Page 52 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile

Taking hold of his collar again, he dragged the male the last step, positioning him in front of Lessia.

“You protect her with your life, you hear me? With your fucking life!” His whispers emphasized his order, but to his credit Ardow only gave him a sharp nod before planting his feetwide, his sword raised so quickly before him that Merrick had to spin out of the way.

Good.

Guilt drove Ardow’s determination, but it didn’t matter now.

Merrick had seen his goodbye with Venko.

He’d die for her, and that was all Merrick could ask for.

Something flashed to his right, and Merrick didn’t have to think as his mind snapped into battle readiness.

Four guards flew around the corner, their swords raised and faces mirror to his own.

Merrick grinned—one of those smiles he’d noticed Lessia didn’t like.

But he couldn’t help it. Those guards might be armed to the teeth, but he’d always been better than them—magic or not.

Not even bothering to unsheath his sword or let his whispers free, he met the Fae guards straight on, ducking under the dagger that whistled by his head.

He sensed someone trying to pry into his mind, but before those claws—so similar to Raine’s—got hold, he sprang forward and with a sharp jab of his arm disarmed the guard that he knew, from his days in Rioner’s employ, was the one trying to control him.

The Fae faltered momentarily, and from the fear in his eyes, he surely realized who stood before him.

But it didn’t matter.

Sprinting around him, Merrick gripped his head and snapped his neck so forcefully it separated from his body before he was even able to make a sound.

Blood sprayed, but Merrick jumped out of the way while throwing the still-twitching body toward another guard.

Rioner’s guard’s face scrunched as his friend’s blood splattered onto it, and that was the expression he was allowedinto the afterlife with as Merrick slammed a hand into his chest and ripped his heart out.

A scream sounded behind him, and he whirled, catching Raine’s eyes where he leaned against the railing, apparently just enjoying the show, before a female charged him with her sword held high.

She screamed again as her eyes flitted from Merrick to the male he’d just sent to live wherever they sent dead evildoers, as the souls already around him snatched up his essence and Merrick made his lips lift higher.

“Friend of yours?” he taunted as he circled the woman, keeping an eye on the male Fae who was trying either to sneak up on him from behind or to get away.

He was trying to get away, Merrick decided, when the souls and their whispers stirred louder, and even though he was disappointed, he bent down and picked up a wooden oar that lay by the railing. Without breaking eye contact with the female, he threw it.

His aim was still intact—or at least that’s what Merrick inferred from the muted sound of flesh being ripped apart before the oar thudded against the hull.

The female’s next outraged scream was also a clue.

Merrick kept his distance as he continued to stalk around her, hands behind his back, trying to rile her further.

He didn’t particularly enjoy fighting females, but this one had hurt Lessia… or at least stood idly by as someone else did so.

He’d make it quick.

When the female rushed him, he sidestepped her to the right, having already noticed she favored her left side, and all it took was an angled kick for her to lose her sword to him.

Then another swift movement to bury it in her heart.

Silence stretched out around him, interrupted only by the whispers clinging to this soul as well, dragging it with them to the afterlife.

Merrick closed his eyes, locking down his magic when they were finished.