Page 56 of A Promise so Bold and Broken

Anger flared inside her again.

But this time, it was directed at herself.

She knew better than this.

Raine uncorked his flask and swallowed a few mouthfuls before he responded. “We should all be sorry that we were born into the cruel world. But we have to make the best out of it.” Waving at them, he started up the beach. “Come on, you must clean up and change before Zehmkell.”

When Lessia only stared after him, unable to move, Merrick’s hand slipped into hers, and he gently tugged on it so she would follow him toward the cabin.

“I told you not to judge him too harshly.” Merrick’s eyes were soft as they followed his friend’s swaying steps.

She stared at her dusty boots as they made their way up the narrow path.

Shehadjudged him.

She’d done what she’d asked—no, begged!—people in Ellow not to do to her.

As he slowed his strides, Merrick’s warm gaze landed on her. “Don’t judge yourself too harshly either. You don’t deserve it.”

Lessia didn’t respond—only forced her feet to continue moving, one step after another.

She wasn’t so sure Merrick was right this time.

Not when the suffocating sense of shame followed her all the way to the house.

ChapterFifteen

Lessia sighed as she tried to wiggle into the dress Raine had unceremoniously thrown her when they reached his wooden cabin.

Like the leathers, this dress must have belonged to Solana, and she knew better than to speak ill of the dead, but…

Raine’s mate had truly lived by wearing as little as possible.

The dress was made of satin, similar to the black one Lessia had left at the castle back in Ellow, but its similarities to her own dress ended there.

This one was bright scarlet, sleeveless, with two straps connecting at the nape of her neck and a neckline that wound its way down to her stomach, barely covering her breasts.

It shouldn’t have been possible, but somehow, the dress plunged even deeper down her back, leaving most of it bare.

With the garment coming just below her mid-thigh, Lessia thought she might as well go to Zehmkell in her birthday suit.

The few buttons that kept the fabric together were, for some reason, sewn into the back of it, and she groaned as she squirmed to reach them, the sore muscles in her arms protesting as she stretched them.

A low chuckle lifted her gaze into the mirror she stood before, and she grimaced when she found Merrick leaning against the doorframe, a crooked grin pulling at his lips.

“Do you need some help?” Without waiting for a response, he strode into the room, towering over her as he bridged the distance.

Still staring into the mirror, Lessia shrugged. “I’m not certain these buttons will be of any help.”

Merrick’s eyes met hers in the mirror. “Solana had specific taste.”

“You don’t say,” Lessia muttered.

Another low laugh escaped Merrick as his fingers grazed her back. “She swore like a soldier and never backed down from a fight, but clothing was her weak spot. She loved dressing up, and she’d always make poor Raine do it too. I’ll never forget his face when she showed up with a violet shirt and trousers for him for their mating ceremony.” Merrick shook his head, his slight smile widening. “Of course, he couldn’t say no to her, and we teased him endlessly for it.”

Lessia watched in the mirror as Merrick continued to button the dress, the tip of his tongue sliding between his teeth as he focused on the tiny loops.

“Were you close?” she asked.

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