Marriage?
He’d barely spoken to her!
But as he met more eyes of his people and the fear in them faded, something akin to hope blistering there, he swallowed any and all arguments he’d had against it.
He’d pledged to do everything in his power to keep Ellow safe, and so far… he’d not honored that vow exceptionally well.
This? If this… marriage was what would keep his people safe—make them unite with the Fae to save their world… what choice did he have? It was his duty as regent, and besides… it wasn’t like the one he’d once hoped to marry was available anymore.
As he caught more of his people’s gazes, watching them evaluate how he responded to this suggestion, Loche thought that he and Lessia would never have lived this down—would have never found that happy ending.
He’d been so naive, thinking he could offer her to rule beside him.
While Havlands and Ellow had come far during his years as regent, they weren’t there yet. Today had made that very clear.
And for the first time… no stab of pain jolted him as he thought of it.
He still loved her. He always would. But… he’d let her go. He really had.
After seeing Merrick save her that day… after seeing what the Fae warrior was willing to sacrifice… there wasn’t anything left in Loche that believed she shouldn’t be with him.
Zaddock’s blue gaze was the only one amongst his people that filled with worry instead of hope as Loche’s touched it, but there was also something in there fighting the concern for Loche. It was… fuck, it was relief—relief that could only come from being able to keep the stubborn blonde he chased after safe.
That ember of peace in his friend’s eyes made up his mind.
Turning toward Iviry, he pursed his lips, trying to read something—anything—in her face. But her beautiful features were void of emotion as she stared back at him, and when he raised his brows, the female only bowed her head.
In agreement or sorrow, Loche didn’t know.
He could feel both from her.
“Then we shall marry,” she stated when silencestretched on too long. “A true bond, mated leaders, and a joint council will unite Vastala and Ellow. All our people will be protected, kept safe, through the oath we will swear to each other.”
Loche took a step toward her when her voice shook—just for a second—but she placed a hand on his arm, and to most eyes it probably looked like a loving squeeze, but it wasn’t love at all.
Iviry gently shifted him so she was closest to the door, and she had already begun walking toward it as she declared, “W-we’ll take a break now to discuss how to set everything up—and what the implications of this will be for Havlands’ future. We’ll… we’ll meet again tonight to discuss the prisoners.”
Her luminous hair flew behind her as she stormed out into the rain, and Loche knew…
The door that thudded shut behind her wasn’t just to this old house.
Chapter 5
Frelina
It was as if the group of friends were all of one mind, because no one spoke, and still they all made their way back to the house Frelina, Raine, Merrick, and Elessia had stayed in the night before.
She didn’t know why—theirs wasn’t anything special, just another one of the smaller, crumbling stone homes—but perhaps it was because they had all followed Elessia after whatever had happened back there.
Frelina’s eyes were still wide as she watched her sister, who leaned her cheek against Merrick’s shoulder as he carried her a few steps ahead on the wet path.
It was as if Elessia had taken another form when she’d conjured that magic, or whatever it was that had her call forth those souls. It had sounded kind of like Merrick’s, but also didn’t. She’d almost glowed, her voice shifting into something that was so clearly hers but that also sounded otherworldly.
Elessia’s eyes fluttered as they brushedpast her own, and Frelina frowned when her sister’s ones shut, her body going limp. Then Merrick staggered, and had that horrible day when Elessia died not happened, watching the Death Whisperer fall to his knees amidst the sharp rocks scattered across the path would have been the most terrifying thing Frelina had ever seen.
“Merrick!” Kerym sprinted to reach his friend, Raine beside him.
Frelina could only watch as the two Fae warriors blanched while pulling Merrick back onto his feet, shifting Elessia into Kerym’s arms.
