Page 69 of A Promise so Bold and Broken

But as Ardow, Venko, Raine, and even Merrick looked back at her with pity, her legs went out.

Dropping down beside her in the sand, Merrick reached out to pull her against him, but she pushed his arm off, incapable of standing the gentle gesture.

She wasn’t the one who deserved comfort.

She couldn’t even meet Merrick’s eyes.

Not with the sympathy she expected to flare within the darkness.

This was her fault.

Frelina hating her was warranted.

Like it was warranted for L…

She dragged her hands through her hair, pulling at the roots and squeezing her eyes shut.

It was all her fault.

“I thought I was called to battle, not a catfight.”

The foreign voice had Merrick jump to his feet, his sword in his hands in less than a second.

But Lessia couldn’t muster more movement than tilting her head upward, the tears that filled her eyes spilling over and tracing down her cheeks.

A Fae with ebony hair and crystal-blue eyes smirked at Merrick’s tense stance before lazily shifting to meet her eyes and offering her a wave. “Hello, little Faeling.”

Merrick shook his head as he sheathed his sword. “Kerym.”

“That’s all I get?” Kerym wiggled his brows. “I know you’re not usually one for hugs, but it’s been a few centuries. I thought I’d get at least a handshake.”

She couldn’t take in any more information, her mind feeling as if it’d been struck by lightning, so instead of listening to Merrick’s response, Lessia’s eyes traveled toward her father.

She immediately wished they hadn’t.

Tears spilled down his own cheeks, his face crumpling as he stared back at her.

“Raine,” Merrick barked.

Nodding, Raine grabbed Kerym by the arm, and after a glance at Venko and Ardow, he made them all venture back to the house—the same way Frelina had stormed off.

Lessia’s gaze flitted from Merrick, who eyed her closely, to her father, who looked as devastated as she felt.

“So… it’s true. You’re my daughter,” her father whispered, his voice raw.

When Lessia only stared back at him, Merrick cleared his throat. “It is.”

He reached out a hand, and when she allowed him to pull her to her feet, Merrick continued. “Alarin, there is much we must discuss, but you two need to talk first.”

As he motioned to follow the others back to the house, unease coiled around her neck, and she reached out to grip his hand.

“Please,” she whispered when Merrick met her eyes over his shoulder.

He hesitated for only a second before he nodded.

Turning back around, Merrick firmly laced their fingers as he took the place by her side, with her father opposite them, his eyes falling to their joined hands.

She followed his gaze to the large hand enveloping hers for a moment before lifting her gaze again, and if Frelina’s slap still didn’t burn on her cheek, she might have laughed.

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