A Fate so Dark and Delicate by Sophia St Germain

Here is a summary with spoilers for A Fate so Dark and Delicate by Sophia St Germain

The war is over, and the humans and fae need to work together. Lessia and Merrick are trying to enjoy their time together, especially since Lessia just died and Merrick ripped the world apart to bring her back. Though Lessia feels she still needs to be involved, she calls a council with both humans and fae and tells them they need to build a better world for everyone, including half-fae. She then tells them she has zero interest in her father’s or uncle’s crown. She intends to dissolve it, and they need to become the new leaders.

Meanwhile, Raine still has feelings for Frelina and is struggling with them, especially since he still deeply loves his mate, who has been dead for decades.

Loche is present at the council meeting, and all he can think about is his mate Iviry and how badly he ruined their last meeting. He made it seem as if he was still in love with Lessia, which was far from the truth. He loves Lessia, but not romantically. He was never able to explain that to Iviry and has not spoken to her since. Now he represents the humans and she represents the fae, and they must work together. The council decides that if the two of them were to marry, it could solve many problems and show the people that they can be allies. They agree.

As Lessia leaves the council meeting, she begins to feel faint and collapses, with Merrick catching her, though he also starts to faint. They are taken back to the house and discover that using their magic is killing her. It is the consequence of Merrick bringing her back to life. Lessia also takes this time to tell Raine about her time while she was dead and that she saw his mate, who told her that Raine needs to move on.

Meanwhile, Kerym is falling for one of the sister witches, Pellie, and decides that one day he is going to marry her.

Lessia and Merrick decide to visit the wyverns to draw on their magic so they can use their own in return, as they are both seeing strange figures whenever they use magic. When they do, two figures appear and reveal themselves as Merrick’s parents. They cannot say much because their magic is draining them, but they tell the group to take the witches and go to Vastala to research “the one who clings to life.”

Frelina struggles with her feelings for Raine. She wants him but is afraid of being hurt. Raine gathers the courage to speak to her about it, but she shuts him down.

The witches, Kerym, Lessia, and Merrick board a ship and set sail. Kerym tells Pellie that he is going to marry her. It surprises her, but she does not say no.

When their ship arrives in Vastala, they are not welcomed. Merrick kills the general and declares that he is now in charge. Everyone is terrified of him, so they agree.

Loche and Iviry struggle to show affection, and people begin to notice. They are told they must start sharing a room. Once alone, Loche tells her they will be a good match and that he is happy with the arrangement, though he can tell Iviry does not believe him.

Lessia visits her uncle’s old castle. Merrick hates it because it was once where she was held prisoner. Everyone insists the castle is hers, but Lessia does not want it. She orders the servants to take whatever valuables they want and then burn the castle down. While searching the library, Kerym becomes overtaken by a voice that tells him they must find the equal of the one who clings to life.

Back with Loche and Iviry, one way they attempt to prove their love is by hosting a party aboard the ship. Loche becomes distracted by how beautiful Iviry is, and the ship is attacked. Raine boards the ship to protect Frelina. He tells her that he wants her, kisses her, and vows to earn her forgiveness. Soon after, the enemy overpowers them both, and they are knocked unconscious.

Merrick tries to convince Lessia to live. He shows her letters from Loche, Amalise, Frelina, and Raine, all telling her that she should let them go and live her life. She has already died for them and deserves peace. Lessia agrees. After they solve the mystery of their magic, she and Merrick will leave the kingdom and start a new life. Merrick asks her to marry him, and she says yes. He tells her he wants to marry her in a few days near a village he once knew.

Kerym and Pellie say goodbye to Merrick and Lessia and immediately share an intimate moment. Afterward, Kerym senses that Pellie is hiding something. She admits that after the war she plans to return home with her sister. Kerym says that is fine because he will go with her, but Pellie tells him he cannot. She has discovered where his magic comes from. He is from the enemy. He is an earth wielder.

Knowing they are about to face a difficult journey, Merrick takes Lessia out for a night in town. They visit a bar, dance together, and go for a midnight swim. Neither of them has ever been happier.

During the ongoing battle, Loche and Iviry make the difficult decision to leave one ship behind, the ship carrying Raine and Frelina. This angers many soldiers, especially because Raine is their strongest fae. To prove they are still a united force, Loche and Iviry decide to marry that night. Afterward, Loche simply wants to spend the night talking with Iviry and drinking.

Raine and Frelina wake up tied to chairs. Their captors kill their soldiers and throw Frelina into the sea. Raine uses his magic to control everyone on the ship and jumps in after her. They swim to a nearby island but are stranded. Soon, they are approached by giant snakes that Lessia sent to protect Frelina. The snakes offer to take them back to the ships.

Lessia and Merrick visit Merrick’s former captain, who is also a seer. He tells them that Lessia’s journey is not over and that all of her friends will die if she does not return, because they need the magic of a queen. They decide to go back together.

Kerym, the witches, Loche, Iviry, Frelina, and Raine are reunited on the same ship when news arrives that Lessia and Merrick are returning. The next morning they arrive, and Lessia believes it is just in time for Loche and Iviry’s wedding, but it is actually her own. Lessia and Merrick are married in a beautiful ceremony, and Lessia says she has never been happier. The two sit on the mast overlooking the sea when another ship rams into them, knocking Merrick into the water.

Chaos erupts as more ships arrive. Zaddock is stabbed, Lessia cannot find Merrick, and Loche shifts into a lion. When Lessia finally finds Merrick, she panics, but the wyverns grab her and carry her away, keeping a promise to save her for Merrick. From above, she watches her husband fight for his life. Accepting her role as queen, Lessia feels a surge of power. She returns to Merrick, stops the fighting, and then a strange man appears. His name is Ames Marlow, and she feels an unsettling pull toward him. He says his wife is a veiled queen and that he intends to get her back.

In the epilogue, Lessia, Merrick, Frelina, and Raine live together on the island Lessia always dreamed of, in a kingdom ruled far better than the one before.