Page 145 of A Promise so Bold and Broken

His gray eyes moved from her to Merrick and back again, the corners crinkling, before he took a long sip.

Setting down the cup, Loche leaned forward. “You will be happy to know your friends are safe and doing well.”

A small part of her fractured heart pieced itself together as she noted the sincerity in Loche’s eyes.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“You might not want to thank me yet.” Loche filled a glass and pushed it over to her. “I believe Zaddock has nearly driven Amalise crazy with his protectiveness. She has been… how do I say this nicely? Not the most joyful whenever I’ve checked in on them.”

Lessia pursed her lips, ignoring the wine before her.

She’d seen how Zaddock had looked at her friend.

And Amalise…

Well, Lessia would be surprised if he had managed to melt the walls of ice she’d built around her heart after her lover died.

“Can I… can we see them?” Lessia asked, the wish to hold Amalise—to have just one of those nights she, Ardow, and Amalise used to have, where they ate food Ardow cooked, drank wine, and just hung out—so strong it nearly took her voice.

One night without all this tension, confusing feelings, and males she didn’t understand.

Ardow and Venko must be at that cave now.

Lessia tried to console herself with the fact that they’d be together at least.

That Amalise would get to meet Venko—Venko, whom Lessia might have spent every minute getting to know just for the smile he put on Ardow’s face, but whom she’d met under the most unfortunate circumstances and would now probably never truly be friendly with.

Especially with everything she’d found out today…

“I guess they’ll have to come here should war descend upon us. The caves will be reserved for the children and elderly—those who cannot fight.”

“The caves?” Raine asked as he waved for the bottle.

Loche nodded as he offered it, gesturing for a guard to bring another one when only a few drops made it into Raine’s glass. “They tell me you’ve been there, Lessia. I didn’t realize it was one of our spots…” He uncorked another bottle when the guard set it down on the table. “It’s…” Loche hesitated. “It’s my sanctuary. My family and friends live there. It’s the most important place in the realm for me.”

A lump formed in her throat when Loche searched her eyes, and the Fae males around the table quieted as if they could smell the shift in the air—the sorrow and guilt no wine could ever drive away.

“Did… did I bring you there? Or did you follow me there as part of being a spy? If so, we might need to make other plans for those who will not fight.” He frowned, and the lump grew at the uncertainty muddling his gray eyes.

She’d never seen him like this.

She didn’t like it.

Whatever warmth had remained from her entering the room washed away, leaving Lessia’s veins cold and empty, and she could sense Merrick stiffening beside her.

“You brought me,” she said softly when Loche continued to stare at her. “It was a wonderful place filled with wonderful people. It’s why I risked sending them there. I-I thought they’d be accepted.”

“Geyia has taken them in as if they were her own children.” Loche tapped his glass absentmindedly. “She liked you… I think?”

Lessia was about to respond when another guard stalked into the room, immediately bending down to whisper something in Loche’s ear—not realizing Fae had much better hearing than humans and that everyone around the table could hear every word.

Loche, more accustomed to the Fae, rolled his eyes as he impatiently waved the guard back a few steps. “Just tell us all. Our guests will hear you anyway, and from what I’ve heard, that one”—he gestured toward Raine—“can read minds, so hiding anything is useless.”

The guard’s mask jerked, and while Lessia still couldn’t see his eyes, she could smell the wafts of fear drifting from him.

“He will not read your mind, Loche,” Lessia quickly threw in. “We are following the treaty while in Ellow.”

“She’s right. Besides, I’m not amind reader.Like Lessia, I am a mind-bender.” Raine wiggled his brows at her. “I can just control more of you at the same time.”

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