Page 52 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile (Compelling Fates Saga #3)

Loche

T he damned wyvern.

Of course she’d come riding in on it.

He’d watched Merrick, Raine, and Ardow riding off on it last time, but seeing Lessia do the same…

He shook his head. It seemed insane.

And dangerous.

Loche squinted against the setting sun, which made the four figures in the bow of Rioner’s ship look like dark shadows staring back at him. Dark shadows who stood shoulder to shoulder, ready to protect each other at any hint of a threat.

The regent didn’t need to cast his gaze around to realize why Lessia and the rest seemed so tense. He could feel the eyes of his people tracking not only the ship approaching them but also him, their regent, always monitoring, shadowing, and evaluating his every movement.

Loche let out a weary breath.

These people weren’t even the worst of them.

His men had struggled to get the noble families to agree to come to this place—to leave the safety of their castles and mansions. In the end, only five had shown up, with the others sending the people in their employ while they stayed back like the cowards they were.

As if anyone would be safe…

Loche scoffed so loudly that Zaddock and some of his other closest men turned toward him.

Their masks shone like polished leather as the sun reflected on them when Loche jerked his head dismissively, and they turned to face straight ahead again.

He’d told them the masks weren’t needed anymore, but his men had opted for them anyway. And why not? They were terrifying. It was why he had chosen them, after all.

Maybe they’d give their enemies a second’s pause, and a second was all that his men needed to stay alive.

They were long, silent moments before Lessia’s ship finally dropped its sails and Raine steered it around so it sidled up beside his own, facing south—the direction from which they expected both the rebels and Rioner and his Fae to come.

Loche’s men reacted instantly when he raised his hand, and without Loche having to call out orders, they caught the ropes Merrick threw out, tying their ships together with knots that would be easy to undo should the ships need to flee or separate in the fighting to come.

They’d practiced these knots in the navy, but somehow Loche had never expected the need for them to appear.

Yet here they were.

Lessia was the first to step onto their ship, using her hands, which Loche was happy to see seemed healed, to swing herself onto the deck.

He watched her eye his men for a moment, something he couldn’t quite read crossing her features, before she turned toward him, a hesitant smile spreading across her face.

Knowing what was expected of him, knowing every soul on the ships around him would scrutinize any and all interactions with her, Loche didn’t smile back, although he did try to soften his eyes as he met her halfway.

Lessia chewed her lip for a moment, but her eyes darted sideways, noting the thousands of people facing their way, climbing up masts and onto railings to see the regent meet the one who betrayed him—the one who was sent into their elections to spy—and her chin dipped.

Only for half a second, but that was enough for Loche to know she understood.

“You came back,” he greeted her, noting his men standing straighter at the cold tone—the one that made them confident Loche had moved past the emotions that had made him bring Lessia to their home, to their haven.

“Of course we did.” Lessia wrung her hands, eyes fighting not to move sideways, and shoulders trying to remain lowered under the heaviness of the gazes on them.

Loche could tell it wasn’t an act. She’d always hated standing before crowds like this, and while some people had had her back during the election, they all knew what she’d done now—knew of her affiliation with the Fae king.

After helping Lessia’s sister—the girl he’d only seen once, on that horrible day when they said goodbye to their father—onto the deck, Merrick and Raine approached as well, and Loche could tell Merrick struggled not to pull Lessia to his side when she continued to shift her weight from foot to foot, as if she was preparing to flee.

But it appeared as if the Fae warrior also knew what was at stake, as he reached out a hand to shake Loche’s, with Raine following as soon as the silver-haired Fae released his firm grip.

“Regent,” Merrick greeted. “It seems you’ve chosen a good spot.”

His dark eyes flickered over the cliffs behind them—the ones where Loche planned to place most of his archers, including the ones with the best aim.

Loche only offered a sharp nod to acknowledge the Fae’s words. “Did you get the wyverns to come?”

Cold danced down his back when Lessia winced, and the Fae kept their features locked in the strange way only Fae could.

That they’d get the wyverns to help was how Loche had convinced most of his people to trust Lessia again. He’d spun a tale of her bravery, of her wish for forgiveness, and how she’d do anything to save Ellow, not to cause more mistrust than already filled the wind caressing the warships.

