“We’ll need them on our side,” Lessia reminded everyone, although it wasn’t just Raine’s brows that flew up when she added, “But we can’t risk anything. If we can’t trust someone… we’ll leave them behind.”
Loche inclined his head. “You’re right.” He met Merrick’s eyes briefly. “We’ll require your help with the Oakgards. We need to know what they know. With any means necessary.”
Merrick stared back at the regent before shifting to Kerym, who bowed his head, and then to Raine, who also made himself nod.
Torture… his least favorite thing. Especially fucking sober.
But he’d promised Frelina a better world. And even if she didn’t know of his vow, he’d do whatever the fuck he could to live up to it.
“Better not waste any more time, then,” Raine muttered as he stepped toward the door.
Lessia and Merrick shakily got up from the couch, and even though neither of them complained, something sharp pierced Raine’s heart when they had to lean against each other to be able to shuffle forward.
“Iviry,” Merrick called as the copper-haired leader went to take the lead toward the murky cellars where they’d left all the prisoners—the one where all walls were laced with Vincere, as it apparently had kept theshifters from changing forms and getting out during the war.
As Iviry turned around, she couldn’t hide the worry shooting across her face, but Merrick ignored it as he continued.
“We need to get to Vastala as soon as possible.” His grip on Elessia’s shoulders tightened for a second. “We’ll come back in time for the battle, I promise you that. But… we need to go.”
Iviry was quiet for a second, and Loche was the one who ended up responding as her eyes flew across the group, the same worry Raine shared darkening her blues. “Take as much time as you need. We owe you everything.”
“I’ll stay. I know Kerym needs to go with them,” Raine surprised himself by blurting out. “But I’ll… stay and help. So will Frelina. We’ll make sure everyone knows you have our support.”
Frelina’s nostrils flared, but before Raine could defend his reasoning, Elessia spoke up. “Thank you. Frelina, I… I need your help to represent the half-Fae. I… I would stay, but if I… if something happens, I won’t be too helpful anyway.”
“Elessia,” Frelina said, and there was so much pain and love in that one word that tears clouded Raine’s eyes, and a sound that twisted like a knife in his heart escaped Merrick.
“I know,” Elessia whispered as she hugged Merrick closer. “But you can do this, Lina. I know you can.”
Raine couldn’t help but reach out for the younger sister when she pushed off the wall, but Frelina shook off his hand, instead nodding as she sidled up beside Iviry.
“She’ll take your place in the council.” Iviry eyedFrelina first, then moved her gaze to her sister. That strange mixture of awe and something else that Raine had seen touch her eyes before when Iviry stared at Elessia murked it. “I… we have a water wielder that has similar powers to those that Rioner had. You may take him with you so you can travel fast.”
“Thank you.” Elessia’s voice was stronger than it should have been for someone who was preparing for her death—setting everything up for a world she had fought so hard for but might not end up seeing.
Once again, Raine struggled against the emotions choking his throat. And even though Frelina tried to escape him, he firmly clasped her hand in his, and he made sure his thought pierced the wall she kept up to prevent his mind from connecting with hers.
I’ll be right there by your side, Frelina. I know I’m a fucking idiot, but even if it costs me my life, I’ll make sure you’ll live to see the world your sister envisioned.
Chapter 11
Lessia
The storm hadn’t let up one bit, and they were all drenched by the time they reached the building housing the prisoners. Still, Lessia didn’t know why Iviry and her sister rushed their final steps.
It wasn’t like the crumbling stone building’s broken roof would provide much protection against the heavy rainfall, and the withering walls, where rotten planks covered the largest holes, didn’t do anything against the howling wind.
Lessia held on to Merrick as she followed Iviry, Frelina, Loche, and Raine across the threshold, trying not to let her mind replay her own memories of being locked up when the familiar sound of low groans and rattling chains reached her ears over the water smattering against stone.
Squeezing her hand back, Merrick shot her a look, and she could tell from the way his eyes darkened that hewas contemplating dragging her right back out again. But as she forced her lips into a tired smile, he gave her a nod, although she could tell the muscle in his jaw was working harder than it usually did.
Fighting to keep her smile, she turned to Kerym, Pellie, and Soria, who walked silently behind them, and there was something akin to worry casting shadows across the witch sisters’ faces when they stared from Lessia to the dark passage behind her.
“We’ll get them to see our side,” Lessia said when Pellie stepped closer to Kerym.
No one responded, but she wasn’t surprised. Her words did sound hollow, and it was true some of her conviction had faded after seeing the humans and Fae interacting with each other—after learning that the only way they’d even consider collaborating was through some ancient mating ceremony that would tie together Loche and Iviry, and as a result their people.
Her eyes drifted to the dark-haired regent and the proud Fae leader walking beside him as they headed toward the stairs leading to the cellars, the latter keeping her distance as if Loche carried a contagious disease. Iviry’s head was forced forward and turned toward Lessia’s sister only when she mumbled something as she grabbed a lantern flickering on the wall.
