She hadn’t missed that he’d also avoided reflections lately.
Like Raine had for a long time.
She pushed off the bed and came up beside Merrick, and he dragged her to him.
Wrapping his arms around her, he whispered, “If my commander is still alive, he’ll be a day’s ride from here. From there, we have one more day before we reach the shore where I have a ship waiting. There is also a small town there—one I actually liked when we camped at it—and that’s where I was hoping…”
“I still want to marry you, Merrick.” Lessia made sure there wasn’t an ounce of the unease still residing within her from whatever had just happened when she slept. “We can do it tonight. Right here. If you want.”
He gave her a blinding smile—one of the ones she’d seen only a handful of times—and it forced out any lingering sense of worry or fear.
“Not here. This town is… quite high-spirited.” Merrick kissed her again. “But we can celebrate our engagement.”
There was something mischievous in his eyes. When he turned away, she wanted—needed—to see that look again, and she slipped a hand into his as he opened the door.
“So that ship that’s waiting for us…” Lessia eyed him, noting the smile he was trying to bury. “Did you steal that as well?”
Merrick winked at her. Actually winked.
“Perhaps.”
Chapter 29
Merrick
He tried to shake the worry for Lessia—and for whatever the terrifying thing she’d gone through was—as they walked through the small square hand in hand, the sounds of the night wrapping around them: wind softly howling between the buildings, dust brushing against the ground, people’s chatter and singing, and the clatter of plates and glasses.
Normal sounds.
Things he’d never really noticed before but that now felt important to listen to.
This was a moment he should savor, Merrick told himself. Just being a regular couple. Walking through the streets. Eating in a tavern. Being allowed to show how much they loved each other without worrying about being fucking murdered every second.
They were going to have some fun tonight if it was the last thing he did in this realm.
As if you know how to have fun.He could almost hear Raine and Kerym snickering at him, but he shoved theirdumb voices to the back of his mind. He might not have had too many fun moments before. But that was just that.
Before.
With her… everything was fun. Living wasn’t just bearable anymore but something he treasured waking up to every morning. Something he’d never take for granted and that he’d be eternally grateful for, to the beautiful female walking beside him.
He squeezed her hand. Tonight was about Lessia, and Merrick knew what she loved: food, music, and being able to be herself without having people stare at her. This was the perfect place for that.
Lessia didn’t know, but he’d chosen this town to stop in because of its wild reputation—and for its reputation for being accepting of anyone who came through it.
As long as the people venturing here were fine with the wine flowing, the boisterous festivities, and the late-night activities—the ones he and Lessia would avoid, because he wasn’t about to share her with anyone; that would guarantee the night ended in bloodshed, not fun—they didn’t bat an eye at strangers. Merrick had once, when he’d been here before, even seen a shifter in the tavern ahead.
Which was good, since Merrick didn’t think ripping out the heart of yet another person for calling her names would be particularly celebratory of their engagement. Although he’d do it if he had to.
His lips twitched as Lessia stared with wide eyes at the people already dancing in the streets on either side of them, wearing colorful clothing, some with hats and masks to cover their faces. Not in the way Loche’s soldiers wore them, but because they were likely quiterespected noble Fae, and being found here… well, their families wouldn’t approve.
Of course, Raine and Kerym had loved it for that reason every time they came here, and while Thissian and Merrick had been more reluctant… if he was truthful, he had enjoyed himself once or twice.
And tonight? Seeing Lessia’s eyes fill with wonder as people moved out of their way to let them approach the wide-open door to the tavern where the familiar broken sign swayed above the threshold, and not because he was the Death Whisperer and she was half-Fae…
Merrick was happy. Maybe hesitantly so, but happy nonetheless.
Lessia was everything he’d ever wanted, and even though he could see the tiredness—death’s shadow sneaking closer to both of them—she’d agreed not only to be his wife but to gift him the time to save her.
