Page 31 of A Promise so Bold and Broken

“They told me they’re planning an attack in the next few weeks and that if we weren’t to join them, we should stay out of Vastala and Ellow.” Raine shook his head. “As if any of us would return to Havlands,” he scoffed.

She could hear Merrick grinding his teeth behind her before he asked, “What else?”

A deep sigh left Raine. “They’ve been working on this for decades. They have rebels all over Vastala and Ellow. Regular townsfolk who are preparing to launch the attack from the inside, while the shifters will attack from the sea. It will be quick. And ruthless.”

Unease roiled in her gut.

The rebels were all over Havlands?

Her stomach dropped as she thought back to the past few months.

It made sense.

The attacks on the castle had been from within, not from a small group of rebels out at sea.

“When?” Merrick growled when she released a shaky breath.

Raine picked at his nails. “They were here a fortnight ago, so I assume in the next months or so? They weren’t particularly eager to share once I laughed in their faces. And… I didn’t care to ask too many questions.”

Merrick released her, and when she spun around, his eyes locked onto hers. “We don’t have much time, then. What do you want to do, Lessia?”

Her mouth fell open as she stared back at him.

He wanted her to decide?

She was in a room with two of the most lethal Fae warriors ever to set foot in Havlands.

A rebel with insight into the plans.

Even Venko knew Havlands better than she did, with all his travels.

But Merrick continued to look at only her.

Her heart began thumping in her chest as silence endured, and Merrick’s eyes briefly shifted down before continuing to burn into hers.

Lessia swallowed audibly.

She wanted to see her family.

She wanted to make things right with Loche.

She wanted to get Amalise and Kalia and the rest to safety.

But where was safety?

Even if they somehow managed to subdue the rebels, the threat of the Oakgards’ Fae who planned an attack still remained.

Her eyes flew across the room, trailing across Ardow’s still-flushed face, Venko’s glazed eyes, and Raine, who drank from yet another cup.

“We need to stand united if we’re going to take on an army of Fae,” she said, her voice quivering slightly. “We need to convince Rioner and L…” Lessia bit her lip when pain struck her heart. “And Loche,” she forced out.

Jaw twitching, Merrick nodded, his eyes encouraging her to go on.

Clenching her fists, she continued. “We need to see my father. He might be the only one who can convince Rioner. And… and when we’ve done that, we need to return to Ellow.”

Reaching out to grip her hand, Merrick dipped his chin. “Then that’s what we’ll do.”

Merrick turned toward Raine. “Do you still have your eagles?”

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