Page 143 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile

It took a few moments for Merrick to catch his breath, but when he did, a thrill—and not the good kind—raced down Lessia’s spine. Merrick must have noticed because his armwrapped around her shoulders, pressing her against him as he spoke.

“Those fucking gods… they tried to take our hope.” His dark eyes bore into Lessia’s when a frown pulled at her forehead.

“I heard what they told you. They tried to make sure you’d follow that fucking prophecy by making you believe there was no other way. Frelina…” The hand not caressing her skin waved toward her sister. “They knew her inner wish was to experience more than the island you grew up on. Of course they’d tell her she’d die alone. But we all die alone! It doesn’t matter how loved we are… in that final moment, our souls are alone. Trust me… I know.”

Merrick’s voice softened when he turned his head in Raine’s direction. “And for you, my friend. It must have been the easiest of all… taking the one fucking thing that makes this life bearable for you. They took my magic in there, Raine! There was nothing of it under my skin, just… silence. But they did it for a reason! They do everything for a reason. And as you all noticed, it’s definitely back. I’m sure you’ll be able to drink again if that’s what you wish. They… the gods are scared of what we can do. I can feel it.”

Lessia just stared at him.

She’d never seen Merrick like this. Rage and love and hope and vengefulness all tangled across his sharp features—almost as if he wasn’t sure whether to scowl or smile.

But his eyes sparkled. His hair glittered in the setting sun. And finally, it appeared that determination won over all of them, his jaw setting, brows drawing down, and mouth settling on a cold smile that Lessia knew was directed toward the gods.

“Hope,” she mumbled. “You truly believe that?”

Merrick bent down to kiss her. “I do. They wanted us to stop fighting this fucking prophecy, so they tried to take away the onething we care about most. But they couldn’t lie to me, not when I asked for what I needed in a way they couldn’t escape.”

She didn’t need to ask what Merrick had demanded to know from the gods. There was only one reason they’d gone there, after all.

Hope… She fought a chill raking down her back. Such a delicate thing.

Lessia caught Raine’s eyes, and she could tell he wasn’t convinced. Like her, doubt appeared to creep all over his skin.

She’d felt it back there—how the small ember of hope within her had finally been quenched.

But if it made Merrick happy?

If he smiled like this a little bit more?

Who was she to tell him he was wrong?

So when he kissed her again, she let him.

But when he finally pulled back as water splashed beneath them and the wyverns circled the vessel, Ydren leading the way, she could tell Merrick was the only one interested in the beasts’ company.

Frelina and Raine stood silently beside each other, each seemingly carrying heavy weights on their shoulders, barely reacting when water splashed onto the ship from the wyverns’ thick tails.

And when Raine met her eyes again… No, there was no hope in them.

Lessia had to look away, especially when a tear fell down Raine’s cheek as he shook his head at Merrick, who’d lifted a hand to welcome Ydren back.

Don’t,she thought, lowering the mental walls she’d gotten used to keeping up whenever Raine was around, since there was no telling when he’d decide to peek into her mind.Don’t take this away from him.

I won’t.Raine’s voice was sad even in her mind.But he’s mistaken, Lessia. I was the same in the beginning with Solana. I thought… there was no way it could end like this. But…

Maybe he is.She gave Raine a sad smile behind Merrick’s back.But even so, let him. Let him have hope for all of us.

Like guilt, hope kept a person moving.

Those two feelings had been the strongest for her at different times in her life.

Guilt had kept her alive in Rioner’s cellars. Guilt had guided her in Ellow and through the election.

And hope? It was hope Merrick had instilled in her when she fought her way back to strength. When he’d kept her steady. When he’d fought for her. And now?

She wasn’t certain which one had her step up beside her mate, grip his hand firmly, and smile widely before moving her gaze to the wyverns beginning to swim beside them as they headed north.

To Ellow.