Page 28 of A Promise so Bold and Broken (Compelling Fates Saga #2)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

L essia stared after the ship as it retreated into the fog that had started gathering across the surface of the sea.

The empty silence as the wind died down mirrored the feeling within her, and she dug her nails into the wood of the railing, feeling as if she might jump off if she didn’t hold on.

The others had tried to talk to her—apart from Merrick, who, as usual, understood that she needed some time to process what just happened—but she hadn’t been able to form words and had shaken off every soothing hand that tried to rub her shoulder or back.

She’d just gotten her back…

She’d promised to keep her safe…

But now her sister was on the way to, or already in, the one place their father had spent his whole life trying to keep them hidden from.

The place that had nearly broken Lessia herself.

Lessia’s hands tightened around the railing, so hard that shavings of wood pierced her skin.

She didn’t care.

She was so sick of these leaders who only took and took and took, not caring who they hurt in the process.

Meyah didn’t care for her people!

Like Rioner, she only wanted power.

As Lessia stared out over the calm sea, small islands broke through the white clouds dancing across the dark water, some with thawing snow still peppering their cliffs, and Lessia realized they were in the outskirts of Ellow.

Loche…

He was perhaps the only leader who truly had his people’s best interests at heart.

She knew he’d cared for her, and still, he’d turned her away because of what she’d done to his lands…

To Ellow.

Had taken the hurt himself for his people.

A cold hand gripped her heart.

Loche was selfless in a way she hadn’t learned yet.

Every nerve within her screamed at her to turn around—to sail to Vastala as fast as possible and waste whatever lives she needed to get her sister out.

But…

It was bigger than her and Frelina.

Wasn’t it?

She was doing this for herself and for her family, yes.

But also for her friends.

For her staff.

For the people in Ellow—the innocent people unwilling to join a ruthless rebellion against a leader they loved and respected.

A people that would bleed with the rebel attack.

Then bleed again once the Oakgards’ Fae ships reached their borders.

Gritting her teeth, Lessia thought this world had truly learned nothing.

Meyah was happy to sacrifice a people like hers had once been.

Rioner would turn against an ally that had fought with his people, suffering great losses, not too long ago.

But Loche…

He’d listened.

He’d changed his priorities when she’d shared her experiences with him.

He’d accepted the half-Fae children without question—even with the illegal ways they’d been brought to Ellow.

Her blurred vision cleared.

She would get Frelina out.

By whatever means it took.

But there were other things that needed to fall into place. Other people to save. A whole realm to protect.

Lessia’s gaze remained fixed on the islands they sailed past when Merrick silently joined her, resting his arms on the railing to level his face with hers.

“The plan hasn’t changed,” Lessia stated, surprised at how strong her voice sounded. “We need to convince Loche, perhaps now more than ever. And… after that, we’ll find her. If I have to kill Rioner to do so, then so be it.”

“I will help you get her back.” Raine walked up to her other side, his eyes hard when she briefly met them. “I should have kept a closer eye on her. It’s my fault. I’ve already sent one of my eagles to inform your father of what happened, but if he can’t get to her, I will do everything in my power to.”

Lessia gave him a sad smile as she shook her head. “It was no one’s fault. I’m starting to think the damn fates are forcing us to face what my father tried so hard to keep us shielded from. But do you know what I think about that?”

She glanced from Merrick to Raine when they turned toward her. “Fuck fate. Fuck these leaders who think they can control us by threatening us. Fuck the gods who started this endless fight for power. I will not let them tell me how my life will end up. We are in charge now, and we will make the decisions we damned well please.”

Merrick’s lips lifted into a smile.

One of those smiles that knocked the air right out of her with how surprisingly bright and beautiful it was and how little it made him look like the terrifying Death Whisperer.

Raine, on the other hand, surveyed her for a long while, a wrinkle deepening his usual frown as his gaze sliced from her to Merrick.

“What?” she finally asked when the silence stretched too long.

“Nothing,” he muttered.

“Just tell me,” she hissed, unable to control the irritation in her voice.

She’d felt like Raine had kept something from her for a while now, and she was getting tired of it.

“We’re almost there!” Kerym called out as he swung himself down from the mast, landing with a grin before Lessia.

After offering her a little bow, he grabbed her hand and pressed his lips against it. “I agree with you. Fuck fate. Fate let me meet my mate only to take her from me. I am in the mood for a little revenge. And if that revenge includes taking out Rioner… count me in.”

Lessia couldn’t help but grin at him, the frustration melting off her like the droplets of cold rain that began to pepper their faces as she let him pull her into a half embrace. “You and me both.”

“And me,” Merrick grumbled as he nudged Kerym out of the way and tucked Lessia against his body.

Kerym began laughing, and Lessia raised her brows as she glanced from Merrick to him.

When Merrick gave her one of those glacial glares, she tilted her head. “Do you know how annoying it is when you finally have that beautiful smile on your face only to revert to the broody male you always are a moment later?”

As Kerym’s laugh turned into a howl, Raine spit out the liquor he’d just poured into his mouth, and even Merrick’s jaw dropped an inch before his face hardened again.

