Page 136 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

The first pages depicted the many wars fought in the early days after the Fae moved to Vastala—the power struggles between the elementals and the mentals.

Then Merrick was named for the first time.

His brotherhood had famously squashed a devastating war by killing an entire army of Fae that threatened Vastala.

Together with Raine—rumored to be the most powerful mental Fae ever to walk any realm—and the rest of their brotherhood, Merrick had stood against thousands upon the beaches of Vastala.

And came out victorious.

But nowhere did it mention why they fought for King Rioner’s family—why they’d stood against their own kin, the mental Fae.

Lessia slammed the dusty book shut when she didn’t find any more mentions of Merrick and was about to jump to her feet to look for another when she caught movement out of the corner of her eye.

Whipping her head up, she found Loche leaning against the railing, his eyes thoughtful as he observed her. She couldn’t stop a shiver jerking her shoulders, and a smile pulled at his lips as he followed the tremor running through her.

“I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Loche made his way over until he stood right before her. She tilted her head to continue meeting his eyes, forcing herself to hold back a wince at the rush of guilt that tightened her chest.

He glanced at the book in her hands, and she quickly set it on the table beside her.

Placing her hands on her knees, she tried for a shaky smile.

Loche took another step.

Nudging her knees apart to make space for him, he erased the final distance between them.

“What are you doing?” She stared at his strong legs, leaning against the table between hers.

“Do you want me to move?”

Yes.

No.

Her heart skipped a beat at the storm raging in his eyes when she met them again.

Loche leaned in close enough for the heat of his body to envelop her. “I need to tell you something.”

She bowed her head, but Loche’s fingers gently lifted her chin, forcing her eyes to his.

“Lessia, I… I haven’t been truthful with you, but I need to be. Especially after what happened tonight.”

She started shaking her head. “Loche, you don’t owe me anything—”

He interrupted her. “But I do. I’ve put you in danger, and you don’t even know it.”

“Loche…”

“Lessia.” He placed both hands over her cheeks. “Please, just listen to me.”

Swallowing, she finally nodded, even as she struggled to breathe from the shame that seemed to permeate every inch of her body.

His eyes bounced between hers before he cleared his throat. “Years ago, I was starting out in the navy. I was doing well—exceptionally well. They promoted me to captainwithin my first year and talked about making me commander of the whole fleet. People noticed.”

He ground his teeth. “One day, I got a letter with information on one of the other captains, who was making life miserable for the soldiers. I was able to use it to blackmail him into leaving, never to return. Then, more letters started to come in, full of information on the most powerful men and women in Ellow. I used it for good—to help people get out from under their tyranny. So, when another letter came, offering to help me become regent, I accepted. I was young and dumb, and I thought I was in control. But once I’d won, they started making demands—demands that I couldn’t agree to. So, I didn’t. I thought I was strong enough to take them on. But then they started attacking anyone close to me. First my family—not that it mattered much to me—I never cared for them. But then they came after my men.”

Loche’s eyes left hers for a moment, and he drew a deep breath as his hands dropped to his sides. “They killed one of my best friends. Nearly got to Zaddock too. That’s when I came up with the masks. If they don’t know who they are, they can’t come after them.”

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