Page 172 of A Promise so Bold and Broken

It would be quite helpful to have the backup should this go sideways…

Especially since the Fae warriors and her magic had yet to return.

“Do you think they’ll arrive in time?” Her eyes returned to her daggers, remaining slightly averted, as she didn’t trust the tears that stung her eyes.

The heat of Merrick’s gaze told her his eyes followed her own, and she didn’t pull away when he moved to stand behind her, leaning his chin on her shoulder and caging her in with his arms. “I don’t know.”

She nodded.

Others might be annoyed with Merrick for his unforgiving truthfulness.

But she loved him for it.

He wasn’t one to offer false hope, so when he told her she was strong enough or pushed her to train harder, she knew it was because he believed in her.

Believed she could do what she’d set out to do.

Lessia’s grip on the daggers tightened.

“We stick to the plan either way.” Merrick’s voice lowered, his stubble scraping against her cheek as he spoke. “Rioner doesn’t know about you, and you know how to put on an act. I watched you all those years… No one could tell the weight you carried so bravely.”

“But what… what if I fail?” She kept her eyes forward, hating herself for the quiver that worked its way into her question.

But what if she did?

It wasn’t just her sister and father on the line…

It was all Ellow.

Perhaps even all Havlands.

“Then we fight.” Merrick clasped her closer to his chest. “You can handle yourself, and besides… I will not leave your side.”

Then we fight.

She’d known this day might come.

Where the work Merrick had put into making sure she could protect herself might have to be put to use.

And while she knew she’d gotten better…

She hated it.

Hated the violence.

Hated to know that she might have to kill for the chance to survive.

Hated that that’s what this world—her world—forced her to do.

As her eyes fell on her hands again, she was surprised the fingers clenched around the shafts of the daggers weren’t shaking but… steady.

They weren’t even white from holding on too hard.

Perhaps…

Perhaps she was ready after all.

“I never thanked you enough for giving me this dagger.” The smile she threw Merrick as she spun around to face him came easier. “It’s… it’s beautiful.”

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