Page 77 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile

When he finally lifted his gaze, Cedar had managed to snap his gaping lips shut.

But his voice still wavered as he responded, “I will. I will do anything I can to help. I am certain that when I tell my fatherwhat you did for me, he’ll want to stand with you, but I don’t know what that will help?”

Merrick really tried to stop letting his lips drag across the soft skin of Lessia’s neck when she spoke, but having her this close… breathing her in…

He couldn’t fucking help himself.

And she didn’t push him away—on the contrary, she leaned into his touch—so he hoped she didn’t give a shit, either, that they were surrounded by so many people.

“Your father,” Lessia started, but she had to clear her throat as her voice became breathy, and Merrick knew it wasn’t particularly mature, but more pride swelled within him when he sensed some of her pain dull, heat stroking its way within her like it did in himself.

“Your father,” Lessia tried again. “He has power over the other noble families. I need him to convince as many of them as he can not to fight. Ideally, they would join us, but I realize it might prove too much of a challenge, so I ask only that they do not fight in Rioner’s war. He lost today… and I have a feeling he will do anything in his power not to repeat what happened here. He will ask the Vastala Fae to join the Oakgards’ Fae’s fight to take down Ellow. So please… please help us convince them not to.”

The silence stretching out across both ships as Lessia’s words sank into frightened minds roared louder than the wind. While the thought had already crossed Merrick’s mind, he had to clutch Lessia tighter as the reality of her words settled within him.

There would be war.

In only a few weeks, there would be bloodshed and death and pain, and Lessia would be right in the middle of it.

“I will do whatever I can.” Cedar drew back his shoulders. “I will go straight there.”

“Thank you.” Lessia touched his hand with her broken one. “Loche has promised to take you as far as he can.”

Cedar bowed to her before he backed away. Actually bowed in the way Fae bowed only to their monarchs, and another one of those waves of pride washed over Merrick.

Lessia was born for this.

She might not believe it, but she was born to be a queen, and even though she might never take on the title—wear the crown her Rantzier blood entitled her—she would always be his queen.

He’d fall to his knees before her any day.

Worship her in the way she deserved.

Follow her every command.

When Cedar reached the other ship and they pulled up their brow, Lessia spun in Merrick’s arms, and as she wrapped her own around him, lifting her face to his, he could see she needed to be alone.

Needed to not be the leader.

The sister.

The friend.

The…

He frowned as she continued to stare into his eyes, trying to read the many emotions tangled within her.

No, she didn’t need to be alone. Not entirely. Despite everything, he smiled at her.

She neededhim.

She wantedhim.

And since she was everything he needed in the world—more than air, water, or food—he wasn’t about to waste a single second as Loche’s ship lifted its sails and began weaving its way through the waves.

Ignoring Raine and Frelina, Merrick swept Lessia up, cradling her to his chest, and took the few steps to the doorleading down to the sleeper cabins on Rioner’s ship as quickly as he could.

As he swung the door open, he turned his head and hissed, “Don’t you fucking dare come down here,” before stalking through it and letting it slam behind them.