The room thickened with unease, and in the end, it was Frelina who broke the silence, returning from the kitchen with two steaming cups of tea that she pressed into Merrick’s and Lessia’s hands.
“It’s killing them. The power is killing them, and they need to know how to stop it.” Frelina settled beside her sister, pulling up her knees to her chest as she leaned against her.
“Did you figure it out?” Frelina whispered when Lessia smiled at her.
The question was so silent, but everyone still heard it—and heard the fear in Frelina’s voice as her eyes traveled across the two drenched people who deserved so much fucking better than having to deal with another life-threatening blow.
Loche automatically took a step toward Iviry—another person who deserved so much more than what the world was offering her—but she smoothly danced away, moving to sit on the armrest of Merrick’s side of the couch.
“Kind of.” Lessia smiled at the room, although the shakiness of it betrayed her tiredness. “We need to go to Vastala and find someone who ‘clings to life,’ according to Merrick’s parents. Apparently some of the books from the old world might have answers.”
“Parents?” Raine gaped as he sat down in his chair again. “Merrick’s parents are dead.”
“They are,” Merrick responded, pulling Lessia against his chest when she started shivering like Iviry had. “By the gods’ hands, apparently. But they’re here. They’re in my magic. And it seems that all of this is happening in response to the gods becoming too strong. We’re nature’s way of fighting back.”
“But we need a balance,” Lessia added. “If not… we’ll die.”
“Why can’t you just not use the powers?” Amalise asked as she pushed at Zaddock’s hand, which held her shoulder. “If you don’t use it, there is no risk, right?”
“That’s not how magic works,” Pellie said as she let Kerym drag her to his side beside the table Amalise sat at. “It’s stillthere. Their powers still exist. And if they do so unchecked…”
“We will come with you,” Soria said, her voice soft. “Maybe there is something we don’t remember that these books can help rouse.”
“Thank you,” Lessia offered as her gaze flicked to Kerym. With another fast look at Merrick, she continued. “Kerym… Thissian is here. He… looked great. We didn’t have time to speak to him before… but he was smiling.”
Kerym’s mouth hiked up on one side. “I fucking knew it.” His eyes focused on one of the dark corners, as if Thissian would somehow show himself there. “I could feel you, brother. I knew you hadn’t moved on.” He turned back to Lessia. “I’ll also come with you. If there is a chance I can speak to him…” Kerym’s voice trailed off, and the look on his face made a small lump force its way into Loche’s throat as well.
“Well…” Loche cleared his throat. “You should probably leave soon, then, maybe even tomorrow, so you can make it back in time. We… Iviry and I are getting married in two weeks, and after that, we expect war to befall us.”
Loche would have laughed at Lessia’s and Merrick’s gaping mouths if he hadn’t caught how Iviry’s face fell before she managed to slap the fakest smile he’d ever seen onto it.
“You…” Lessia frowned at him, then moved to do the same to Iviry. “You’re getting married? In… two weeks?”
“Now, don’t go regretting your choice, Lessia,” Zaddock said, his smile teasing, although it quickly fell from his face when Amalise made a furious sound and slipped off the chair, moving to stand with crossed arms by the door.
Loche also shot his friend a warning look, and Zaddock’s mouth twisted to the side. His gaze filled with shame as it focused on the stoic Iviry, who refused to meet anyone’s eyes.
“I…” Lessia stared at Loche, that wrinkle between her brows deepening not because she was jealous but because… she was concerned.
It was as clear as the liquor in the glass that Loche rushed down when Merrick broke in.
“Congratulations,” the Death Whisperer offered, his voice carrying a note of something Loche didn’t fully understand. “It might be hasty, but… this is a good thing.”
The Fae warrior sounded about as certain as Loche felt, but Loche made himself nod. “It is a good thing. It’ll finally bring the people of Ellow and Vastala together, make us strong as we face the Oakgards’.”
“And you get to marry your mate,” Kerym said as he once again stared into that corner he’d focused on whenLessia told him about his brother. Then his gaze settled on Pellie, whose cheeks turned bright crimson under the intensity of his look. “Life is too short even when you’re immortal. You’re doing the right thing.”
Loche did everything he could to catch Iviry’s eyes, but her blues stared straight out the dark window, not a single feeling playing in the beautiful cerulean swirls.
Was it the right thing?
It was for his people. It was for Ellow.
And for himself? There was something in him that drew him to Iviry, and not just whatever the mating bond was. He respected her. He found her beautiful. He…
Her eyes snapped to his, and he was about to ask to speak to her alone when concern blazed bright within her gaze. She gestured out the window and declared, “Our guards are coming, and they look worried.”
Chapter 10
