Page 73

Chapter

Seventy

W ith her hands on her knees, she tried to mute the cry that forced its way up her throat, soft whimpers leaving her as waves and waves of pain washed through her body.

“Lessia, come with me. Quickly!”

Through blurry eyes, she made out Zaddock’s worried face and didn’t bother to ask where he was taking her as her heart broke, a silent scream tearing through her mind.

Zaddock dragged her into an empty room at the end of the corridor, closing the door behind them. “I heard every word. I am so sorry, Lessia.”

Tears dripped down her face when she lifted it to meet his eyes. “Why? I did this to him. I deserve this.”

She choked when another sharp pain jabbed at her heart.

She did deserve this.

She’d known all along what would happen when he found out.

And she’d still gone along with it—had still allowed him to fall for her deceit .

“No one deserves that.” Zaddock shook his head. “I will get you out of here. You need to leave immediately. I don’t know how they let you walk out alive, but you need to go before they change their minds.”

“I can’t!” she cried. “I—I can’t leave them all. Merrick and Ardow… They’ll kill them!”

“Hush!” Zaddock opened the door and peeked out, then turned back to her. “I can get you into the cellars and show you a way for all of you to leave undetected, but we need to go now .”

She stared at him, a hiccup breaking through the sobs. “Why… why would you do that?”

Zaddock scratched his chin. “I’m being sent away anyway. And while I don’t blame Loche for his reaction today, I think it was rash. He will regret it. Well, when he remembers. And when he does, this is what he would want for you.”

Trying to force more than a shallow breath into her lungs, Lessia hiccuped again. “H—he won’t remember. Not unless I or my… Alarin undo it.”

Zaddock bore his eyes into hers. “Let’s hope for his sake you will.”

He opened the door again, placing a finger over his lips.

Lessia followed him as they made their way down into the cellars as quietly as possible. She expected to be stopped every time they passed a guard, but they must not have heard the news because they smiled and waved at them, some slapping Zaddock on the back for Loche’s win.

When they entered, Zaddock convinced them Lessia had been granted time alone with the prisoners, and she could barely believe it when they nodded and left their posts to walk up and grab some food from the kitchen.

Ardow sat against the wall with Venko beside him when she rushed in, and his eyes widened when he noticed her tear-streaked face. “What…”

Lessia shook her head, wiping at her face. “We don’t have time. We need to leave. Where is Merrick?”

Ardow pointed to the cell opposite them, and Lessia’s heart hammered against her rib cage at the blood pooling on the floor beneath the Fae.

But as Zaddock opened the door and she crouched down beside him, she realized he was conscious.

Pulling at his arm, she tried to get him to rise, but Merrick only rolled onto his side.

“Merrick, come on! They’ll kill you!” she hissed.

“You need to go without me. I was ordered to stay by our dear king.”

Merrick slammed his hand against the stone. “I was so stupid! I thought all the Fae had left when I came down here, but one of those sneaky bastards must have seen me and alerted King Rioner.”

Lessia swore.

She’d forgotten about his blood oath.

But she’d nearly been able to resist it, and she wasn’t even a full Fae…

Perhaps there was a way.

“Merrick, look at me.” She pulled at his arm again. “Look at me!”

“You know I can’t do that. I was ordered not to,” he snarled, his hands flexing by his sides.

“Trust me,” she snarled back. “You can resist it.”

Zaddock paced outside the cell. “You need to hurry, Lessia. They’ll figure out something is amiss soon.”

“Lessia, you have to leave him,” Ardow called, his voice soft.

“No! I am not leaving you behind, you stubborn male.” She grabbed his face in her hands and turned it toward her. “Look. At. Me.”

“It will kill me to break the oath,” he warned.

“It will kill you to stay here too. Wouldn’t you rather go down fighting?”

Merrick clenched his jaw, but his eyelids fluttered.

“Yes! Push back,” she urged.

A drop of blood snaked its way out of his nose, and his eyelids opened a fraction.

“Come on, Merrick. You’re the Death Whisperer, for gods’ sake! You can do this.”

With a hiss, Merrick’s eyes flew open and locked with hers.

She inhaled sharply as his eyes pierced into her amber ones.

She’d been right—they were dark.

Almost black.

But they also had swirling silver flecks in them, mirroring the pearly lock of hair that lay across his forehead.

They were like a night sky brightened by a million stars.

