Page 34 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile

---

Help us!

Help me!

Help!

Please!

Lessia started begging.

To whom she didn’t know.

Because there weren’t any voices in her head anymore.

The gods no longer walked this realm.

And Merrick…

Merrick, I love you.

I love you.

Please hear me.

I love you.

She screamed it inside her head.

Screamed it down the brittle bond connecting them.

Even if she knew he wouldn’t hear her.

“Alarin, look at me,” Rioner demanded.

When her father didn’t move fast enough, the two guards dragged him to his feet, his head hanging between his shoulders as he gave Lessia a final look.

“P-please,” she whispered, tears nearly blinding her. “Please, don’t.”

Don’t do this to him.

Please, no.

Not yet.

Torkher laughed so hard it shook her entire body, and she couldn’t help it when her muscles slackened, the powerlessness driving all strength from them.

The Fae let out a disgusted sound as he pushed her limp body off him, but she didn’t catch herself as she fell to the floor, one cheek resting against the wet wood, the rest of her body lying at a strange angle.

“Alarin, I’m sure you’ve figured it out by now… But please. Break their bond.” She could hear the smile that must have twisted Rioner’s features as he spoke.

Lessia couldn’t stop herself.

She screamed when the words she’d feared slammed into her heart.

Break their bond.

Like everything that was gifted by the gods, the bonds were magic.

And her father…

---