Page 164 of A Promise so Bold and Broken

“He doesn’t know the prophecy is about me!”

When Loche sighed, she bared her teeth at him.

He was such an idiot.

What had he been thinking?

How would they face Rioner now?

The three males he feared were still strong fighters without magic, sure.

But they weren’t the extraordinary warriors she’d heard tales of growing up.

If Merrick’s magic didn’t tinge the air and Raine’s didn’t brush his mind, Rioner would get suspicious.

Unless…

Lessia brushed some hair out of her face, a seed of an idea beginning to sprout in her thoughts.

After a glance at Merrick, she started pacing back and forth in the small room.

Loche was a damned bastard for taking away their magic—the one thing Rioner was frightened of—the day before they were to meet him.

But…

Rioner didn’t know what Loche had done.

He might think he understood what she was trying to do—why she was here.

But he also must know by now the love she, her father, and Frelina held for each other—the lengths they would go for each other.

That she’d take all the torture in the world and still not speak of her family ties.

That her father would risk everything for them.

And she didn’t expect Frelina to break easily, either, should Rioner use the same methods on her that he’d done with Lessia.

“Rioner wants to look like the righteous leader he definitely isn’t, right?” Lessia threw a look at Raine and Kerym, who both nodded. “Given the note, Rioner knows of Frelina and my father… so he must believe I am about to betray him.”

“What’s your point?” Loche glared at her but quieted when Merrick snarled, “Shut your mouth, human. Or I’ll do it for you. You’ve already fucked up enough.”

Ignoring their chilling glares, Lessia halted. “What if Loche isn’t the one who’s keeping fugitives?”

Loche frowned, but a smile curled Merrick’s lips as understanding—understanding in the way he had; he always understood her quicker than others—filled his eyes.

“Rioner knows Lessia will probably do anything to get her family back.”

She nodded when Merrick spoke, and when he stepped toward her, she didn’t back away but met him halfway, slipping her hand into his as he reached her.

“And how do we manage that?” Loche drawled, although she could see he’d also started to understand the direction of her thoughts.

“We pretend you are all under my control. That I’ve compelled you all to follow my lead. That I am the one ruling Ellow.” Lessia met each pair of eyes before continuing. “That I’ll hand you all over if Rioner releases my family. He won’t be able to resist having you all under his control again. And when you step onto his ship…”

“We kill him.” Kerym grinned at her. “It’s a good plan.”

Raine shook his head. “It’sa plan. Not a good one.”

Merrick let out a concurring sound, but when Lessia fixed him with a sharp stare, he gave her a nod. “If this is what you want to do, we’ll do it.”

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