Page 57 of A Promise so Bold and Broken

Merrick’s eyes remained on the last button as he nodded. “I stayed with them when they first met.” Sadness crept across his face, dimming the light that the smile had brought. “She was wonderful. Except when she tried to set me up with every single one of her friends.”

He rolled his eyes. “When she got something in her head, there was no talking her out of it. But she was warm and kind, and she loved Raine so much. It was almost unbearable to watch them look at each other.”

“She sounds wonderful,” Lessia said quietly, sorrow casting shadows across her face when she thought of the unimaginable pain Raine must carry.

She couldn’t fathom it.

Even with the liquor, he must feel as if he were dying every day.

“She was.” Merrick’s eyes locked with hers as he straightened, and a jolt shot through her when she realized he’d also changed.

Even though his shirt and breeches were black, they shimmered against his tan skin, the silver threads running through the tunic mirroring the starry night sky of his eyes and the newly washed hair tumbling down his shoulders.

He looked almost regal, with the dark fabric snugly hugging his muscles, the pearly hair softly layering around his face, and the polished sword with the bright rubies sticking up over his shoulder.

Lessia realized she’d been staring when one of Merrick’s brows quirked up.

“She… she must have also been very beautiful if she chose to wear this dress voluntarily. I could never,” she joked, pulling at the hem of the short dress and desperately trying not to blush at having gawked at him.

It was quiet for a beat, and goose bumps raced across her skin when she realized Merrick’s fingers still whispered over her back, his eyes trailing down her body, then back up and clashing with her own.

“I-I think you’re done,” she whispered as warmth bloomed across her chest from the nervous energy sparking inside her, the weight of Merrick’s stare making her almost lightheaded.

When Merrick leaned in, his strong jaw brushing the exposed skin on her shoulder, she held her breath, not entirely sure what was happening.

Her eyes remained on his as he gently swept her hair over one shoulder and fastened a button she must have missed at the neck.

Lessia let out a shaky breath when his hands fell to his sides, but Merrick didn’t step back.

Instead his presence surrounded her, and she couldn’t stop her blush from deepening when she noticed her wide eyes in the mirror.

“Thank—” she started, but then she noticed a movement behind them.

Lessia couldn’t stop herself from flinching, and she didn’t miss how Merrick’s eyes widened, his hand twitching toward the sword on his back, before he realized it was only Raine’s head popping into the mirror’s reflection.

“You ready? Or am I interrupting something?” Raine’s brows pulled as he watched them, the frown deepening when Merrick stepped back but kept his eyes locked on hers.

“We’re coming,” Merrick snarled, the impossible darkness of his eyes deepening as his glare shifted to Raine.

Nodding once, Raine spun on his heel, the scowl on his face still present until his reflection disappeared.

“I… I’ll just…” She couldn’t even devise an excuse as Merrick’s hard eyes burned into hers, and she only pointed vaguely toward the bundle of clothes on her bed.

Merrick’s jaw twitched, and she thought he might yell at her like he did during training, but instead, he averted his gaze and began walking out of the room.

“Keep your wits about you tonight,” he rasped as he slipped through the unlatched door.

Lessia blinked a few times.

What had just happened?

Bringing her hands to her heated cheeks, she drew deep breaths until her hammering heart slowed and her reddened face shifted back into her usual color instead of mirroring the dress she wore.

She shook her head at herself.

What was she doing?

Merrick had only been kind to her—tried to help her with the dumb dress.

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