Page 128 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile

You fear that you’ll never get that first kiss. That you’ll never have a man hold you to whisper sweet words into your ear.

“I said stop it,” Frelina cried, tears rushing down her cheeks. “Stop it!”

I’ve seen how you watch your sister and her mate?—

“Stop,” Frelina begged. “Please… stop.”

Why? You ask yourself these questions each night. Are you too frightened to hear the truth?

An ache spread in Frelina’s head from how hard she pressed her hands against the sides of it, and she shut her eyes, the light flickering over her eyelids pulsating red and black.

She didn’t want to hear this. She didn’t.

Please! Please!

There is no mate for you in Havlands. That much I am allowed to tell you.

Her wails joined the voice now.

“Please,” she continued begging. “Please, please, please.”

I’ve seen a future where you die alone. No parents left in this world. A sister sacrificed. Unloved. Living in fear.

“No. No, no, no!” Frelina fell to her knees, surprised at how painful the mirror was as it slammed into her.

The physical pain sliced through her mind, breaking through the panic.

“No,” she said again. “No.”

She’d always known this. She had never believed she’d get what Elessia had. She didn’t deserve it. Not like her sister did.

The sister they were here for.

A shallow breath made its way into her lungs.

This wasn’t about Frelina. They weren’t here for her. What was happening now… it was a distraction. By the gods who’d cursed her family. By the gods who’d forced her sister to become a pawn in their game.

But they cannot lie,a small voice reminded her.

Frelina’s hands dropped to the floor, landing beside her knees.

It didn’t matter. So she didn’t have a mate?

She had Elessia. She had… friends.

Raine, the stupid, drunk bastard, had somehow become her closest one.

Even Merrick… They understood each other in the way only those who loved someone about to die could understand each other.

You are all alone.

“No!” Her voice didn’t shake this time. “No, I am not.”

Her eyes opened, and she glared at the tear-streaked faces before her.

“I amnotalone.”

Frelina’s hands pressed into the cold floor, and she pushed one of her legs to straighten. Then the other one.