Page 127 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile

Hello, Frelina Rantzier.

Frelina made herself breathe again. She wasn’t interested in speaking to whoever or whatever this was.

That was a lie, child.

Frelina shook her head.

She wasn’t going to entertain this. She wasn’t here for herself.

They’d come for Lessia. For Merrick. To hopefully find a way to keep her sister alive.

But that’s not the only wish you carry in your heart, is it?

A tremor ran down her back. She didn’t like this voice. She didn’t like it at all.

“Who are you?” Frelina demanded, although her words didn’t carry the harshness she’d intended. Her voice had risen at the end, and she winced at herself, finally opening her eyes again.

Those figures around her still glared with that devastating expression, their large eyes filled with tears.

Gods, was that how pathetic she looked?

You do not know me?

How would she…

“You’re a god, I presume.” She didn’t get her voice right that time, either, the fear rippling across her skin making her words shake.

Low laughter traveled through the room, somehow making the mirrored walls contort, their surface swirling with rings like when she threw stones at the water back home.

“How is that funny?” Frelina bit out, eyes tracing the rings as they increased in size and danced around the versions of herself that lived in the mirrors.

You do not need to lie to me, Frelina. I see the fear in your soul. It’s taking over. As for your question… my name is Zharra.

The god of life.

She couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Wasn’t that ironic?

It’s no coincidence we speak today, child. We’re all called to those who need us the most.

“I don’t need you!” Frelina raised her voice, unsure why her gut twisted so hard she nearly bent over. “I am here for Elessia. To save her.”

You lie again.

Ice—actual small pieces of ice—blew through the space. The light—Frelina had no idea where it came from—flickered for a second, shifting into dark, then light, then dark, then light again.

I see you. I hear you. I know you. You cannot lie to me. You’re scared. Perhaps more than any of your friends here today. And I know why.

“I am not.” Her voice wavered so much she needed to take a breath before continuing, the sense of needing to submit to this damned god flooding her and making her bend her neck before she was able to catch herself. “I want to save Elessia!”

I never said you didn’t. I said it wasn’t your only wish.

Tears began building behind Frelina’s eyes, and she blinked frantically to rid herself of them, but it was impossible, especially as the voice spoke again.

You fear you will die alone. That you won’t find love or friendship, or experience any of the things you’ve read about. You fear no one aside from your family will ever care for you. You fear that you’ll never feel desire or passion or pain that comes with life.

“Stop it!” Frelina lifted her hands to her ears to shut out the voice, but it only continued booming through her head.

No matter how many walls she slammed up, it broke through every single one as if they were made of feathers that the wind could easily blow away.