Page 51 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile

It was as if she wasn’t there anymore.

Like this was Lessia… but it also wasn’t.

It wasn’t only Merrick who noticed.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Raine’s crestfallen face even as he whipped his head back and forth, ensuring they weren’t taken by surprise.

Ardow’s face was worse. His mouth opened in a silent sob as he took a step toward them, but when Lessia’s eyes drifted to meet his, he stilled, his arms flying to wind around himself.

The steps sounded louder now: they’d be here any second.

Merrick could feel a rage build within him. One he hadn’t ever felt before—and he was no stranger to anger.

But this one…

It was wild.

Uncontrolled.

Primal.

So vicious he nearly stepped back from the woman he loved to protect her.

But then…

“Hi,” she whispered in a voice so broken it sounded like someone else’s.

Fuck, it hurt just to listen to it.

He loved her so damned much.

“Hi,” he urged back. “Hi. I love you. I’m here now. You’re safe.”

He sounded like a rambling adolescent, but he didn’t care when she dropped the sword and wrapped her arms around him.

And maybe he loved her too much, because the sound of steps faded from his ears.

There was only her.

“You’re real?” she whispered, and damn, Merrick’s eyes burned, and not from rage.

“I’m real.” Merrick leaned down to kiss her softly, praying that her bloodstained lips could take it. “I’m real. It’ll be all right. I’ll make it all right. I promise, I promise, I promise.”

Lessia’s eyes remained closed as she got out, “He’s dead.”

He didn’t need to ask who. Not when he knew there were only a few people that could have shattered her heart in this way.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Merrick pressed featherlight kisses against her full lips, managing to clear his mind enough to hear Raine call “Any second now,” and shifting this beautiful creature into the corner of the wall they stood against.

“I’m sorry.” He couldn’t tear his lips from hers as he continued, so the next words were muffled. “I’m sorry, Elessia. I just… I need you to hold on. Just for a little longer. Okay? Just a little longer. I need to take care of these men. But I’m here. You just… just call my name and I’ll be right back by your side.”

She didn’t protest as he moved her so she stood fully covered in the shade, and while he knew it didn’t matter—not with how warm the air was here—he tore his jacket off and wrapped it around her.

“I love you.” Merrick bore his eyes into her dim ones. “You promised me more than one night, remember? We’ll have that next one tonight.”

When she nodded, the sight so reassuring the Death Whisperer thought he might cry for the first time since he was a child, he bowed his head in return before spinning around.

“Ardow!” Merrick couldn’t help but bare his teeth when Ardow didn’t move fast enough as he waved him over.