Page 39 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile

“I. Said. We need to sail faster,” Merrick repeated when no one moved to the upper deck. “Something has changed… I don’t know what, but we need to find her today! There is no more time.”

“We can’t.” Zaddock apparently didn’t fear for his life as much as Merrick expected, and he stepped toward the guard when Amalise broke in.

“There is a storm coming. Look over there. We won’t be able to search while also keeping the ship from sinking.”

Merrick’s eyes drifted to the darkening horizon.

Of course a fucking storm was coming.

But weather—fucking weather—wouldn’t stop him from finding her.

“Then I’ll go myself.” Merrick shifted his scabbard so that his sword lay across his back instead of resting against his hip. “If we don’t find her today, it’ll be too late. I’ll fucking swim.”

“No, you won’t.” Raine gripped his arm, flashing his own teeth when Merrick bared his sharp ones in warning. “You’ll die too. And for what? You know what she wants.”

What she wants…

She was fucking twenty-five years old!

She shouldn’t have to save the world.

She should still live at home, safe in a room where her parents could still teach her what being Fae meant, perhaps prepare her for moving out and trying her wings soon.

And Merrick?

Merrick should have stumbled upon her when she walked into whatever village was closest and realized what she was without having the damned king breathing down his neck.

He should have approached her, maybe bought her some flowers or something else, like he’d seen his friends do for their mates, and then the first thing he should have done would be to offer her his arm to walk her home.

Then he would have courted her.

And after that…

He would have asked her father for her hand.

Paid for and organized the most expensive mating ceremony there was.

Married her after because he wanted to tie himself to her in every way he could.

This…

This fucking life?

It wasn’t what she deserved.

“I don’t care what she wants.” Merrick shoved Raine’s arm off. “I don’t want to live in a world where she doesn’t exist.”

Raine lifted his hands and groaned. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but we have a duty to this world, Merrick. We once swore to protect Havlands from whatever harm may come to it…”

“Like you give a shit,” Merrick spat as he ensured his boots were securely laced. “You made it very clear you were only here to die a hero’s death.”

“I know,” Raine mumbled. “But she… that passion you saw in her, Merrick. We see it too. We feel it too.”

“We do,” Loche echoed, his voice gravelly. “We all love her.” Loche raised his hands when a rumble shook Merrick’s chest. “Not like you. But she has inspired all of us, and we all want to find her.”

“You’re not fucking listening to me!” Merrick gripped the railing, shifting his legs over it so he faced the wild sea below. “I know she inspires every person she comes across. She is the fucking light of this world! The purest soul. The kindest. The strongest. A leader, a friend, a lover, a woman, a Fae, a human. But it’s almost too late. I canfeelit!”

Something flickered in the corner of his eyes, and Merrick couldn’t help but raise his brows when Ardow swung a leg over the wet railing as well, straddling it as he spoke. “Listen to him. If he’s saying it’s almost too late, it is. I am coming too.”