Page 157 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile

Chapter 34

Frelina

The anticipation in the air was so palpable that Frelina felt like she could reach out, rip a piece from the starry sky, and pop it into her mouth.

All day, the humans on the ships had prepared for the war they expected to descend upon them tomorrow, finding their weapons and their positions and saying what needed to be said to their friends and families.

But it wasn’t just war nerves that made the atmosphere electric. Loche had declared that there would be a feast tonight, and amidst all the sharp and shiny weapons, some of the humans had dragged up instruments, gathering them on the four ships right behind Loche’s own.

Others had huddled together over small ship stoves and open fires, cooking whatever they could come up with, creating what, at least to Frelina, looked like a lavish feast, with bread, soup, fish, and even meat being plated and sent across the ships, ensuring all would be able to fill their stomachs.

Barrels of wine had also been carried out, and when she’d walked past a group of Loche’s horrifying soldiers—she honestly didn’t understand how Lessia hadn’t fled the nation as soon as she’d laid eyes on those birdlike masks—they’d pressed awooden cup into her hands with a curt “Keep track of it, or you’ll have to drink directly from the tap.”

Frelina had mostly stayed in the background, apart from when Kerym lost his shit at Merrick, and she’d spent fifteen minutes scolding all three Fae warriors, telling them it wasn’t the time to tell Merrick what to do.

Besides, she wanted him near her sister at all times. She firmly believed he, out of anyone, could keep her alive.

Elessia listened to him, even when he didn’t believe it, and Frelina had seen how he’d directed the Faelings and even some of the humans earlier in the day. They all had a lot of respect for the Fae, and not because they were frightened of him.

Frelina snorted to herself as she leaned her arms on the railing of Rioner’s ship, watching as the humans started gathering, the first hesitant ones beginning to fill their plates.

At least they didn’t respect himonlybecause they feared him. Merrick knew what he was talking about; it was clear to anyone who deigned to listen a second to his grumpy voice. So if he believed he could save Elessia, so did Frelina.

She moved to look at the deck behind her.

Speaking of grumpy Fae…

She had watched Raine today, too—how he’d steered clear of the barrels of wine; how he’d refused to meet her eyes when she’d yelled at him, Kerym, and Thissian; how much guilt coiled Raine’s shoulders when he’d finally retreated into his chambers when someone had offered him a bow and arrow and he’d jerked back as if they would burn him.

Too much of a reminder of Solana, Frelina guessed.

Her thoughts went to the beautiful blonde Fae Raine had shown her in her memories, and she wondered what she’d think of Frelina.

“I’m just trying to keep him alive,” Frelina whispered to herself, wondering if the words would ever reach Raine’s mate.“He’s still yours. He’ll always be yours. I hope it’s okay that I just… borrow him for a little?”

She wanted to think that the feisty female she’d watched die would approve—that hopefully she loved Raine enough to see he was only using Frelina as a distraction.

Just for this war.

Just for today, Frelina promised herself as she made her way down into the depths of the ship, trying to ignore the butterflies awakening in her stomach at the prospect of seeing Raine’s heated eyes again.

She didn’t bother knocking before she opened his door, and she wasn’t surprised to find him on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, his blades—which he’d apparently been attempting to polish, based on the rags spread out everywhere—left on the floor.

“Can I come in?” she asked as she closed the door and made her way over.

“Haven’t you already done so?” Raine didn’t look her way as she halted before the bed.

Nerves kicked in, and Frelina wiped her hands on her trousers, deciding it was better to sit down on the end of the bed rather than stand above him.

“The others are beginning to eat up there,” she said after Raine had only sighed twice.

“So?”

She rolled her eyes at the Fae, who wore an expression fit for a child. “So? I am guessing you’re hungry. That’s why I came down here to get you.”

Raine laughed, but not in his usual teasing way.

It was raspy and brutal and mean.