Page 179 of A Promise so Bold and Broken

“Lessia…”

She braced herself when Loche’s uncertain voice drifted her way, and without allowing herself to look at him, keeping her voice as cold as the king’s before her, she ordered, “You know your place, Loche. I am your master now, so… Be. Quiet.”

She nearly winced when her father’s eyes widened, his face blanching as he stared at her.

But if even he believed her…

It was working.

“You have your proof.” Lessia continued in a harsh tone. “Now, where is my sister?”

Rioner dragged a finger over the water rushing around her father, pulling a drop from it and eyeing it before letting it back into the ocean beneath the ships.

“All in good time, Elessia.” His cloak flew out behind him as he began pacing back and forth, the thud of his boots against the wood thrumming through her blood.

“Kerym.” Rioner’s eyes moved behind her. “It’s been a while, friend.”

“We were never friends.”

Lessia stiffened when Kerym spoke, but his composure remained relaxed, his face not betraying the anger she knew simmered beneath the thick leathers he wore.

“I guess you’re right.” The king shrugged. “It was your brother who was always more loyal.”

“Keep Thissian out of this,” Kerym snarled. “I was the one stupid enough to fall into the halfling’s claws. He has nothing to do with this.”

“Oh, and here I thought you liked me,” Lessia made herself purr, even as bile rose in her throat. “Wanted me to warm your bed and all.”

Rioner’s eyes flashed when they darted her way before he caught himself, and she could tell the grin spreading across his face wasn’t forced.

“I’m sure the Death Whisperer loved that.” Rioner laughed darkly. “Seems you also inherited my fondness of sweet torture, niece.”

She couldn’t help it.

Her eyes sliced to Merrick.

You and me.

The words struck something within her.

Something she hadn’t seen before.

Or perhaps hadn’t been looking for…

Almost tangible, like a tether, something within her whispered the words back to him.

You and me.

And she could feel it.

Could feel Merrick’s love for her as if it were the air traveling into her lungs.

She had to stop herself from smiling when the warmth bolted up her spine, and from the muscle working in his jaw, she suspected he was doing the same.

But then Kerym growled, and Lessia’s head snapped forward, her breath catching in her throat as she stared at a Fae being dragged toward the railing by the guard Rioner had sent away before.

A Fae who looked like the reflection of the one beside her.

He was identical to Kerym, only…

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