Page 25 of A Promise so Bold and Broken (Compelling Fates Saga #2)

Chapter Twenty-Five

“S o… you stole this ship?”

Lessia leaned one of her elbows on the railing, peeking over the wood at the spectacular warship, then moved her eyes back to Merrick where he stood on the deck beside her.

They’d bid goodbye to her father earlier in the afternoon, and Lessia could still feel his embrace, the warmth of his arms as they wrapped around her, holding on so tight it felt as if he never wanted to let go.

When silence had fallen in the room after their discussion of what to do, Lessia had pulled her father and Frelina aside to ask him if he wanted her to return his memories.

He’d hesitated, and when the first word out of his mouth was “no,” the sense of hope that had filled her nearly vanished before he pulled her into an embrace, whispering that he didn’t want to risk it when he was to return to his brother’s side.

As Alarin sniffed against her hair, a pearl of emotion escaped down her cheek.

And that was that.

Tears had begun falling down Frelina’s face as she watched them, and the rest of the group had backed away when Lessia pulled her into their hug.

Her father had sobbed as he held on to them, whispering how proud their mother would have been, how she would have stood beside them on that ship if she could.

She and Frelina still had dampness coating their faces as they waved at their father’s ship, which was quickly disappearing into the thick white blanket that kept the island hidden.

As soon as it vanished from view, they went to join the others as they boarded the ship they were meant to travel on.

But while the rest had headed into the cabin to get everything set up—and probably also to pick the best beds, based on Raine’s mutterings—Lessia had stayed on the deck, needing the crisp wind to fuel the fragile hope and resolve that had ignited within her.

Merrick had joined her without a word.

“I did steal it. A long time ago,” he responded as his sharp gaze traveled across the mist beginning to surround them—the mist that had already shrouded the island from view.

As Lessia followed it, Ydren’s head broke the surface, and the cry she let out tugged so hard at Lessia’s heart that she had to look away—and force herself not to cover her ears.

Raine had ordered Ydren to stay back until he called for her.

Apparently, she’d been so young when her family was slaughtered that she’d never been trained in battle, and Raine didn’t want her anywhere near Rioner, should he somehow find them.

Lessia hadn’t argued, having grown quite fond of the terrifying creature.

“Tell me how you stole it, then.” Lessia went to elbow Merrick to keep her mind from lingering on the sorrowful sound, but he was faster.

Gripping her elbow, he pulled her against his body, his face stern as he stared down at her.

“How many times do I need to tell you not to lose focus?”

“Hmm, many?” Lessia’s voice wavered a little as she became acutely aware of how hard Merrick’s heart slammed against his chest, its beats echoing through her, quickening her own rhythm.

Placing a hand on his chest, right over his heart, she let out a soft breath when it drummed against her palm, its beats so wild she thought they might shake the ship if they hastened further, and an idea formed in her slightly clouded mind.

“Lessia?” Merrick asked hoarsely as he released her arm.

“Mm?” she hummed as she snaked the now-free arm around his waist.

Merrick’s muscles went taut as her hand skimmed over his back, fingers dragging over the hard muscles playing beneath his tunic.

“What are you doing?” he rasped.

“This.”

A triumphant grin spread across her face when she jumped back, holding the sword she’d eased out of its scabbard, and lifted it between them.

Her smile widened when Merrick stared at it, his body frozen for a moment before his hand grasped at the empty belt by his side.

“Who needs to focus now?” Lessia teased, fighting with all her might to hold back the giggle eager to burst out of her.

Merrick looked furious—his dark eyes so wild she wondered for a moment if she’d gone too far.

Swallowing, she thought it best to keep her mouth shut right now.

Taking a deliberate step toward her, Merrick’s voice lowered into a deep, purring growl. “A few weeks of training, and you think you know it all.”

Lessia shrugged, shifting the heavy sword into her other hand.

The movement was a little clumsier than she’d wanted, the sword much heavier than her daggers.