Shifting her so she stood before him, Merrick aligned their bodies so she was pressed against him, and his nose nearly touched hers when he leaned in.

“Stop angering me, then,” he said softly.

Angling up her head so their faces got even closer, sending a tingle down her spine, she rasped, “I am not trying to anger you.”

Merrick’s mouth twitched. “And yet you’re so good at it.”

Fighting the smile pushing to lift her lips, she shrugged. “I have had a lot of practice.”

Merrick’s nose brushed along hers, slowly, deliberately, and her knees went weak. “Maybe I need to train you to please me instead of piss me off.”

Lessia’s response stuck in her dry throat.

Was that…

Did he mean?

Yes.

His onyx eyes went impossibly darker, and when she nervously licked her lips, his gaze flew down, a sharp breath leaving him.

Heat pooled within her, and the urge to jump up on him—crawl into his lap and wrap her hands into his hair like she’d done by the fireplace on Raine’s island—nearly took over.

Especially when a challenge burned in Merrick’s eyes.

A challenge asking her if she dared.

If she wanted to play.

You make me happy.

Lessia blinked.

And he definitely made her something else as well…

Only because Ardow’s sorrow-filled voice sliced through the heavy air could she tear her eyes away.

But her legs still nearly gave away when she turned around to approach Ardow where he lingered by one of the masts, especially when a dark chuckle left Merrick.

Turning her head over her shoulder, she threw him a glare.

Merrick only grinned back—the smile so wide her own mouth snapped into a mirroring one before she could stop herself.

What was happening?

Lessia’s face burned when she realized Kerym and Raine still snickered, and when Ardow’s brows rested almost by his hairline, she dragged him with her to the other side of the ship.

“I know,” she said when they were out of earshot. “I know. Frelina just got kidnapped, the world is ending, and I’m flirting with the Death Whisperer. I’ve lost my mind.”

“Actually.” Ardow rested an arm on the railing. “I think your mind has never been more clear.”

Lessia narrowed her eyes.

Lifting a hand, Ardow used his thumb to smooth out the wrinkle between her brows. “Look at you. Your sister was just kidnapped, but instead of dropping everything and hurtling after her, you’re thinking like a leader.” Ardow shook his head. “I’m so sorry I didn’t see it before. You were right. The rebels are approaching this the wrong way. But you’re not, Lia. You are a real leader. Someone who truly cares about this botched world—even cares about the people that treated you like trash.”

“I don’t know…” she started, but Ardow shook his head again.

“I do. You were born for this, Lessia. Your compassion and loyalty will make you a great ruler should that be the path you’d like to start down. And even if not, I believe people will still follow you in this war.”

Lessia swallowed the lump in her throat.

She had no desire to lead.

It was true that she wanted a better world—that she’d fight for it.

But she did not want to be the one to lead it.

Especially if it forced her to make decisions like that of today—where she couldn’t forget everything she had planned and follow her sister.

“We’re almost there.” Ardow gestured toward the tall cliffs skirting the eastern part of Asker, glimpsed through the fog in the distance. “Raine was able to drive the mind seer from my mind, so Venko and I will go to the cave, but…” Ardow hesitated, his eyes wandering from the island to her and back again.

“Tell me, Ard.” Lessia eyed him, noting the conflicting emotions fighting across his features.

“I don’t think we should flee with them.” Ardow sighed as he turned to face her fully. “It’s not what they’ll want. I propose we allow the children to help us in this war.”

“I don’t know…” Lessia rubbed her face.

Some of them were only twelve, thirteen…

They couldn’t ask this of them.

Not after what they’d seen already in their young lives.

“Lessia, you rescued them for a better life. What if we tell them they’re going into hiding again while we fight for others to have the same? We do not force them; some are too young, but we should give them a chance if they want it. Also… some of them have abilities that could be very useful.”

Throwing her head back, she stared at the darkening sky.

She’d have wanted the choice if it had been her in their place.

Her mind traveled to that night with Ledger—how he’d cried and asked her why they’d killed his friend.

How he’d taken his name in honor of the sacrifice.

Many of them still had friends on the streets…

And who was she to tell them what they could and could not do?

Inclining her head again, she stared into Ardow’s brown eyes. “You’re right. But they will get a choice. Bring those who want to fight back to the capital—but wait for my signal to come to the castle. If they capture and kill us… you get as far away from Havlands as you can. Do you hear me?”

When he nodded, tears glimmered in Ardow’s eyes, and she cleared her throat to quell the ones pricking her own.

When she reached out to squeeze his hand, Ardow smiled through the tears. “Also… I don’t think Merrick is the worst choice. Even if he scares me to death.”

Lessia rolled her eyes. “It’s just flirting. I think he’s trying to distract me—keep me from getting overwhelmed.”

“I doubt that.” Ardow rolled his eyes. “And I think it’s about to get quite messy once Loche is back in the game.”

Smacking his arm, Lessia responded, “Loche hates me. He’ll never care for me again.”

“I doubt that too,” Ardow said as he took the lead down the stairs into the cabin, where the others were already packing the bags they’d brought with them, preparing to get off the ship that wove through the small islands peppering the water outside Asker.