Page 70 of Bound By Roses

“Excuse me?” Since when do I owe Merrick anything? If I remember correctly, I’m the one who saved his life when it was his turn on the post in Lunae’s main square.

“We’ll be taking shifts patrolling the skies at night with the sole purpose of making sure no wraiths wander anywhere near the beach. He gave the order, but I don’t think any of us would have objected if asked.”

I look from her to Teagan and back again. “Why would he do that for Quinn?” Merrick had always put his kind first, and I’ve never held that against him. “And why wouldn’t you object?” Petra especially has never been very fond of us.

She shrugs again. “We’re used to looking out for ourselves, but somewhere along the way, our little fucked up family grew into something a whole lot bigger. We protect each other.”

I don’t know where to begin responding to that, so I ask the first thing that comes to mind. “Where are you getting married?”

Petra doesn’t need to say it for me to see that she thinks the question is strange, but I don’t care. She tilts her head to theleft. “Two islands over. Right at the water’s edge. It’s the most convenient place.”

Teagan’s hands move to form a single word. ‘Why?’

I flash her a wicked smile. “I just wanted to know where to leave my gift.”

The sun is getting low on the horizon as I make my way back to the beach. On the way, I reach for Quinn through the bond. He must feel it because only seconds later, his voice is filling my head.

‘Everything okay?’Protective as ever.

‘I just wanted to tell you something, but I don’t want to distract you if you’re still sparring.’

There’s a momentary pause before he says,‘You’re the best kind of distraction, and Fern could use the advantage.’

‘Fern?!’There is no way he’s fighting Fern.

He chuckles.‘She insisted. Don’t worry, we’re using sticks.’

That has me quickening my pace. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them play together, and that’s the kind of joy I need more of these days.‘Teagan and Petra are getting married in three days.’

Another pause, and this time I don’t think it’s from crossing sticks with Fern.‘Oh, wow. That’s great.’He, no doubt, is thinking the same thing I was. With this war coming, now is certainly an interesting choice.

‘They want me to be part of the ceremony. I’ll have to dance with Merrick at some point.’

‘Are you asking my permission?’I can practically hear his teasing smirk.

‘Absolutely not. I’m informing you that you’d best be ready to give me every other dance.’

Now I really feel his smile.‘I can do that.’

‘There’s one more thing I have to tell you,’I say when he comes into view. I’m surprised to see that there are still some people watching his match with Fern, despite the lack of swords. I know Quinn, who is now shirtless and glistening in sweat from his earlier fights, is going easy on her, but to just any observer, this fight could look real. Even Fern appears to be holding her own, though this would be over in a heartbeat if Quinn wanted it to be.

‘Oh?’His eyes flick to mine for just a moment before he dodges Fern’s incoming swing with an unnecessarily dramatic roll.

‘Show off. The dragons have decided to patrol the skies at night to make sure no wraiths are near.’

That stops him. He blocks Fern’s stick and then I hear him tell, “That’s enough for today. You did well.”

I can’t make out her words, but the accompanying whine is impossible to miss.

That is, until his laugh becomes the only sound I want to hear. “We can spar again tomorrow. Go find Tess.”

Fern runs off, waving to me as she goes. I wave back until I’m suddenly pulled against an impossibly solid chest. “Hi,” he says, grinning down at me.

“Hi, yourself.” I drag a finger along his arm—careful to avoid the dried blood—and collect a bead of sweat. “Someone’s been working hard.”

He snorts a laugh. “This is nothing compared to the regiment I had in Rosewood.” I know he means back when his father was alive and Lunae was considered their enemy. When he was destined to lead an army to slaughter my people, kill the king, kidnap me, and force me to marry his brother. Gods, what adifferent life that would have been. His question brings me back to reality. “Are the dragons really going to do that for me?”

“They are. And more than that, Petra said they want to.” It suddenly occurs to me that I never asked if Jade was included in that. Merrick’s order would have no effect on him, but that doesn’t mean that he didn’t agree to it. I should have asked Petra when I had the chance.

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