Page 71

Chapter

Sixty-Eight

W hen the music picked up speed and more people joined them on the floor, Loche eyed her, and she nodded when he jerked his head toward the refreshment table.

A few groups of other Fae came over, voicing their support to Loche, and while none of them bothered her, their scathing looks burned into her back when they finally offered their good-lucks and goodbyes.

Lessia shrugged it off.

At least her father was still nowhere to be seen.

She glanced at the door he’d exited, swallowing the guilt burning like bile in her throat.

She’d never thought she’d see him again.

Especially not under these circumstances.

Even if she didn’t have Ardow and everything else to deal with, the election and whatever was going on with her and Loche was already too much.

Throwing her father into the mix…

Her mind shattered .

She couldn’t think about him right now.

Her feelings would have to wait until this mess was over.

Loche sat down in one of the plush chairs beside the table, and when she made to sit down in the other, he frowned and pulled her onto his lap.

She eyed him when he wrapped his arms around her and positioned her sideways on his lap.

Loche gave her a lazy smirk. “Now that I have you, I am not letting you go.”

Wrapping an arm around his neck, she let her fingers play with his dark strands but remained quiet, her thoughts too muddled for her to come up with a playful response.

Or any response at all.

“I want to ask you something,” Loche murmured.

She searched his eyes, noting the soberness in them and a small ember of hope.

“Will you stay with me?” Loche pulled her closer, lowering his voice. “I mean, stay and rule with me. They’ve opened the vote, and it seems I will win, but I’d like to share the regent position with you. I think I have much to learn from you. Besides”—he winked—“we make a good team.”

The room around her started spinning.

She wanted nothing more than to tell him yes, tell him she would stay with him. Regardless of what position he offered her, she just wanted to be near him and breathe the same air as him for as long as she could.

But she needed to make sure her friends—her family—were safe.

And they would never be safe here.

Lessia clawed at her throat when it closed up.

“I need some air,” she got out as she jumped off his lap, rushing out of the room.

His steps echoed behind her, and Lessia flew up the nearest staircase, making her steps as silent as possible as she took every twist and turn she could to get rid of him.

Pausing behind a corner, she listened for steps, but hushed voices reached her ears instead. Lessia flattened herself against the wall, creeping into a dim alcove as the voices came closer.

“Both of them are in the cellar?”

Her father’s voice.

She pressed herself farther into the small space, her pulse thrumming.

“Yes.”

She swore to herself when Merrick’s shimmering hair came into view, her father’s brown mane a moment after.

“You know what you need to do,” her father mumbled.

Merrick nodded, but then he stilled, his nostrils flaring.

Lessia cursed again when his head tilted her way, but Merrick only rushed his steps, dragging her father with him.

She stayed there for a few minutes until she was sure they were long gone.

Slipping out of the alcove, she slammed right into Merrick’s chest.

He automatically reached out to steady her—or perhaps hold her in place, given the strong grip he kept on her arms.

“Eavesdropping, are we?” Merrick said, his voice worryingly low.

“No, I… I just needed to get away. I didn’t hear anything.” She glanced at the bottom of her golden dress, the hem now dirty and ripped from being dragged along the castle floor.

“You did. But it doesn’t matter. It was just some orders from our king.” Merrick released her arms. “Let’s go back to our chambers. I expect King Rioner to come tomorrow, and I guess you’ll have much to do once you’re free. ”

Lessia nodded slowly, and when Merrick turned around, she followed him.

They walked quietly until they reached the doors to their rooms.

She half expected him to barge into hers to give her another lecture, but Merrick opened his own door instead.

He hesitated for a moment, and with a quick glance at the corridor, he turned to her. “You should know something.”

She eyed him as he brushed some hair out of his face.

“Alarin’s daughter isn’t dead,” he whispered.

“W— what?” she stammered. “How?”

Merrick shook his head. “I can’t tell you, so please don’t ask me. I just needed you to know that guilt you’re carrying around… it’s unwarranted.”

A choked sound left her throat.

Her sister was alive?

Merrick reached out to squeeze her shoulder before he spun around and entered his chambers.

In a daze, she opened her door and, after closing it, slid down to the floor with her back against it.

Her eyes burned, and as she lifted her hand to her face, moisture seeped into her gloves, glistening tears dripping off her fingers when she lifted them.

She let out a strangled laugh.

Frelina was alive.

“I’m not sure if you’re crying or laughing.”

Lessia lifted her gaze as Loche rose from the bed.

When he stretched out a hand to help her up, she took it, wiping her cheeks with her other one.

Loche eyed her warily. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overwhelm you back there.”

She couldn’t help but smile at him .

Her sister was alive.

Nothing else mattered.

“I’m sorry for running away.” Lessia stepped into his space, wrapping her arms around him. “It’s just… I can’t, Loche. I have too many people relying on me.”

She pulled him to the bed, sighing when she kicked off the uncomfortable shoes she had squeezed her poor feet into.

Loche sat down next to her, his hand resting on her thigh. “I’ll make sure they’re taken care of. That’s what I was about to say when you ran off. I’ll even pardon Ardow if that’s what it takes for you to stay.”

Her eyes flew to his. “You would?”

Loche nodded. “And we’ll figure out a way to make sure Zaddock and Amalise can remain in Ellow. I promise you. I don’t want to live without him either.”

Lessia threw her arms around his neck, laughter bubbling up her throat.

Loche hugged her back, his smile evident against her neck. “We’ll figure it out, Lessia. Build a world where everyone is welcome, where everyone has a chance at a good life.”

Pulling back, she slammed her lips against his, pouring every ounce of the happiness that filled her into it.

Her sister was alive.

Her friends would be safe.

She would be safe.

Perhaps even loved.

Loche’s hands tangled in her hair as he kissed her, and when he pulled back, they were both out of breath, chests heaving against each other.

“Is that a yes?”

When she nodded, he shifted her down onto the bed and claimed her lips again .

She lost herself in him, kissing him until both sets of eyelids fluttered.

Their lips remained locked even as sleep took them.