Chapter 27 #2
How did she always know what to say? She’d barely fucking lived, especially compared to his years in this damned world, and yet she was so wise. Wise and kind and beautiful. Too fucking good for this world—and for Raine.
But he didn’t care anymore. If she loved him… no, he finally knew he’d do anything to be by her side.
The figures took a step toward the most perfect female in this realm, and Raine willed his limbs and muscles into steel.
He was going to get her out. Whatever it fucking took, he would get her out alive.
The shorter figure lifted a hand, and despite his efforts to remain calm, a snarl slipped free when something between those long, tanned fingers glinted in the little sunlight that trickled in through the hole above them.
“No! Leave her alone!” Frecco’s voice was horrible—thick and raspy, telling Raine at least one of his lungs was filled with blood—but his bruised face was furious as he lifted it from the deck. “Leave her the fuck alone.”
“Frecco,” Frelina cried, her voice shaking. “No…”
The female actually dropped her hand, but it didn’t calm Raine in the slightest. On the contrary, a shiver traced down his spine when the female let out a low laugh, her head snapping between Raine, Frelina, and Frecco.
“So many men protecting you…” Her hood bounced back and forth. “What are you even? I heard about humans… and they look exactly as the books describe them—weak, short-lived—but you? You’re a mixture? I didn’t even know that was possible… Is that what allures them? Your otherness?”
“Fuck you,” Frelina spat, and despite the fear Raine could sense in her, she managed to hide it well as she snarled at the two Fae before her.
“If you took one moment to fucking listen, we could tell you everything. But you seem as fucking stupid as my uncle once was. Do you know what happened to him? His own flesh and blood killed him, just like—”
The male Fae leader lifted a hand, but right as it would have slammed Frelina’s head to the side, it stilled in the air.
“Do. Not. Threaten. My mate,” he warned in a voice that would have made Merrick jealous for its coldness.
“I do not like to hurt women, but I will if you speak to her like that again.”
Raine fought against the ropes—but he didn’t dare speak up.
Not yet. Not when they might hurt Frelina to keep him silenced.
Frecco, the fucking idiot, didn’t seem to read the situation like Raine or any of his brothers would have taught him, though. “Get away from her,” he hissed, blood bubbling out of the corner of his mouth as he twisted his head further their way.
As if he could do anything with his fucking broken body.
Raine swore to himself when the two leaders brushed their fingers against each other’s, the female laughing softly as she turned to the broken Fae on the ground.
No.
Fuck. No.
Raine wanted nothing more than to growl and rip the woman’s fucking heart out, but when she took a step toward Frecco and the people around her went silent, he knew exactly what was coming. And he knew as well exactly who Frecco’s death would threaten to kill for the pain it would bring.
Sunshine, Raine said softly into Frelina’s mind. Don’t look.
Frelina’s eyes went wide, and her lower lip trembled. She didn’t follow his order and instead stared at Frecco, betraying her awareness of what this female would do. As she whimpered, “No. Please, no,” it was as if someone had ripped Raine’s heart out instead.
Raine felt eyes on him, and he quickly shifted his gaze to Frecco.
The male knew as well. He’d probably known the entire time what would happen if he spoke up, but he didn’t even look as the female halted above his broken body, that dagger raised again.
A tear ran down Raine’s cheek as he whispered, Rest easy, brave soldier.
You have done your people proud, allowing Frecco to see how much he appreciated him—how much it had meant that he’d cared for the female he loved.
That he’d sacrificed his life to keep them occupied, just like Raine had planned.
Don’t mess it up with her again. Take care of her and love her like she deserves. There was no fear in Frecco’s voice.
Like the good soldier he was, he would happily go for what he believed in.
And what he believed in was Frelina. Raine was nearly jolted back in the chair by how much this Fae believed in the female he loved.
Distract her. I don’t want her to see this. Frecco turned away from Raine when everyone on the deck quieted.
The Mind Capturer gave the soldier’s back a short nod before turning his head back to Frelina, cursing the tears streaming down her pale face.
Look at me, he ordered.
When Frelina hesitated, he echoed it. Look at me, Frelina.
Her beautiful, tear-filled eyes finally turned his way.
I love you so much. I am so sorry I didn’t realize it right away.
Her eyes remained on his as the air charged.
I told your sister that I want to marry you—that I would marry you.
I don’t know why I told her before you. I guess I was scared you’d say no.
But Frelina, I want to be your husband. I want everything with you.
I want to travel every realm and discover new ones together.
I want to learn every corner of your mind, and I want to explore every inch of your body.
I want you and no one else. Maybe I won’t ever be worthy of you, but it’s the truth, Frelina.
I love you so much, and I don’t even know how it happened.
Sobs echoed in Frelina’s mind—or if it was his own, Raine wasn’t particularly sure—as air gusted and a crack that could only be a knife driving through bone reverberated across the deck.
I’ll go wherever you want me to. I’ll be whatever you need me to, sunshine. Because that’s what you are. You’re my sun, Frelina. The one thing in this world that could light up my dark mind.
He didn’t dare look up as cries echoed across the ship when another rush of air brushed his ears, and instead, Raine did what he’d planned since he’d first seen the rocks littered across the wood.
With one quick movement, Raine made his chair fall, and his last thought as chaos broke loose was But first, I am going to kill every fucking person on this ship.