Page 152 of The Sins of Silas

I glanced nervously out the window, watching the battle from above. Dani was fighting alongside the Mages down below, shifting into a fly, then her normal form, slicing through soldier after soldier with a sword before shifting back.

It was remarkable, but I didn't know how long she could keep it up.

I still had no idea where Viola was.

The pain in my palm began to subside. Still present, but less severe, that was for sure.

They needed us out there, fighting from above. I knew that.

There was not enough fucking time.

“Merrick.”

My stomach plunged at the feel of Era’s hand on my cheek, angling me to face her. “You…you have to go.”

My eyebrows drew together. “What are you talking about?”

“It’s too dangerous, and they need you out there.”

"Youneed me.”

It was her thumb that now stroked my face, and I did my best to ignore the chills that spread across my body from it. “Yes. But I am but one person. They need you. Your power.”

Spoken like a true princess. Her value had always been to look pretty, please a prince, and birth heirs into the royal family. Her belief was that she wasn’t worth anything. I could feel it.

I knew my eyes were swirling dark as I read her, her eyes going half-lidded as I brought my lips to her ear.

“You need me,” I repeated in a low voice. “And we are gonna work on how little you value yourself after this.”

I drew back and stared at her pained expression, then quickly resumed scanning the battle from the window beside the bed. My palm was growing less and less painful, but I couldn't stitch up this wound as quickly as my sister. At this rate, it would take hours to heal her fully.

“Merrick, go,” she demanded with more bite in that sultry voice of hers.

“I will do no such thing,” I growled, my eyes breaking away from the window.

A scowl overcame her features. “What if something happens to Elowen? To Viola?” She scoffed. “Are you going to think I’m so valuable if they die because of me? Die because they had less help?”

Panic overtook me momentarily at the thought of losing either of them. My eyes flicked back outside to the increasing number of bodies that lay on the ground.

Era gripped my arm tightly, her gaze burning into mine. “Go. Please.”

My chest was rising and falling, my hands trembling with this nauseating fear. I should go; I should make sure both of them are safe. I should fight to protect all those innocent people down there. Era’s wound still needed healing, but she wouldn’t die from her injuries alone any longer.

But I couldn’t move. It was like my body had filled with lead the second I thought of leaving her here alone.

“I can’t,” I bit out, baring my teeth.

“Merrick—”

“I can't leave you, Erabella. I can’t physically leave you…I…” I shook my head, and then my darkened eyes found hers. “You told me before you couldn't live if you'd have killed me in Forsmont.”

Her hand still held my face, her thumb running along my cheekbone. “This is different,” she whispered.

“You're right,” I agreed. “If I had died, it would've been in spite of you trying to save me.” I raised my hand to hold her face again, our hands on each other's cheek. “If I leave, you'd die because I tried to save others.” My thumb grazed her pouty bottom lip. “I will always save you.”

A cry slipped past her lips, and I didn't know what overcame me…perhaps fear of her death, fear of mine. Or maybe it was the feelings I kept trying to push down since the first moment I saw her. I leaned down, capturing her luscious lips with my own.

She stilled, her dainty hand that still held my face shaking.

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