Page 64 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile

She just… wanted to live.

“Someone’s coming,” Kerym hissed when low thudding made dust whirl from the ceiling, interrupting her thoughts. “Thissian!”

His brother shifted as well, trying to line up his shoulders with Kerym’s to make sure they would face any attack first. But even so, Frelina could peek through the small sliver between their muscular torsos, and she held her breath as the door before them creaked, then flew open with a loud thud.

The brothers protecting her must have relaxed because the small space between them disappeared, but it didn’t matter. Frelina recognized the voice shattering the silence immediately.

“You’re alive!”

Raine. It was the grumpy drunkard who’d pushed his way into her mind so effortlessly that she’d spent every day after that finding ways into his, something she’d learned drove him crazy.

“Don’t sound so surprised,” Kerym responded, tiredness sneaking through the words she expected he meant to sound teasing. “Took you long enough to find us.”

Frelina started to stir, moving to get out from the cramped spot, when Thissian stiffened again, pressing her into the wall.

“That one is one of Rioner’s guards,” he snarled. “Kill him!”

She could barely breathe as her back scraped against the damp wood, and only because Thissian appeared to move forward, pulling at his shackles, did she hear what Raine said next.

“He was blood-sworn… He’s not any longer.” There was a brief pause, and she wouldn’t be shocked if it was because Raine drank from that stupid flask of his. “He is no threat to you.”

Air was beginning to get scarce in the small space, especially with the large Fae refusing to give her an inch of breathing room, and she used the little she had to get out, “You’re choking me.”

“Is that the angry one?” Raine’s voice was louder now. “You got her back there?”

Finally.

Finally, the brothers moved, allowing Frelina to peel herself off the wall, and she gulped down a few heavy breaths, grateful that the open door let in some of the fresh air from above.

Her eyes met bloodshot hazel as she lifted her head, and she quickly forced up the mental walls around her mind.

Raine’s mouth twitched ever so slightly as he let his gaze trail across her face, and she glared at him until he moved his burning eyes away.

She didn’t need to continue staring at him to understand where his gaze fell next, noting the shoulders flying up toward his ears, his back curving as if in pain.

“Can you get these off?” Frelina asked, letting her own eyes drop to her bound hands when it appeared as if everyone in the room had fallen silent, a wave of despair she knew could only come from Raine and Ardow realizing who lay in a heap those few feet away.

“Of course.”

It was the guard who responded, and while she’d heard when Raine told them of his blood oath, she couldn’t help but recoil as he bent down to unlock the clasps of her chains with a large, rusty key.

“I know.” The guard spoke before she had a chance to apologize. “There, you’re all set.”

She was grateful he didn’t offer her a hand, because unlike Thissian and Kerym, she didn’t feel like getting right to her feet when her wrists were finally free.

If she got up…

If she started walking…

That would mean it was time to leave her father behind, and that she wasn’t ready for yet.

More tears filled her eyes, even if she could hardly understand how she had any more of them within her. They soon started falling down her cheeks like a silent, soft stream weaving its way across an island, and Frelina bent her knees, hiding her face behind them.

“Let’s give Lessia and Merrick some time alone before we go up. I think they need it.”

Raine’s voice was soft as he spoke, and even without the image he allowed her to see within his mind, showing her that she could take all the time she needed, she knew he didn’t hold the others back just because of his friend and her sister.

Her body still shook when his large one slumped down beside her, and she didn’t stop him when he pulled her to him, tucking her body under his arm.