Page 150 of A Promise so Bold and Broken

But they were on the same side.

What harm could there be in telling him?

“It calls to the sea wyverns. It was a gift from the gods to help us communicate with them, help us call upon them in moments of need.”

Loche tilted his head.

“I have a stone that controls the wyverns,” he repeated.

“You do.” Lessia nodded, her eyes flitting between his. “I expect it will only work for a Fae or someone with Fae blood, but whoever wields it can call them here to aid us. We’d be able to protect the people of Ellow from both rebels and the Oakgards’ Fae.”

“And you want me to give it to you?” Loche asked, and for some reason, his tone made apprehension race over her shoulders.

“Yes?” She frowned at him when he jumped down from the railing, closing the distance between them. “It can save us, Loche. All of us.”

“Is that why you came back?” Loche’s voice was so cold she expected a white cloud to follow as he opened his mouth.

Another crack worked its way through her chest.

His voice was like ice, but those eyes…

They were filled with sadness.

“No.” Lessia reached out to grip his hand. “I came back for Ellow. For you.”

Loche’s eyes softened, and he took another step—right into her space.

“You came back for me?” he rasped, tilting his head down.

“I—”

Well, shit.

The air whirling across the balcony became heavy, and she placed a hand on his chest when Loche asked, “Can you give me my memories back?”

“Loche, I…” Lessia pressed against his taut muscles to get some space between them.

His face fell. “You can’t?”

She opened and closed her mouth a few times, her eyes pleading with his.

Understanding filled his grays. “You won’t.”

Releasing her hand, Loche stepped back, fighting to put on the mask of indifference they both liked to wear.

Except…

She didn’t carry that mask anymore.

She didn’t want to.

She didn’t have to.

Because…

“Do you love him?” Loche had reached the balcony door, one of his hands resting on the knob as he waited for her answer.

Her silence appeared to be answer enough because Loche forced one of those smirks to overtake his features as he nodded. “I think I’ll hold on to that stone a little longer, if you don’t mind. Don’t need you all to take it and run should somethingbettercome along.”

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