Page 152 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile

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 hewasregent, and he needed his people to believe in his strength and powerright 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.

“Sheisin 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.

“We have around thirty ships here, each with five hundred or so people and soldiers on them. Not all are trained, but we asked whoever was willing to defend Ellow to come,” Loche explained as they walked toward the stern, where the shadows were deeper from the towering cliffs. “We are a bit low on weapons, especially since the shipments from Vastala stopped during the election, but we’ll make do. I was planning on placing my archers on the plateau up there.”