Page 59 of A Promise so Bold and Broken

They walked the twisting path deep into the island mainly in silence.

Ardow had asked her a few questions about today’s training as they left the house. Still, both his questions and her answers became shorter and farther apart with every jerk of Venko’s head and every deep sigh that wove its way through the tension surrounding the group whenever Ardow broke the silence.

The air became so thick from the strain between Ardow and Venko that it was almost a relief when they finally reached the edge of a small stone town and the sounds of people washed over them, even as apprehension thrummed over her skin at meeting a group of unfamiliar Fae.

She hadn’t really spent any time with Fae outside her own family and the half-Fae children back in Vastala, and later Ellow.

A knot tightened in her stomach.

Apart from King Rioner’s guards, of course.

Steps, singing, and the clattering of dishes echoed between the low gray buildings, and the farther into the village they walked, the more Lessia’s pulse heightened, her ears perking and body tensing with each step.

Merrick cast a glance over his shoulder, and when he met her eyes, he slowed his strides until she caught up with him, ignoring that he pushed Venko out of the way.

“These Fae aren’t loyal to Rioner,” Merrick said under his breath. “You have nothing to fear from them.”

Nodding, she glanced down at the worn boots she’d had to pair the dress with, since Solana had had larger feet, and none of the ones Raine had offered her fit.

They might not be loyal to Rioner, but she was still half-Fae.

And she’d seen how the Fae in Vastala treated those like herself.

Even if they hadn’t outright bullied and threatened them, like Rioner’s guards liked to do, the look in their eyes when they accidentally met the gaze of any of the half-Fae was enough.

They’d purposely walk to the other side of the street, as if being half-Fae was somehow contagious, and the scrunch of their noses when they couldn’t escape getting close was burned into her memories.

She huffed a breath when Raine stopped before a gray stone building with a thick straw roof. Lampposts towered behind it, shining their soft light on the yellow roof from what seemed like a large outdoor terrace.

Merrick’s hand landed on her shoulder, and she met his eyes when he squeezed it quickly before dropping it to open one of the wooden doors.

Bright light, loud voices, and the clinking of glass spilled onto the gravelly path, and Lessia realized she wasn’t alone in the urge to turn around and run away when she met Ardow’s rounded eyes where he hovered beside her.

But when Merrick waved for them to follow, she blew up her cheeks before slowly letting out the air and following him over the high doorstep.

If she was to face Rioner and Loche… she could face a group of Fae.

It was like being met with a wall of warmth, the small room filled with Fae, most standing around a worn counter, yelling their drink orders at the two barkeeps behind it.

Others, all with cups and glasses in their hands, filed out of the room onto the terrace she’d spotted upon walking in, where a large fire burned in the middle and benches were placed in a circle around it.

Lessia kept her gaze down as she followed Merrick and Raine to the bar, but blocking out the hushed conversations around them was impossible as they pushed through the crowd.

“Is that the Death Whisperer?”

“Yes, look at his eyes! I heard they’re a window to the sky of the otherworld.”

“Two of the lethal brotherhood together? This can’t be good.”

“Are those twohuman? They’re a long way from home.”

“Half-Fae… I didn’t think there were many of them left.”

An elbow slammed into her side, and she was about to flash her teeth at whoever had done it when Ardow’s face popped into view.

“They don’t seem that friendly,” he whispered, shoulders raised high and eyes darting to the sides as they squeezed through groups of more Fae to keep up with Raine and Merrick.

Lessia bowed her head as more stares burned into the side of it. “No, they don’t.”

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