Still, it had the desired effect when Merrick’s eyes followed it instead of her shuffling back, positioning her feet wide, anticipating the attack she was certain he was planning.

But Merrick didn’t lunge at her.

Instead, he took another slow step forward.

Another.

And another.

Until he finally stood with the tip of the blade pressing into his leather-clad chest.

Her hand shook as she glanced from the sword to his eyes.

“What… what are you doing?” she whispered.

“What you should have done as soon as you got the sword away from me,” Merrick growled. “You. Do. Not. Hesitate.”

Lessia tried to plaster the smile back on her face. “I was just playing around.”

Merrick’s eyes captured hers. “There is no playing in war.”

“I know.” Lessia tightened her grip on the sword. “But you and I aren’t at war.”

“Aren’t we?” Merrick raised a brow, and Lessia’s face heated.

When she remained quiet, silently cursing the cheeks she expected to be bright red, Merrick shook his head.

And within a second, he’d disarmed her, his chest pressed against her back as he breathed into her hair.

“You should finish what you start, Lessia.” Each word came out on an exhalation, the warmth of his breaths brushing her neck. “Or you might find yourself in a… tricky situation.”

Her body reacted instantly, melting against Merrick’s, before she regained control over her muscles and straightened her weak legs, although she still had to fight against her frame’s wish to merge with the one behind her.

It apparently wanted to find itself in whatever tricky situation Merrick referred to.

“Are you teaching her to flirt her enemies to death, or what is happening here?”

A snarl escaped Merrick as his head snapped up.

After blinking for a few moments, her blurry gaze following the swirls of mist that now completely swallowed them, Lessia also lifted her gaze.

Kerym grinned at them both from where he was perched on a wooden mast, legs dangling out over the sea, which had begun foaming around the ship.

Releasing her, Merrick took a step back and sheathed his sword. “Whatever will save her life.”

“Right.” Kerym arched his brows as he hoisted himself off the beam, landing gracefully before Lessia and Merrick.

“So… I’ve heard you’re a pretty strong mind-bender.” Kerym strolled up to her, his finger dragging over Lessia’s collarbone, the nail scratching against her leather tunic. “That you were able to keep even Raine out of your head.”

Lessia shot a quick glance at Merrick, who followed Kerym’s movements closely before looking back at her.

Don’t lose focus.

She could almost hear his growl in her mind.

Snapping her gaze back to where Kerym pranced around her like a wolf assessing its prey, she nodded. “I can only control one person at a time, but my magic also worked on Raine’s wyvern.”

“Ah, so not just on humans, shifters, and Fae, but also on magical creatures. That’s interesting.”

Kerym smiled at her, and she couldn’t help but smile back as warmth crawled over her scalp, the feeling similar to the warmth of the alcohol she’d ingested the night before.

“It is,” she said softly as her breathing slowed, the frantic beat of her heart, which never seemed to dull, finally easing.

Kerym hummed somewhere around her, but she was too tired to continue following his movements.

Sleep.

She wanted to sleep.

Maybe she’d sleep right here?

The wooden planks beneath her looked quite welcoming.

Someone cleared their throat before her, and a voice rolled through her like a gentle wave lapping the white beach of Raine’s island.

Don’t lose focus .

When Kerym halted before her, she met his crystal gaze, and it felt as if she were dreaming.

His golden skin brightened, his dark hair started shining like newly polished leather, and his blue eyes became clearer than the summer sky that should be hovering somewhere above the fog.

A wrinkle formed between her brows as she tried to rack her tired brain.

Kerym’s white canines glinted as his lips curled into a smile.

But it wasn’t a nice one.

No, even if her features itched to mirror the man before her, something inside her made her uneasy—a feeling of dread coating her body, joining the droplets from the mist that danced over any bare skin.

Lessia shuddered when she sluggishly tried to rub her hands over her arms to get it off.

It wasn’t dread coating her skin.

It was magic.

