Page 4 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile (Compelling Fates Saga #3)

“Of course I’m going to fucking get her back.” Merrick couldn’t help but let anger seep into his tone. “It’s the only damned thing I am going to do.”

“Good. You can’t be too sure with the Fae. I’ve heard some horrendous stories from Lessia. You seem to be pretty ruthless, so I wondered if perhaps you’d leave her behind.”

He couldn’t help it.

His whispers boomed through the room as a snarl dropped from his mouth.

“If anyone else doubts my intention to find Elessia and kill the king and every single fucking male or female who has hurt her…” Merrick emphasized each word. “Feel free to let me know now.”

Every person in the room turned a shade lighter at the thick air, and the souls, he knew, were whispering their innermost fears back to them.

Even Raine, the male who’d fought beside him for centuries, shrank into his chair.

When the whispers continued, Loche’s hands twitched toward his ears, but Merrick had to give it to the regent: he fought bravely, especially since Merrick allowed the souls to creep all the way up to him.

Zaddock flew from his chair when a small sound escaped Amalise, but the blonde pushed him away when he tried to wrap his arms around her to shield her.

“Good,” she huffed again. “You seem like you can protect her. Even if you’re fucking terrifying.”

A startled laugh burst from Merrick’s throat when he met her hard eyes—the ones that were not glossy from fear—and the whispers softened until only a low humming bounced between the dark wooden walls.

She was fucking testing him.

Merrick heard Venko mumble “I hate it so much. So damned much” to Ardow before Amalise spoke again, and that was enough for him to rein in his magic completely.

“Now that that’s settled… How are you going to find her?” Amalise demanded.

“Yes… tell us, Death Whisperer, how will you find her when she could be anywhere in the Eiatis Sea?” Loche’s voice sounded stronger than it should have, as his coloring still hadn’t returned to his usual shade, and Merrick wanted nothing more than to rip the regent’s smug face off.

But then…

Something flashed in those gray eyes.

Something he realized the regent was fighting hard to keep under wraps.

Fear.

Sorrow.

Heartbreak.

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.

“What. Do. You. Mean?” he got out, his voice lowering into that frosty one he’d noticed always gave Elessia goose bumps.

He’d never wielded any of the stones—his gift too precious to the Rantziers to have him part of the fleet—so he wasn’t too certain how they worked.

Raine’s features twisted at whatever he saw in Merrick’s face, and his voice lowered so much that Merrick knew the humans by the cots wouldn’t be able to hear what he said next.

“After the Rantziers’ misuse of them, the stones don’t respond to just any Fae anymore. Only those who are worthy—of pure heart—may call them back.”

Merrick’s shoulders dropped two inches.

Elessia was the most kind-hearted, loyal, and pure soul he’d ever met.

Of course she’d be fucking worthy.

Raine’s eyes dropped down to his bowl with gray mush. “Merrick… she’s not just a Rantzier, she also compelled Ydren when she first met her.”

His heart ached so much in his chest he was surprised it didn’t break through his ribs, and as Merrick sucked in a breath, he felt all the eyes in the room fly to his face.

The silence was too much.

The stares too heavy.

Flying from his seat, Merrick ordered, “Tell your captain to steer toward Korina. We’ll start there.”

Then he took the stairs four steps at a time to get up into the rain-filled air again, keeping his eyes on the horizon and screaming into the bond, I’m coming for you! Please, just keep fighting. You’re strong enough. I’m coming!