Page 134 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile

“I think we’ll have some fun distracting each other.” His words dripped with promise, and despite everything that had happened, liquid heat pooled in her entire body as Raine got them both to their feet. “But we need to get out of this damned place.”

Chapter 27

Merrick

He didn’t know four little words would just about kill him.

But hearing Lessia ask “Can I have them?” was as excruciating as when he’d once been captured and tortured for weeks by enemy Fae.

Having to watch the rest of her conversation with Evrene play out… no, it was a pain he wouldn’t wish even on Rioner.

Lessia’s warm body clung to his, and he held her closer, trying to push down the rage at the gods for what they’d done to her. For what they continued to do to her.

The violent trembles running through her had calmed a while ago, but she’d still gripped his jacket so tightly he hadn’t dared move, not even to try to study her face, try to see if this was what would finally break her.

His pulse thrummed over his skin, and he knew Lessia could sense it as she glanced up at him, a wrinkle of worry forming over her brows.

Leaning down, Merrick kissed that wrinkle, then moved to press his lips against hers.

Only once, but he couldn’t stand not touching her.

Not after today. Not after everything.

As he pulled back, Lessia began whispering, “I am s?—”

He didn’t stop the rage this time as he placed a finger over her lips. “No.”

Her beautiful eyes widened at his command.

“You do not apologize.” Merrick wished he could say he was calm, but he was anything but as he continued. “It’s them who should apologize. It’s them who should fucking crawl at your feet, begging for your forgiveness.”

Merrick lifted his chin, fixing his eyes on the reflection of the two of them in the ceiling.

“Do you hear me?” he screamed, his vision going in and out from fury. “You should fucking apologize, and when the time comes… I am going to fucking make you! I am going to make each and every one of you kneel before her like the queen she is!”

He knew that if he’d had magic right now, the souls would race unchecked through the room—searching for the gods he knew they also hated, for reasons he hadn’t understood before but that were becoming clearer to him by the second.

“Merrick,” Lessia urged. “Merrick, be careful.”

“Why?” He flung his gaze down to Lessia again. “What else can they do to us now? What else can they threaten us with?”

She stared back at him, her eyes darkening and some of that defiance he fucking loved shifting her features into the Lessia he knew would fight until her last breath.

His little fighter.

A loud silence enveloped them as they watched each other, and Merrick could barely believe his eyes as his mate seemed to sharpen with every second, not an ounce of the sorrow flickering in her hard gaze.

“You’re right,” she said simply, her eyes burning into his. “You’re right.”

He was. And he was going to fucking save her. Now that he knew there was a chance, he would make sure he stayed besideher every damned step of the way, even if it would drive her crazy.

He’d fucking kill the gods if that’s what it took. Make each of them pay in blood for the pain they’d caused her.

“I know I’m right,” Merrick rasped as he bent down to claim her lips again, continuing to speak against them when he came up for air. “Fuck them, Lessia. Fuck fate. Fuck this place. Let’s get those wyverns, go to war, kill the king, and fucking win.”

She kissed him. Kissed him with a feverish urgency that told him she would fight to the end, even if what he’d just said was unlikely to happen, and he couldn’t help but groan when his body responded to it, his cock already awakening when she dragged her nails down the back of his neck.

“Here?” Merrick mumbled as she began undressing, her fingers not hesitating as they unbuttoned the jacket he’d given her a few days ago.