Clamping her eyes shut, Lessia tried to feel where and how Kerym’s magic connected with hers.

Siphon Twin.

Like Raine, he also wielded mental magic.

Which meant…

She forced her gaze inward—like she’d done when she believed Raine threatened Merrick.

Even if she moved slower, her energy worryingly low, she soon could open an eye within her mind.

Staring back at her were two sapphires, glittering within the darkness that was her mind.

She’d been too rushed when Raine had stalked toward Merrick—hadn’t really given whatever she saw a second thought.

But now she wondered whether this was actually her mind or if she somehow subconsciously had decided these shadows, the hard floor that reminded her of Rioner’s cellars, was her consciousness.

She pushed the thought away when her knees went weak, her arms blindly moving behind her to try to find the railing she knew existed somewhere in the real world.

Instead, she glared right into the gemstones before her, ignoring the deepening shadows around them.

“G-get out,” she stuttered as she pulled on her magic.

But no golden glow reflected in the vivid blue.

Instead, the stones, as if in defiance, sparkled brighter, seemingly growing within the dark room.

You lost focus, you idiot.

Lessia’s thought echoed within the thickening shadows, and pressure built upon her chest when they crept closer, sounds that she never wished to hear again mounting within them.

Dripping of water on stone.

Metal scraping against the floor.

A damp blindfold being wrapped too tightly around her eyes.

No.

She’d told herself she wasn’t doing this anymore.

Enough!

Focus on the anger.

The memory of Merrick’s voice broke through the sounds, and with a snarl, Lessia pulled up every ounce of magic left within her.

Eyes flying open, she screamed, “Get out! Get the fuck out!”

The sapphires evaporated.

And so did the darkness.

Waves brushing the side of the ship joined the deep voice whispering “Good” into her ears, and when she lifted her eyes, out of one corner she caught Merrick hovering behind her left shoulder.

Kerym grinned at her when she found his blue gaze. “You held on longer than I thought you would.”

She couldn’t stop herself.

Taking a step forward, she flashed her teeth at him.

“Isn’t it quite stupid of you to drain my energy when we’re heading out into dangerous waters?” she hissed.

Kerym popped his shoulders. “Needed to see if you’d be of any help.”

Lessia tapped her boot on the wood when he didn’t continue. “So?”

“So… what?”

“Am I going to be of help?” she gritted through her teeth, the urge to punch Kerym’s satisfied face nearly overpowering the heavy tiredness on her limbs.

He seemed to mull it over for a moment, and it wasn’t until Merrick growled under his breath behind her that he threw out his hands. “Sure. With more training, you could be an asset. Right now, you’re… ah! What’s the word? Unpolished.”

Merrick’s growl became more menacing.

Kerym’s eyes lifted above her head. “I’m not saying she isn’t strong or that she couldn’t be of help. It’s just… she probably won’t be able to withstand for long when it comes to the Fae. I don’t know these rebels, but if there are shifters and half-Fae amongst them as well… She didn’t even realize I was using my magic initially.”

“ She is right here,” Lessia snarled. “I might not have trained for centuries like you old bastards, but I am trying! I am willing to train for as long as we have. And if I can help take one—just one!—enemy down, that’s a win, right?”

Curiosity fought across Kerym’s features. “You’re willing to die for this? For these people?”

“Of course I am,” Lessia responded. “They’re my people. And Ellow is my home.”

“Your home…” Kerym mumbled as his eyes flitted between her and Merrick—she assumed—behind her, his forehead creasing before he nodded once. “All right. Then we train for as long as we can.”

“My turn?” Raine strolled onto the deck, and her sister followed close behind, a surly expression twisting her face.

“N— Yes.”

She’d almost told him she needed to lie down first, but after her declaration…

She probably needed to ensure she lived up to her words.

With a sigh, Lessia planted her feet and glared right into Raine’s eyes, praying he wouldn’t drag up every embarrassing memory she could think of if she failed.