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November 6 - November 8, 2025
“The gods gifted it to you for a reason. You do not need to be frightened of it. It’s not evil or good. It’s nothing but a power to be molded by its wielder. A power to be used carefully, yes. But not to be suppressed or forgotten about.”
We forge our own fates. While the gods might give us gifts, it’s up to us what we do with them. We always have a choice.”
“She doesn’t need to get better,” he snarled softly. “If she decides to break apart this whole ship to deal with what happened, I’ll help her. If she wants to kick your lying ass into the depths of the sea, I’ll take your legs. If she decides to rip the world to shreds for what it’s done to her, I’ll cheer her on. And if you were a true friend… you would as well.”
Do you know what it was like, watching that beast carry you up from the sea? We thought it had chewed you up and decided to taunt us with your dead body!” Lessia stiffened when his hand landed on her shoulder. But he didn’t throw her down the way he liked to in the training ring, as she’d expected. Instead, Merrick slammed her into his chest, his arms enveloping her as he crushed her against him.
He might wield death magic, but Merrick was no Death Whisperer. He wasn’t evil. And if he wasn’t… Perhaps neither was she.
“Are you trying to get me undressed?” she taunted, ignoring the small voice in her mind warning her that she’d just decided not to agitate him more. A vein throbbed by his temple. “If I were, you’d already be splayed out on the sand beneath me, begging me to join you.”
Merrick let out a shocked chuckle from her side, and damn if the sound of it didn’t try to curl her own lips.
“You can’t lose someone if you’ve never had them,” he finally responded.
“I’ve told you before. You’re stronger than you think.”
“Trust me,” he whispered. “You are strong enough.”
I. Promise. You. I won’t let anyone hurt you. Rioner, Loche, the rebels, the Oakgards’ Fae, or any of these fucking people won’t come near you. Ever again.”
Her entire body froze at the look in Merrick’s eyes. The black was all-consuming, but it wasn’t like a great fall right into their depths. It was subtler, more gradual. Like the sky that swirled there wanted her to surrender. Willingly.
“The world is painful.” Merrick’s gaze drilled into hers. “Yours perhaps more than most. But it’s time for you to stop cowering before it. Make mistakes, and forgive yourself for them. Get hurt, and fight back. You’re a good person. A fucking great person. Stop letting guilt dim your light. I told you once, it’s time to shine…” His hands tightened their grip, and Lessia’s breath caught in her throat.
“It’s time to fucking burn, Lessia.
“You should know.” Merrick’s breath hit her mouth when he leaned in over her. “I don’t regret it.” “Regret what?” she asked. “Kissing you.”
“Is it better to live in an illusion of happiness with artificial emotions keeping you going?”
He already felt like… home.
“I’m here,” he whispered right back. “I’m always here.”
“You’re wrong, you know.” “What am I wrong about?” “Everything is about you.”
“You’re beautiful,” he declared quietly. “You’re always beautiful.”
“Fuck them, Lessia,” he growled. “I don’t care if every single one of them dies. I don’t care if the whole realm burns to the ground and not a single grain of dust remains. I am not letting you go anywhere near Rioner.”
“I don’t want you because of the stupid bond!” she screamed. “I want you because you make me feel alive! Because you believe in me when I don’t believe in myself. Because you try to make dumb jokes to make me happy. Because you make me fires to keep the darkness at bay. Because you hide your smile when I’ve made you proud in training. Because when I fucking stab you, you lecture me about missing your heart!”
“Do you want me to tell you no one—mate or not—has loved anyone the way I love you? That I would laugh as the world fell apart as long as you stood by my side? That even if I could only have one fucking night—one night pretending you’re mine—I’d take it?”
As if there were anything she would deny him.
she held on to him, her hands tangling in his hair, as the Death Whisperer whispered her name again and again. He said it almost as if in prayer. As if she was his goddess and he was entirely, utterly devoted to her.
