Page 29 of A Promise so Bold and Broken

The tension in the room crawled over Lessia’s skin like Merrick’s magic liked to do, and she shook her head to clear it of Merrick’s and Raine’s strange behavior.

“Thank you. We do not need anything lavish,” she forced out when Ardow’s face betrayed his disappointment.

Raine stared at her for a moment too long, and the uneasiness within her grew with each silent second.

Finally, he lifted the cup to draw another gulp, and she shuffled behind the couch, trying to keep as much distance between them as possible, since she wasn’t certain if it was anger that flashed in his eyes when she met them.

Refilling his glass for the second time, Raine said quietly, “What you need and want are different things.”

Frowning, Lessia started to ask him what he meant, but Merrick interrupted her.

“Raine, why don’t you get us some food? Then we can discuss our next steps so we can get out of your hair.”

Nodding, Raine slipped out of the room, but not before staring at Lessia again, that glossiness in his eyes returning.

A shudder went through her as she slumped down in the chair beside the couch, and she pulled up her legs and wrapped her arms around them, trying to shield as much of her body as possible.

She was used to Fae staring, after her years on the streets of Vastala, but somehow, she’d expected a friend of Merrick’s not to be so blatant about it.

“It was his mate’s,” Merrick whispered as he took a seat in the chair beside her.

When Lessia frowned, he continued. “The clothing you’re wearing. It was Solana’s.”

A knot formed in her gut. “She’s… dead?”

Merrick nodded, a muscle in his jaw flexing. “A long time ago. He’s not been the same since.” He let out a sigh. “But who would be? Finding the soul that mirrors yours, only to lose them… I expect it’s worse than never finding them at all.”

The cracks in her heart widened when something worked its way into Merrick’s voice, and she was certain from his tone that he hadn’t found his mate yet.

It was loneliness, she decided, that sneaked into the deep rumble.

Lessia wasn’t so sure that never finding them was preferable.

Half- or part-Fae didn’t always have one, so she’d never been too concerned, but her mother was her father’s mate, and she couldn’t imagine them without each other.

Two pieces that fit so perfectly together—like two melodies harmonizing with each other or two hearts beating in the same rhythm.

Even her mother being human and her father a Fae of royal blood hadn’t stopped them.

Apparently it was impossible for the male Fae to resist being close to their mate once they’d smelled them, the scent driving them to near madness unless they could be near—be with—their fate-bound.

Her father had caught one whiff of her mother and realized what she was.

And that was that.

When Raine returned with a tray of food, she realized she’d been staring at Merrick, and she busied herself with picking up small pieces of somewhat stale bread and popping them into her mouth, even though she wasn’t very hungry.

She hadn’t really been hungry since they left Ellow behind.

With so many emotions choking her, it felt as if it would be too much, stuffing anything else inside her body at this point.

“So what’s the grand plan?” Raine kept his eyes on Merrick when he spoke. “You’re taking on the rebels and then the Oakgards’ Fae by yourselves?”

“No,” Merrick snarled. “We need to—”

“We need to go to the rebels!” Ardow dared urge.

When Lessia released a frustrated breath, Ardow turned her way. “I know you disagree with our ways, but we all want the same thing. A free Havlands—free from the corrupt and evil men that rule it—allowing all species to live freely.” He reached out a hand toward her. “We can convince them together, Lessia. Change their ways if that’s what it takes for you to join us. You’re of noble blood—they’d surely listen to you, especially the half-Fae.”

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