Page 190 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile

Loche wanted to tell her to stop—that those words sounded too much like a goodbye.

He wasn’t the only one, as Merrick let out one of those bone-crushing sounds and Kerym folded into himself, whispering “Golden Eyes” almost as if in prayer.

Ardow and Amalise looked on the verge of fainting as they gripped each other, staring down into Lessia’s quickly paling face.

Still, Lessia kept her smile as she forced out, “Carefree, r-remember?”

Amalise screamed at that, but Zaddock quickly got hold of her, and the blonde collapsed against his chest, her cries muted by the fabric of his dark jacket.

Ardow managed to smile back. “You know it, Lia.”

But somehow his words were worse than Amalise’s screams, and Venko leaned his head on Ardow’s shoulder when he sat back on his heels.

It was quiet for a beat before Iviry reached out, placing two fingers beside the dagger that must have just missed Lessia’s heart.

The women didn’t say anything as they stared at each other, but for some reason, the fiery-haired one nodded before she also sat back.

Soria and Pellie blinked at Lessia, their hands moving as one to touch hers as something silent also passed between the three of them.

Loche didn’t know where to look when Lessia turned to him, but he shook his head, eyes dimming with tears as she smiled wider, everything they’d ever said and everything they’d never had shining in those damned golden eyes.

She seemed to realize he couldn’t do it because she only touched his knee before looking up at Merrick again, eyes trailing over every sharp angle of his features, across the hands that he kept around her face, across his heaving chest—so alive, so vigorous compared to her own crackling one.

The tension was so thick, the sorrow so deep, Loche could hardly breathe.

“I…” Lessia swallowed another bloody cough before continuing. “I-I heard I won your house, Raine. Best… believe I will take it.”

Zaddock burst out with a shocked laugh, and while the rest hesitated, when Lessia lifted a shaky brow, they all started giggling, breaking up the tense moment.

Loche’s laugh mixed with strange sobs, and his vision blurred completely as he tried to gain control of his body and mind.

“You… you’ll have it all. But I’m keeping the liquor. Gods know I need it after today,” Raine responded as the group calmed down, and Loche waited for Lessia to snap something back.

But it remained quiet.

Against his will, his eyes focused again.

There was no more movement in her chest. There was no more life in her eyes, which were still turned upward, looking into Merrick’s. There was no strength in the hand she’d used to touch each of their souls.

Loche couldn’t breathe, and his body began shaking as he watched the Death Whisperer break apart before his eyes, limbs falling limp to his sides, body folding over Lessia’s as he mumbled, “No. Just… just fight a little more. Please… Lessia!”

More screams filled the air.

Frelina was lifted away by Raine as she collapsed.

Amalise was impossible to move from the floor, so Zaddock just lay down with her, holding together whatever pieces he could.

Ardow stared into the air while Venko mumbled a soft goodbye.

The sisters hugged each other, their faces so pale it almost seemed as if they’d join their friend.

He couldn’t… No. Loche shook his head as he got to his feet, stumbling backward, right into waiting arms.

Somehow, he knew they were Iviry’s, and he didn’t know how his body could respond so quickly, but it did, spinning around and pulling the Fae so hard to his chest that air rushed out of her lungs.

She didn’t say anything, but she let Loche hold on to her, keep something steady in the fucked-up world that was now their own.

The one where… Lessia no longer lived.