A Promise so Bold and Broken (Compelling Fates Saga, #2)

by Sophia St. Germain

“I do not need an apology. You’re entitled to be angry. Gods, you’re entitled to be fucking furious. But you’re not entitled to be reckless with it.”

“I’ll stay here while you sleep.” It was all she needed to hear for her eyelids to flutter, and she sighed as she curled up on her side, facing the wall, but her feet still touched Merrick’s legs as he sat down on the end of the bed with his back against the wall.

“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.”

Something flickered across his features as he took her in, but then he tore his gaze from hers,

Mates? Ever since he was able to look at her he is extra touchy and always has his eyes on her...

“You can’t lose someone if you’ve never had them,” he finally responded.

“You do not carry that darkness. You may bear a name, but that name does not define you. You may share his blood, but that blood does not dictate who you are. And I promise you”—his eyes bore into hers as he stressed each word—“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.”

Perhaps… there was a different kind of love out there. One that wasn’t untouched snow, but that was strange and wild and uncontrollable.

One that she describes exactly as she describrs merrick smelling likr

“You wouldn’t have to fight for me. I… I can’t say it would be easy, given what we’re facing, but I’d make sure this—us—would be the one place you can rest, where you’re always safe, where you never have to put on a mask to conceal your true feelings.”

He already felt like… home.

“But if… if this sword was your father’s… what about the dagger?” Merrick’s eyes sparked. “It was my mother’s.”

It was a mating gift...merrick has known or suspected and thhats why he gave it to her

Swallowing, Lessia set her sights on the empty chair beside Kerym, but as she neared, the Fae violently shook his head at her, eyes flicking toward Merrick. “Absolutely not. I don’t plan on getting killed today. You go over there.”

And when he leaned in and snarled “Merrick is your fucking mate,” she had to grip the chair not to let her knees give out.

I KNEW IT

“Do you want me to tell you I’ve loved you since you stood up to Rioner and me on that cliff?”

“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?”