Lessia,
I have never seen Merrick like this, and I don’t particularly care for it, so please just go with him and put the male out of his misery. I will take care of your sister. I know I’ve been an absolute bastard, but I intend to marry her and spend whatever life I have left making her smile (and possibly have her stomp on my feet once in a while). Seriously, though, go with Merrick, and just know that I will do everything in my power to keep Frelina safe.
Your future brother-in-law,
Raine
A snort burst through the tears, and Lessia looked up at Merrick. “D-did you know about this?”
Pulling her so she sat sideways in his lap, Merrick nodded. “I am not sure your sister will have him, but it’ll do him good to fight for something otherthan a buzz.”
Lessia’s eyes flew across his hard face, the tears she’d tried to fight slowly working their way down her cheeks as she took in every feature, every sharp angle of the male she loved.
“When did you do this?” she whispered as he eyed her right back, his hands clenching where they lay on her thighs.
“Before we left,” Merrick responded. “I… I had a feeling and I… I needed to do this, Lessia. I needed you to see that we all want you to stay alive. No one wants you to die for them—not your friends, not your family, not Havlands.” His voice grew hoarse. “I beg you to go with me to try to find this other person. I’ve traveled to other realms before, so I know where we can start, and Kerym promised to take over my duties here—he’ll stay and make sure the orders I gave are seen through. Then he’ll return to the others and…”
Merrick stopped himself, but Lessia knew what he’d been about to say. Kerym would return to the others and fight—and they’d most likely lose. And even if Lessia and Merrick were successful, they’d likely not make it back in time. She had never visited any other realms, but she knew they were far away.
“Please, Lessia.” Merrick leaned his forehead against hers. “Listen to them. Listen to me. It just about killed us all when you and Ydren rode off outside Ellow. I… we can’t go through that again.”
She let his eyes hold hers as she wound her arms around his neck, and she savored the silver swirls, savored this male who would do anything for her. Her decision came easier when she felt the acceptance within the Death Whisperer—how he wouldn’t ask again, how he’d leave it up to her.
“All right,” she said softly, and the hope that flickered in his eyes slammed into her heart.
“You’ll go?” Merrick’s eyes bounced between hers. “You’ll come with me?”
She nodded, unable to say anything else, because if she did, she might just take it all back for how much it hurt to make that movement.
Merrick bowed his head as well before his lips captured hers. Not with the urgency she’d expected, but with patience, with love, with everything in him that hummed in happiness right now.
Chapter 24
Merrick
He could barely believe that the brave, beautiful, loyal, strong female in his lap had just agreed to what he’d thought was but a foolish dream.
Merrick had to keep his eyes open as he kissed her to ensure she wouldn’t just disappear, that she wouldn’t just use that magic of hers on him and take off once more. But Lessia only snuggled in closer as he ran his hands over her back, sneaking them under her tunic to run over her soft skin, and her breath stuttered when he slowly trailed a finger down her spine.
Pulling back, Merrick shifted her so that she straddled him.
Fuck, he loved her so much. Maybe too much, if there was such a thing, because he couldn’t stop himself from asking, “Why?”
Lessia’s face lit up with a small smile, one that reflected the moonlight streaming in through the glass doors behind her. “Why, what?”
He couldn’t believe he was fucking asking this.
Did he want her to go back on her agreement?
But the words still tumbled from Merrick’s lips. “Why did you say yes?”
She took her time to respond, her eyes drifting over his face until he regretted that he hadn’t just pushed her down on the bed and had his way with her, but then she finally opened her mouth.
“Because I want to live.” Her smile widened, probably because she saw the surprise that crossed his face. “I neverwantedto die,” she continued. “I did what I did that day because I thought there was no other way. But I’ve realized it was selfish. I didn’t listen to anyone else. I didn’t consult anyone. I didn’t think anyone could help. And… I didn’t realize how much pain I’d cause.” Her hand brushed one of his stray strands of hair out of his face. “You… you always give me a choice, Merrick, and I love you so much for it. This time… I’ll listen to you—to them. So I’ll go with you.”
He just stared at her.
What had he done to deserve this selfless fucking deity? Yes, he might have given her a choice today, but he’d brought those letters to sway her, and she damned well knew that and loved him for it anyway.
