Page 163 of A Promise so Bold and Broken

“A day or so, I believe… but I am not too certain.”

When Loche smirked, she saw red.

Lifting her hand, she prepared to slam it right into his smug face when Merrick caught it.

Whirling around, she flashed her teeth at him.

“What are you doing?” she hissed when he wouldn’t let go.

“He’s caught on.”

Lessia didn’t turn around when Loche spoke.

She couldn’t.

Not when she realized it wasn’t anger distorting Merrick’s face, but…

Relief?

Relief mixed with the tiniest bit of gratitude.

“Merrick?” she demanded, but when her eyes lifted to the other two Fae and they watched her and Merrick with sorrow-filled but knowing looks, a thought flickered to life within her mind.

No.

Lessia slowly turned her head toward Loche, then back to Merrick again. “You did this in some twisted way to protect me?”

“Rioner let you go. You are not a fugitive, so you need not be there tomorrow.” Loche tried to appear bored when he responded, but she knew him too well by now—knew that slight twitch of his eye meant a storm of emotions raged within him.

“But they do?” Lessia swept out an arm toward the Fae. “You’re willing to sacrifice the strongest Fae in Havlands—who are on your fucking side and could save your people—forme?”

“You are meant to kill him, Lessia.” Merrick’s voice was low, and it would have been soothing if there were room for more emotions within her. “He’s also protecting his people by protecting you.”

But the anger that had taken root seemed to burst through every pore, and she took a step back when Merrick reached out for her hand.

“You’re on his side?” she hissed between her clamped-shut teeth.

“We’re all on the same side.” Loche moved so he stood next to Merrick. “We want Rioner gone. And you’re the key to that. I banked on Merrick not letting you go without the protection of the three of them, and without their magic…”

“Notlettingme?” she repeated slowly, the crimson hue dancing before her eyes.

“You just fucked up, regent.” Merrick threw his head back. “I do not decide what she does or doesn’t do. She is her own person, and she makes her own decisions. While I am hers and she is most definitelymine…” He emphasized the last word by sending a death glare Loche’s way. “I do not own her. No one owns her.”

She opened her mouth to argue when his words sank in.

I do not decide what she does or doesn’t do.

He didn’t.

Unlike Loche, he didn’t try to force her hand.

Merrick tried to give her all the tools to make decisions for herself—like when he trained her or gave her new perspectives on her gift and life.

But never had he forced her to do or not do anything.

A rush of love broke through the fury within her, and she threw Merrick a grateful look before boring her eyes into Loche’s once more. “Rioner has my sister. There is no way I am not coming. And besides, do you think I’d let any of them walk right into the death trap that is Rioner’s ship? Especially now, when their magic doesn’t fucking work?”

“You’re doing exactly what he wants, then.” Loche’s upper lip curled. “We’ll lose this war before it’s even begun if he kills you. How can you not see you’re key to all of this?”

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