Chapter 3 #2
There was nothing Merrick could do—nothing that he wanted to do—apart from stare at her.
Lessia’s entire being seemed to shimmer, her hair dancing around her face, and her eyes were so golden it was difficult to continue meeting them for all their brightness.
But he did.
Merrick couldn’t look away.
Not when the room around them went dark. Not when a chill that wasn’t of this world rushed through it, putting out the fires. Not when the people’s screams and angry voices were replaced by whispers.
Lessia smiled at him. Not a hesitant smile. Not a fearful one. But one of conviction.
One that filled him with such love and pride that he could barely swallow.
Then she turned to the room, and the Death Whisperer shouldn’t have jerked like he did when he was met with hundreds of ethereal souls—their shapes like thick, shimmering air—standing amidst the crowd, the majority of them…
Merrick’s brows crashed.
Were they protecting Loche and Iviry from the people who had approached them?
Yes.
Yes, that’s what these souls were doing.
They moved as a glittering army, driving back the crowds with their phantom hands until both Fae and humans stood in neat rows against the walls on opposite sides of the room.
When the souls nudged the two leaders into the middle, their whispers sounded almost… inviting as they backed away.
As if they were pleased with Iviry’s and Loche’s positions.
Spinning around, Merrick caught Kerym’s rounded eyes, and he noted the sisters holding on to each of his arms, while two souls had stopped Raine and Frelina, and were in the process of… scolding his redheaded friend?
Merrick stared in disbelief as the two pale beings gently pressed their hands into Raine’s chest until he set Lessia’s sister down and returned to stand behind Merrick and his frighteningly beautiful mate.
He had to blink as his eyes landed on Lessia once more.
She was so fucking perfect.
With this old power seeping from her to him—or from him to her, he wasn’t quite sure—the soft glow emitting from her skin and eyes, reflecting in the translucent people around them, and the terror she invoked in the people in this room, she felt formidable.
A startled laugh slipped through his lips.
No one had loved anyone as much as he loved her. No one could even come close.
“Thank you for your help.” Lessia bowed her head for a second to the souls around her, before looking out over the crowds, and her voice sounded eerie, strong, and soft all at once.
“I have had enough,” she continued, a sharpness he’d never heard but now knew he’d never get enough of slicing through the words.
“When will you see that if we stand together, there is nothing that can stop us? There is a real threat coming. Ships, and ships with Fae—strong Fae, based on the couple dozen in those cells down this cliff. But that’s not the worst of it, is it?
The worst of it is all of you! You see only where we differ.
You want to throw blame, but you do not want to look inward—see what you might be causing. You are the real threat to our world.”
It was so quiet in the room that it felt as if every person in it held their breath, and Merrick could taste the fear, feel the stickiness of it in the air as they all kept their eyes on the only person he loved in this world.
Before he knew what he was doing, he slipped a hand into hers, and another jolt ran down his spine. The whispers around him became more like clear thoughts and feelings, their faces sharpening with every moment he held on to Lessia.
And he realized…
They… loved her. These souls… they loved his mate.
It’s your love that flows through this room, son.
Merrick turned his head to the side. He usually prided himself on being composed, having perfected over the years every mask there was to bear.
But those dark eyes…
He caught only a glimpse of a warm smile before the souls disappeared as swiftly as they’d come. Still, those sparks ran up and down his arm, and he could feel the same sense fill Lessia based on how she stepped closer to him, holding on to him to remain steady.
“I do not seek power.” Lessia emphasized the words she’d already stated.
“But I will not stand for more of this. The world is changing, whether you want it to or not, and you all better get on board, because if you don’t, we’re doomed.
” She captured Iviry’s and Loche’s eyes, the two leaders—to their credit—closing their gaping mouths as they stared back at her.
“I will give you the time to discuss with your people which path you wish to go down. We will return later to discuss what to do with the prisoners.”
With that, she tugged on Merrick’s hand, and as one, they turned to the door, Raine, Frelina, Soria, Pellie, Kerym, Ardow, and Amalise following closely behind.
And maybe it wasn’t appropriate, but Merrick lifted Lessia into his arms when he felt a wave of tiredness sweep through her, one that lingered within himself.
As she wrapped her legs around his waist, he kissed her—and he knew she could feel how fucking in awe he was of her, and how damned proud he was to stand by her side.