Page 29 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile

The fucking winds.

As if he’d let some fucking weather dictate how fast he could get to her.

If she was even there.

Merrick’s chest vibrated from the growl building in it, and he couldn’t help but roll his eyes when Zaddock stepped in front of Amalise.

Moving her own eyes upward, Amalise pushed him aside. “Stop trying to babysit me.”

Zaddock mumbled something about “Stop putting yourself in danger, then,” but he backed off when Amalise sent him a glare so cold it could rival King Rioner’s.

Merrick’s eyes flitted between them for a moment.

It was clear that the guard had it bad for the blonde.

But she was holding back.

He wasn’t certain exactly why, but in the few times he’d caught her eyes when she hadn’t been prepared, especially when they were out on deck, the pain there mirrored what he’d seen in his brothers’ eyes.

She’d lost someone. That he was sure of.

Amalise’s gaze narrowed when he continued staring, and her voice dropped an octave when she spoke again. “How are we going to find them? Korina is massive, and I’ve heard you have to have a death wish to try to climb those cliffs.”

Merrick finally tore his eyes from hers. “They won’t be on Korina. The king is a water wielder, so he will stay over water on his ship to be as strong as possible. He’s worried, and when he’s worried, he’ll not take any risks. He’ll have his most lethal guards with him, including one who is a stronger mind-bender than even Raine.”

“That’s never been proved.” Raine walked up to the group, throwing Amalise a wink when she stared at him as he took a sip from his flask, which had Zaddock pull her behind him again. “He’ll probably also have one of his beloved fire wielders, though—they can cause so much lovely destruction from afar.”

“But so can we.” Merrick couldn’t help but curl his lip to show off his teeth. “They’ll probably have Kerym and the others dosed with Vincere to keep them docile, but you and I can take on a little fire wielder and the mind-bender.”

“Kerym will probably still want to fight, if I know him.” Raine wiggled his brows. “I’m guessing the little Rantzier will as well. She seems quite feisty.”

Merrick nodded back at him, but he didn’t voice the thought that touched his mind.

They would want to fightifthey were alive.

He knew how Rioner worked by now.

He was probably doing everything in his power to break Lessia.

And the easiest way?

To threaten those she loved.

His fingers curled until his knuckles blanched, but Loche interrupted the snarl wanting to break free.

“So let’s say we find them there. What do we do then?”

Raine met Merrick’s eyes as he responded, “I’ll try to take out as many as I can, the ones who forget to protect their mind, so that we can get close to them.”

“Then I get on the ship first,” Merrick continued, falling right back into their usual planning as if it hadn’t been decades since the last time. “Whoever is the best fighter comes after me, and I will protect Raine so that he can continue controlling their little minds and search for Lessia and the rest. No one apart from our friends stays alive.”

“I’ll go after you, then,” Loche said as he patted the sword by his side. “I may not have fought Fae, but I was one of the best in our navy.”

“I’ll join you.” Ardow walked out from the shade of the upper deck. “Venko is no warrior, but he will manage the ship, keep it ready if we need to leave swiftly.”

The merchant who hovered behind Ardow nodded, his eyes flickering across the group before meeting Merrick’s and offering him a quick bow of his head.

“I will go as well.” Amalise raised her chin as she pulled at the hand Zaddock still held on to. “I might not be a fighter, but I am quick and quiet, and I know how to sneak in and out undetected.”