“Hi,” he whispered.

“Hi,” she rasped, something surging inside her as she stared into his starry eyes.

But as more blood rushed down his chin and his face blanched, she gripped his shoulders tightly.

Pulling on her magic, Lessia prayed she was right about this.

“What are you—” Merrick’s eyes glazed, his face softening, as she drew on every bit of magic inside her.

“You will break the blood oath, and you will live. You will survive it. You are strong enough,” she ordered, the purr of her voice joining the pulse buzzing in her ears .

Merrick dipped his chin, and Lessia blinked, forcing the magic from her eyes.

His dark ones focused, his face hardening, and she held on to his hand as he came to.

Please, let it work. Please, please, she begged whoever was listening.

“Fuck!” Merrick ripped his hand free to grip his arm.

As he pulled up his jacket, they both stared in wonder at the fading tattoo—how welts and burned skin were soon the only thing marring his tan arm.

Merrick released a choked breath, and as his eyes found hers again, gratitude shone brightly in the darkness. Pulling her down, he locked his arms around her neck, and Lessia let out another sob—a sob of relief that her not-so-well-thought-out plan had worked.

“You really need to leave.”

She pulled back as Zaddock’s urgent whisper reached her ears, and the sound of footsteps coming down a stairway joined it.

With a nod, she rose to her feet, pulling Merrick with her.

The Fae limped after her as she left the cell, and she jerked her head toward Ardow. “Him as well.”

“Let me come with you.” Venko pushed himself upright. “Please.”

She shook her head, unable to meet his eyes.

Three was plenty when you were on the run.

They didn’t also need Venko slowing them down.

“I have a ship!” He sprinted to the bars. “They can get us out of here unnoticed. I trust the crew with my life.”

She glanced at Merrick, who shrugged. “Do you have a better plan?”

Lessia sighed shakily. “Fine! But let’s go, they’re coming. ”

The steps she’d heard before were close to reaching the bottom of the cellars.

Zaddock unlocked the door, and Ardow leaned on Venko as they exited the cell.

“There is a tunnel back there. Take the first right, and it will lead you down into the sewers. Once you’re down there, keep to the left, and you’ll find a path straight to the harbor.”

Zaddock pointed into the darkness, and Lessia drew deep breaths against the unease that tightened her chest.

As Merrick and the two men started toward it, Lessia grabbed Zaddock’s hand. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

He winked. “Put in a good word for me with Amalise when you see her next, will you?”

Her face crumpled at the thought of her friend, and Zaddock quickly pressed her hand. “I won’t let anything happen to her. I promise. I’ll take her with me when I leave today. Throw her over my shoulder if I must.”

“W-we have some… some friends you need to help as well. Amalise will know what to do,” she got out.

When Zaddock nodded, she managed to offer him a sad smile before the steps rumbled far too close for her liking.

With a final glance at him, she sprinted after the others, catching up with the males just as they found the entrance to the tunnel.

The journey to the harbor passed in a blur, and she barely noticed the vile water seeping into her clothing as they waded through it.

Fortunately, Venko kept his word.

With hoods covering their faces, they found their way to an old trade ship, and when the crew recognized Venko, they urged them into a small cabin, where they each collapsed atop a narrow cot.

But as the boat started cutting through the waves, Lessia climbed the wooden ladder leading to the stern, ignoring Venko calling for her to stay down until they were out of sight.

Stepping up to the railing, she watched Asker grow smaller and smaller until the island she’d called home for so long was merely a dot on the horizon.

Silent tears snaked their way down her cheeks.

But she let them fall.

Let them fall for Amalise.

For Kalia and Ledger and Fiona.

For her father.

And for Loche.

For the man who’d put her heart together, only to rip it out and throw it away as if she were nothing.

Merrick joined her at some point, and when he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, she leaned into him, letting him hold together the broken pieces she was now made up of.

When even her Fae sight wouldn’t let her see the island anymore, she looked up at him.

She had so many questions to ask, but right now, she couldn’t bring herself to, so she settled on “What do we do now?”

Merrick eyed her for a moment. “I know somewhere safe we could go. But I have to warn you. I am not sure that we’ll get the warmest of welcomes.”

She forced a teary smile. “I don’t think there are many places in Havlands where we’ll be welcomed at all.”

His mouth twitched, and a flicker of amusement sparkled in his dark eyes. “Then it’s time for you to meet Raine.”