Page 40 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile

“Ardow,” Venko said, his voice soft but not in the pleading way Merrick would have expected.

Instead, the merchant walked up to them, the lines in his face deep with worry but his eyes steady. He put his hands to Ardow’s cheeks as the latter turned around to face him.

“Bring her back,” he whispered before he pressed his lips against Ardow’s, the kiss so gentle everyone on the ship quieted, and it wasn’t necessary to have Fae ears to hear the relieved sob leaving Ardow as he kissed him back.

Merrick tore his eyes away, locking instead with Amalise’s blue ones, which now glistened as she looked away from the two men, and he noticed she didn’t pull back when Zaddock laced his fingers with hers.

Raine cleared his throat, and Merrick knew the flask in his hands shook not because of the storm now beginning to rock the vessel but because he remembered those stolen moments with Solana.

They’d also had too little time…

Borrowed, cut short, wrong time.

This wretched world…

“If you’re going to be so damned stubborn, I guess I’m coming too.” Raine stuffed the flask into his tunic, pulling his sword across his back and securing Solana’s dagger at his waist.

With another low groan, Raine hoisted himself up so he sat next to Merrick. “Of all the dumb things we’ve done…”

Yes, this was probably the worst one. Getting into the Eiatis Sea without any real idea of where to swim… It was probably a death sentence.

But Merrick couldn’t just sit on his ass on that ship anymore.

He knew Lessia’s time was running out.

He’d rather die fucking trying to find her.

“You always fought until the end.” Raine gently elbowed him as rain began splattering the people and the ship. “Rememberwhen that Fae nearly decapitated you and you fucking held on to your head while you chased after him?” He shook his head. “That’s when I knew you were insane.”

Merrick rolled his eyes, trying to keep that particular memory out of his mind. That wound had hurt more than any other he could remember. “If I hadn’t gotten to him, Thissian would have won the bet that he was a better fighter than I. Couldn’t have that.”

A low scoff interrupted their exchange.

“I guess we should be lucky if you’ll fight next to us in the coming war.” Loche approached them, halting a foot or so away from the railing as he bore his eyes into Merrick’s. “We will try to follow you as best we can. I would suggest going east. That’s where the most secluded waters around Korina are.”

Merrick shot him a sharp nod, but just as he was about to turn back, Loche grabbed his shoulder.

“Please. Bring her back,” he said, almost in a whisper, and if Merrick hadn’t known better, he might have thought the regent was about to get choked up. “And… get her revenge.”

Merrick nodded again.

He would get her her revenge.

Serve it up on a silver platter for her if he could.

Lay the king’s neck against the smooth railing of his own ship and let Lessia use her daggers to carve into his fair skin—carve until that stupid crown tumbled into the sea that Rioner loved so much and disappeared for all eternity.

Amalise approached him when Loche stepped back, and since that guard wouldn’t let her more than a foot away from him, Zaddock followed, his hand still clasped around the woman’s.

“We’ll be there when you find her. She… she is strong, Merrick. But she is also sensitive. Y-you didn’t see her those firstmonths.” A shudder went through Amalise’s small frame. “We… we weren’t sure if she’d make it.”

Merrick could tell Ardow stiffened beside him even while holding on tight to Venko.

“I know,” he said, trying to get his voice to sound gentle. “I’ll protect her.”

He would. If there was anything he could promise, it was that once Lessia was back, he wouldn’t be a step away from her.

His eyes lingered on Zaddock for a moment, and when he met the human’s dark blue eyes, a moment of understanding passed between them, and Merrick couldn’t help but think that… perhaps… the overprotective Zaddock had a point.