Page 189 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile

Rioner’s ships sailed more slowly, and the Fae on the cliffs began mumbling amongst themselves.

The wyverns, who’d until now remained still, approached hesitantly, their colorful scales painting the water in every color Loche could imagine.

It was relief, happiness, confusion, and hope all at once that mounted around them.

The fighting didn’t recommence.

Rebels held on to humans as they watched Rioner’s ship come to a complete halt.

“She saved us.”

“The half-Fae saved us.”

The whispered words filled the air until every rebel and human ship called Lessia’s name.

“Lessia!”

“Lessia!”

“Lessia!”

They yelled her name like a chant, and Loche couldn’t help but let a smile tug at his lips.

Lessia probably hated every second of it.

His eyes went to search for her, for the wyvern who hadn’t yet returned to the sea, when the worst sound he’d ever heard shook the realm.

Merrick’s scream made the chill he’d felt before feel like a warm breeze.

Every muscle in Loche’s body coiled, and he could barely move enough to watch Ydren screech as she whipped her wings, flying straight for their ship.

Something dark dripped into the water beneath them, painting Ydren’s scales on its way down, and Loche didn’t have to smell the air for iron to understand what it was.

The moments it took the beast to reach them were the worst in Loche’s life.

The worst until Ydren’s wings nearly tripped them all as she landed on the deck, breaking apart the railing in her haste.

The sounds leaving Merrick were mirrored in the wyvern, but the Fae didn’t hesitate as he sprinted up to Ydren, pulling something into his arms.

Someone…

Someone who was too still. Too peaceful. Too… injured.

A dagger with beautiful amber stones covering the hilt was embedded deep in Lessia’s chest. But that chest… it moved, and as Loche sank to his knees beside the sitting Merrick and Lessia, who lay halfway across his lap, her eyes were open.

The others came running after him, and falling to the deck, they surrounded the woman he’d loved more than anything, each one, even Iviry, placing a hand on her damp body.

No one said anything, but Loche wasn’t surprised, since the tears that had started watering his cheeks now wetted the faces of everyone around him.

Large tears rushed down the Death Whisperer’s face as he whispered, “I hate… I fucking hate how much I love you. And I hate you for doing that… but… I am so fucking proud of you. Do you hear that?”

Everyone watched as Lessia reached up a hand to cup Merrick’s cheek, and even if the moment should be too vulnerable—too personal—they couldn’t look away as she whispered back, “I know. I know.”

Then she coughed, a bloodied, wet cough that made Frelina’s sobs turn into a shriek.

Loche’s throat constricted further when Lessia tried to smile at her sister, moving her hand to clasp at Frelina’s after Raine released his grip on it, although he shifted to fold his arms around the younger Rantzier.

“Look at you two,” Lessia said hoarsely. “I love you.”