He certainly didn’t want anyone to know about the prophecy, especially once the king appeared. While he hadn’t fought in a war before, he knew what fear and desperation did to people. They would sacrifice Lessia without a second thought about what could happen after.

“They did come,” Lessia finally responded. “But they will not fight. Not yet.”

Loche momentarily shut his eyes, blowing out a deep breath.

“We’ll place them on either side of this island, regent. Just having them there will be enough to scare most Fae.”

He opened his eyes when Raine spoke, and something in his gut sparked at the Fae’s appearance.

Raine looked… different.

But he didn’t have time to linger on it. Not right now. So, Loche inclined his head an inch. “Understood. Make sure they keep away from our ships. I’d prefer my people not be eaten before the fight.”

“They don’t eat—” Lessia shut her mouth when Loche glared at her.

“We’ll keep them away,” she promised, neck bending to his will.

He hated how they had to play this game, but he was regent, and he needed his people to believe in his strength and power right now. They couldn’t afford any doubt. Not when there was no time to reclaim it.

“Good.” Loche threw out an arm behind him. “My men believe the rebels are coming in two days, so there is little time left. We were just about to finalize the strategic positions and plans, so I’d suggest you join us.”

Lessia nodded, gravitating toward Merrick, who stood almost shoulder to shoulder with her, and Loche noted how their fingers brushed. Just for a moment, but it appeared to calm her.

He waited for a pang of jealousy to hit his chest, but when Lessia’s eyes found his, it didn’t come. As with Raine, there was something about Lessia that was different.

An innocence had been taken from her—one that used to whirl in her beautiful, gilded eyes even when pain had painted them darker. Once again, he found himself grateful to the Fae who whispered something in her ear that had her cheeks flush in the way he used to love.

Even if things had been different—if it had been Loche standing in Merrick’s place—he couldn’t have offered her that comfort.

His duty was to Ellow—to his people.

Like it should be. Like it always would be.

Placing a hand over his mouth as if he needed to cough, turning his back to most of his men—all but Zaddock—Loche offered quietly, “There are some people who are very eager to see you, Lessia. I’d suggest you go into the cabins first, and then you can join us.

I’d like to get Merrick’s and Raine’s thoughts, anyway. ”

The smile Lessia gave him almost had him stumble back, and Loche could tell he wasn’t the only one affected when Lessia’s little sister wiped at her eyes, and even Raine cleared his throat as he steadied his feet.

Merrick was the only one who wasn’t watching Lessia. His dark eyes bore into Loche’s instead, and the air became loaded as the Fae bowed to him, a deep bow filled with respect, before the Fae offered, “We’re at your service, regent.”

Loche didn’t know how to respond, so when a chirpy voice broke through the tension surrounding the group, he was eternally grateful.

“I’ll make sure she finds her way on this gigantic ship,” Amalise said as she skipped across the deck, tapping Zaddock playfully on the back before walking up and grabbing Lessia’s and Frelina’s hands, wholly ignoring the two Fae warriors.

Loche caught Lessia’s sister’s eyes as she was dragged past them, and he hadn’t realized just how alike they were until the younger Rantzier trailed her gaze over his face and mumbled “You’re not so bad” before Amalise rushed her away.

“Don’t take too long,” Zaddock called as Amalise opened the door leading down to the kitchen and sleeping cabins.

“We won’t,” Amalise called back. “I know you need our expertise, what with the war and all.”

“I just need you.” Zaddock grinned, his brows rising in challenge when Amalise stumbled.

As Lessia began laughing and even her sister’s mouth twitched, Loche and the others heard Amalise mutter “Save a man’s life once and somehow he thinks you’re in love with him” before the door shut behind them.

“She is in love with me,” Zaddock said with a broader grin. “She just doesn’t want to admit it yet.”

Loche was pretty sure his friend was right, and while it wasn’t what they needed to discuss, Zaddock and Amalise’s exchange had cleared the air, made it a little easier to breathe, and when he turned to the Fae warriors and waved for them to join him, it somehow felt like a small part of the responsibility he carried lightened.