Page 78 of Caress of Fire
“I can’t lose you.” Marielle managed to speak between the sobs that wracked her body. “I’m not strong enough.”
Like he knew what she needed, Fedryc just held her in silence, his arms around her shoulders, breathing into her hair. The tears flowed and ebbed, but the pain didn’t subside. She simply couldn’t lose him.
“How I love you, little firebrand,” Fedryc whispered against her hair. “And what an honor it is to give my life for yours.”
The words made her cry even more and as he began to get back to his feet, she held on so tightly that he pulled her up with him.
“Please come back.” Marielle held on to Fedryc’s fingers hard, not caring about betraying the depth of her fear. “I can’t live without you.”
Fedryc pushed her firmly away, then lifted her face to him. He smiled but it was filled with sadness. Sadness and iron resolve.
“Yes, you will.” His hand left her face and she felt the loss all the way to her bones. “You are the strongest woman I’ve ever known. You will live, and you will care for the child I gave you. You will love him like I was never loved. Give him all I never had. Promise me, little firebrand, that you will live. No matter what.”
“I can’t.” Marielle almost choked on her tears. “I can’t go on without you.”
Fedryc reached for her cheek, wiping the tears away, his sad smile stabbing her heart deeper with each passing second. “Loving you, having you. It was the gift I never deserved. In all my long, lonely life, I never deserved this much happiness. Now, promise me you will leave Aalstad and live.”
“I promise.” Marielle said the words even though everything inside her rebelled. “But only if you promise to return to me. Don’t you dare die, Fedryc Haal.”
Fedryc bent and Marielle closed her eyes. His warm lips sealed on hers, and his mouth kissed the tears away.
“If I die today, I will die a happy man.”
Fedryc pulled away, and Marielle watched him leave. So tall and strong, so honorable. He could save himself, fly so far away with her no one would ever find them, but he didn’t.
The sobs shook her as he disappeared behind the door of the medical suite. Her arms were too empty, her heart bled too much. She’d thought she could live without him.
How wrong she had been.
Chapter 26
They needed her and Marielle wasn’t going to let them down. It didn’t matter that her heart was in bloody shreds. She had a job to do.
She moved between rows of people in tattered clothing—sitting on the ground under heavy wool blankets, clutching a loaf of bread or a few vegetables between their hands—giving orders to guards and directing people to the large transport ships. They all looked at her with fear, but also with trust that she would do what it took to keep them safe.
A trust she did not feel. Because she felt nothing. Not since Fedryc had left with his men, death in their eyes. They’d all followed Fedryc out of the castle gate, climbing into hovering transports in silence.
Every one of them left loved ones behind. Loved ones entrusted to Marielle’s care.
“The women and children have all been secured in the transports, Lady Marielle.” A guard whose name she didn’t know bowed to her as he spoke. “We await your order to evacuate them in order of priority.”
“Of course.” Marielle looked at the black, shiny metal of the transport. Devan and Rela were in there, along with Dr. Ylco, whom she’d had to physically threaten to push inside. “Have you received word from Lord Aldric?”
“Yes. Lord Aldric confirmed the alliance stands and is on his way with Rhyl, his white dragon. He cannot be expected for another half a day—if the winds are not against him. The Darragon castle awaits us, Lady Marielle.” The guard looked up at her, fear in his eyes. He, too, would climb into a transport, but not before all the others were far away and safe. “But to ensure their safety, they have to leave now.”
“I know.”
Marielle tried to smile, but from the look in the guard’s eyes, she’d made a pitiful attempt at it. She knew they had to leave but there was still one more person she needed to put in that first transport. “You still haven’t found the Lady Silva?” She turned to see the guard shoot a glance at the transport with envy in his eyes.
“Not a trace.” The guard shook his head. “She’s nowhere to be found. The Lady Isobel swears she hasn’t visited her in the dungeon either.”
Another glance at the transport had Marielle move to stand between the young man and the door.
“What’s your name?” Marielle spoke loudly enough to rattle him a little. Good, she had his full attention.
“Beral, my Lady.” The young guard straightened, then swallowed. He knew she had noticed his glances.
“Do you have a family, Beral?” She stared at him as he put his weight first on one foot, then the other. For better or worse, she was the Lady of the castle and she had to keep control of the situation, or panic would follow, and more innocents would die.
