Page 13 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile
That’s what rotted within him.
That’s what that smirk tried to hide.
That’s what those tightly clenched fists, as he made himself meet Merrick’s eyes, tried to control.
Merrick’s rage melted faster than butter on a piece of newly baked bread, and it was replaced with something cold—something he didn’t like.
A feeling he didn’t care for one bit.
He knew what it was like, watching the one he loved fall for someone else.
So Merrick swallowed the snarky response he’d planned to retort with, and instead looked to Raine. “Where do you think he’s gone?”
Raine had studied the king’s movements and habits for centuries.
It was how he’d decided on that island in the middle of Midhrok.
Raine shook his head, his reddish hair falling into his eyes. “I-I honestly do not know. I doubt he’s gone to Vastala. Not with his brother in captivity. You saw his guards back on that ship… They weren’t too sure of that decision. He’s probably somewhere remote… somewhere no one would think to look.”
“What about Korina?” Merrick suggested. “Even rebels haven’t returned there yet.”
The dark waters around Korina had been nagging at his thoughts the entire day.
For some reason, they resonated with what the king was doing—betraying his own blood.
Exactly like the shifters had betrayed the Fae and humans.
“Perhaps…” Raine sighed. “It’s a start.”
Merrick ground his teeth, telling himself not to snarl at him.
It wasn’t Raine’s fault.
It was no one’s fault.
Well, apart from the regent.
He couldn’t help but send the raven-haired human another death stare.
If he hadn’t stepped forward…
“I gave her the stone.” Loche glared back at him as if he knew precisely what Merrick was thinking. “That’s all I did.”
“What stone?” Amalise asked, her brows drawn in.
Merrick didn’t look away from the gray eyes as he responded, “It controls the sea wyverns. The stone can call them back here—can make them fight for us.”
He refused to thank the human.
Loche should have fucking given them the stone before.
Now it might be too late.
“Wyverns…” Zaddock mumbled. “So she’ll be able to protect herself?”
“If the stone allows her,” Raine said softly.
The blood in Merrick’s veins froze to ice.
