertwined, and even though she wanted to look away, she couldn’t when he continued, his voice lowering so much she wouldn’t have been able to hear him if everyone else hadn’t remained quiet—barely pulling air into their lungs, as if the whole room were holding its breath.

“The one bound by blood oath is a reluctant ally.”

“But…” Her bottom lip trembled, and she couldn’t finish.

Couldn’t ask.

Not this.

“Loved by Fae and human.” Loche’s voice broke in, and despite the pull of Merrick’s eyes, she turned around to face him.

His face was expressionless when he stated, “I loved you. It’s why I asked you to remove my feelings. I knew Rioner had his suspicions about me, and it wasn’t until one of my spies got ahold of that part of the curse that I understood he’d misinterpreted it…” Loche scratched the scruff on his chin. “You were hiding something. It was so clear, and I suspected all along you were spying for him. I don’t remember exactly when I realized, but at some point I understood it must be unwillingly.”

“Loche…” Lessia’s voice was laced with grief, and she couldn’t help but move toward him.

He waved a hand dismissively her way. “No one could miss how Merrick stared at you when you weren’t looking. Well, apart from you, of course.” He threw her an empty smile. “When I realized justhowreluctantly you were bound to the king that day, I had to act fast. Rioner would have understood if I pushed too hard to keep you in Ellow, so… I had to throw him off.”

Take. Them. Away. Take my feelings away. Take every memory of us.

You are hereby banished from Ellow.

The memory came crashing down on her.

That pain… that pain in his eyes hadn’t been because of her betrayal.

It had been because of what he had to do to himself.

To them.

Lessia took another faltering step toward him when a shuddering breath left someone behind her.

She turned her head over her shoulder, and her eyes collided with Merrick’s.

No one could miss how he stared at you when you weren’t looking.

Already then?

But he’d hated her…

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