He made a point of finding as many pairs of eyes as he could when the males began scrambling to do what he’d told them, but Merrick still knew it was Kerym’s laugh that floated toward him as emerald cloaks flew behind the retreating soldiers.
“Don’t say it,” he muttered as he turned to wave Lessia to his side, and even though his friend carried the wounded half-witch, Kerym still grinned as he fell into step beside him.
“I think some of them pissed themselves. You outdid yourself, Death Whisperer.” Kerym’s brows moved up and down before Merrick ripped his gaze away and settled an arm around Lessia’s shoulders when she returned from asking Ydren to stay away from land until she called her. He leaned down to smell her hair, wishing her scent and presence could wash away the numbing feeling lingering within him.
When she smiled at him again, her own arm winding around his waist, and she whispered, “It does something to me when you’re all in charge like that,” warmth replaced that cold within him. Merrick cast a look ahead, down the flower-lined path, wondering if it was worth sneaking ahead to find a few moments alone to show her whatshedid to him.
Kerym laughed again. “I wonder what they’d think if they knew how much she has you wrappedaround her finger.”
He and Lessia turned their heads to shoot him a dark glare, but when Lessia’s giggle sparked in the air at the grimace on Kerym’s face, Merrick’s own smile broke free. And while he abandoned the idea of running off for now, he trailed a finger over Lessia’s shoulder and neck until she shivered, giving her a good idea of what he had in store for her later.
Chapter 15
Loche
It had only been a day on the ship, but to Loche it felt like an eternity.
He and Iviry had been forced to travel alone, apart from the captain and a few guards stationed around every curve and bend of his ship to ensure that they had protection should they be ambushed, and she’d barely spared him a look during the meals—which was the only time he saw her—only whispering to the pair of guards that followed her like two towering shadows.
Loche scratched his chin as he ventured alone up to the deck where the new council was about to meet at the request of Dedrick Reinsdor, leaving the room that was interconnected with Iviry’s. The unlocked door could have been fortified with ice for how likely it was to open.
His other fingers brushed the damp wood as he ascended the stairs, lingering on the beautiful carvings of sea creatures and stories the previous king of Ellow had requested when he had this ship built.
He’d hoped he’d be able to catch Iviry alone beforethis meeting—that they could agree on some rules for how this engagement would go—but she must have found one, or several, of the hiding places on this old ship, perhaps even ones he hadn’t yet found himself.
Loche wasn’t sure which monarch had this particular ship built, but it was one of the most spectacular in Ellow, even if the woodwork paled in comparison to a few of the Fae ships sailing behind them—their white wood stark against the dark sea and evening sky.
But Iviry had refused to take Rioner’s ship—the one Lessia and the others had come to the last fight with—and Loche hadn’t argued.
He still remembered the moment he’d thought Lessia was gone. And the one after… when the world felt like it was breaking apart as Merrick’s magic enveloped them. When Loche had held on to Iviry, feeling as if she were the only thing left in a shattered world.
As Loche opened the creaking door to the deck, where midnight shadows danced over the people like the souls Lessia and Merrick called forth, Iviry’s scent and presence pierced his chest so hard he struggled to breathe for a moment.
Almost fifteen people were standing in the bow—a few soldiers, a mixture of his and Iviry’s, like they’d agreed to keep on all ships—the council, including Iviry’s massive Fae guard, Dedrick Reinsdor, and Venko, Zaddock, and the other human representatives.
But Loche’s eyes refused to leave Iviry. While she kept her back to his, he knew she could feel him coming, could tell from the way her shoulders tensed, her body shifting ever so slightly before she caught herself.
Her hair shone like burnt gold in the moonlight. Even though the air was filled withthe salty tang of the sea, the smoke from fires where people on the ships around them cooked, and the leather and metal from the weapons everyone kept ready, Iviry’s gentle scent twined around him, lengthening his steps until he was right behind her.
She didn’t turn around, but a shiver went through her when his eyes remained on her straight back, and he could tell her hand moved of its own accord, jerking to sweep some of her hair to cover the spot of skin between her clothing and her neck that he’d been unable to stop looking at.
Loche knew the others were staring at the two of them. Some with confusion, like Venko and a few of the Fae. Some with pity, like Zaddock and Iviry’s two closest guards. And some with disapproval, like Dedrick.
But he didn’t care. He needed to speak to her. Alone.
He knew he’d hurt her with the way he’d spoken about Lessia, but he needed her to know Lessia wasn’t part of… whatever his relationship with Iviry was. That Lessia was a friend. Someone he’d always love, but… someone he’d realized wasn’t meant for him.
And he needed to ensure that Iviry was truly all right with what was going on. He’d never forced a woman’s hand, and he was not going to start with the one expected to be his damn wife.
Loche was about to wrap a hand around her arm and drag her away when Dedrick shook his head. “You two need to be a lot more convincing.”
Finally, Iviry turned, but a low scoff escaped Loche at the fake smile on her face as she sidled up beside him, slipping an arm into his and leaning her head on his shoulder.
“Is this better, Reinsdor?” she cooed, the tone so falseit cut into Loche’s mind, and he had to make himself stay by her side, not step away to rid himself of the unease that fell from the female beside him in waves.
“A little,” the Fae muttered. “But there have been several incidents today. Fae, humans, and shifters who’ve gotten into fights. They need to see you together. They need hope. They need unity. They need to see that you two are serious about bringing our worlds together against the threats they face.”
“Is all this necessary?” Loche snapped when Iviry and her fake smile beamed up at him, wrenching something sharp into his heart.
