Page 33 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile

“Thissian, what is it? What’s happening?” Kerym urged, but his brother wouldn’t respond—he only pressed himself further into the wall, making himself as small as possible.

“I knew you were the cleverer brother.” Rioner snickered as he approached her father, carefully keeping his back to Lessia.“I believe dear Thissian might have begun to grasp what I’m thinking.”

Kerym’s brother let out another soft cry, and the hair on Lessia’s neck rose when Kerym stared from Thissian to the king, then slowly shifted his gaze back to Lessia, the crease between his dark brows deepening.

Even though her mind was muddled, she tried to rack her brain for what the king could be planning now—to prepare herself or to come to terms with it, she didn’t know.

He’d given her father what he called an antidote…

She stopped herself from trying to move her hands to press against her pounding temples.

If Torkher struck her again, it would be even harder to think.

As her eyes snagged on the blindfold on the floor instead, she realized they’d kept her from using her magic with the blindfold, as she needed to meet people’s eyes to use it.

For the others…

They must have been using Vincere.

So the antidote would be to allow her father to use his magic again.

But why?

While useful, his magic only undid other magic…

What had they been talking about that could have given the king ideas?

Lessia’s eyes flew open, and it was impossible to stop the rush of air that forced its way into her lungs.

She started shaking her head.

Then she did it more violently when she met her father’s eyes and saw the same realization dawn in them.

No.

Please no.

She couldn’t help it.

A whimper followed the gasp.

Then a sob.

Frelina’s eyes fought to meet hers, and as soon as her sister’s amber ones bore into her own, Lessia knew it was true.

Huge drops of tears rolled down Frelina’s round cheeks.

Thissian began rocking back and forth beside her.

Kerym’s face whitened, and the smirk he’d fought for his life to keep whenever she’d glimpsed him drained from his face entirely.

A sound she didn’t even know she could make escaped her as the king and Torkher began laughing.

“I should thank you, brother.” Rioner began pacing back and forth, stealing a look at Lessia when that sound—the otherworldly sound she didn’t even know how to describe—continued to pierce the air. “I would never have thought of it if you hadn’t been going on and on about your mates.”

Please.

No.