Devoted: Merritt's Story - Chapter Summaries

Since Merritt's Story is picking up after a period of sparse updates, I put together some summaries and synopses.  This way folks can jump into the new chapters with their memories refreshed, even if you don't have time to reread any past chapters in full.

There are two posts.  They will be updated periodically.

1. This post you're currently reading is a public post with very brief summaries of each chapter.

2. This other post is a $2+ patrons post that includes full recaps of all the important details of each chapter.

Warning: If you check out any summaries or recaps of chapters you haven't read yet, you might run into spoilers.

[Table of Contents]

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DEVOTED: MERRITT'S STORY

CHAPTER SUMMARIES

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Book 1

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Chapter 1

Chem Ops Private Merritt endures a deluge of threatening messages when word breaks out that he’s hacked the North Sphere’s intelligence database. Belmont sets out to paint him as a public enemy, but King Damen Mercury wants to learn more about the ace who managed to outwit his top intelligence officials.

Chapter 2

Mercury calls for Merritt’s arrest, and he’s brought to the military prison for questioning.

Chapter 3

Merritt is invited to an elite party hosted by Mercury. He meets Archer and Belmont. Sparks fly.

Chapter 4

Merritt joins Mercury for coffee at an elite café. After Merritt inadvertently insults Mercury’s leadership, Mercury challenges him to a game of cards.

Chapter 5

Merritt has a restless night in the wake of his moment of physical contact with Mercury, and he makes some questionable choices to try to settle his mind.

Chapter 6

Merritt has lunch with Archer at an elite restaurant, where she proposes they work together on a confidential poisons project.

Chapter 7

Belmont assigns Merritt to aid the East Sphere’s General Troy in an attack against the West, but all signs point to a setup.

Chapter 8

Upon completion of their waterways mission together, Troy attempts to capture Merritt.

Chapter 9

Merritt is invited to Mercury’s exclusive quarterly review party. Belmont offers him an alliance, but their agreement quickly falls apart.

Chapter 10

Merritt attends his first board meeting with Mercury, where he’s given the task of coordinating the creation of poison traps. Higgins, Mercury’s right hand, offers to mentor him.

Chapter 11

On Mercury’s command, Merritt attempts to make nice with Belmont by offering him a bottle of his favorite South Sphere wine.

Chapter 12

Feeling shaken after his meeting with Belmont, Merritt turns to Torrence for comfort, only to be given devastating news.

Chapter 13

Grieving after the news from Torrence, Merritt confides in Archer. Archer questions him about his feud with Belmont and offers him a new way to protect himself.

Chapter 14

Suspecting an assassination attempt, Higgins enlists Merritt to help him, but it might already be too late.

Chapter 15

Belmont invites Merritt to a party celebrating his promotion to right hand. But Merritt plans to use the party—and Belmont’s attraction—to investigate Belmont’s crimes.

Chapter 16

Having seduced his way into Belmont’s suite, Merritt tries to uncover evidence incriminating Belmont in a murder. But the glass of Potent he drank at the party is hitting him hard.

Chapter 17

Merritt meets Archer at her lab to verify the evidence he collected from Belmont’s suite. Not wanting to go home with such a valuable item, he calls Devon and asks to stay the night.

Chapter 18

Merritt schedules a meeting with Mercury to deliver the evidence implicating Belmont in murder.

Chapter 19

Merritt wonders if there’s a way to work peacefully with Belmont, but a betrayal ruins his chance at an alliance.

Chapter 20

Merritt turns to a South Sphere ally to set a trap for Belmont, but Belmont targets Merritt’s biggest weakness: Torrence.

Chapter 21

Merritt rushes to protect Torrence from Belmont, all the while knowing that he’s walking into a trap. He only hopes his plan with Odell works out.

Chapter 22

Card champion Belmont challenges Merritt to a game. If Merritt wins, he gets Belmont’s handkerchief. If Belmont wins, he gets Merritt’s innocence.

Chapter 23

In order to survive, Merritt resolves to cast aside his honorable nature and fight on Belmont’s terms. But he has second thoughts when Torrence begs him not to change.

Chapter 24

The North’s military is called to respond to an invasion by the West Sphere. Merritt becomes suspicious of the general’s orders and worries that he’s been compromised by Belmont. He defies his command and heads to Station 0, convinced that Belmont is out to sabotage him at the expense of their entire sphere.

Chapter 25

In the midst of the West Sphere invasion, Merritt stands in as general and issues orders to his troops while simultaneously attempting to rescue a hostage.

Chapter 26

In the wake of the West Sphere invasion, Merritt tends to the blue-ties who are the most in need.

Chapter 27

Mercury calls Merritt in to discuss his future in the North Sphere military. 

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Book 2

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Chapter 1

To “celebrate” Merritt’s promotion to general, Belmont throws him the party of his nightmares.

Chapter 2

On Merritt’s first day of work with Belmont as his boss, Belmont is intimidated by the breadth of Merritt’s military knowledge.

Chapter 3

After a strong showing by Merritt on his first day of work, Belmont proposes a truce.

Chapter 4

Merritt attends a board meeting with Belmont, where they fight for his military personnel picks. After the meeting, Belmont tells him the ugly truth about his officer firings.

Chapter 5

Merritt is thrilled to offer Ellis a promotion to be his aide but shocked when he sees Ellis’s response.

Chapter 6

Mercury invites Merritt to his suite, where he reminds Merritt that, as a military general, he is not a leader but a servant.

Chapter 7

Merritt has trouble balancing Mercury’s demand for servitude with Belmont’s demand that he be a leader.

Chapter 8

Belmont produces a questionable drug to aid in data collection for the battle simulator overhaul. Merritt refuses to implement the drug without first testing it on himself.

Chapter 9

Merritt wakes up unable to move after his torturous round with the nerve sensitizer. Belmont offers to take him home.

Chapter 10

During an all-nighter to finish the battle simulator overhaul, Belmont confronts Merritt about the obvious attraction between them, and Merritt’s devotion to Mercury.

Chapter 11

After his all-nighter with Belmont, Merritt is called by Wilson, Archer’s boss. Archer questions Merritt about his relationship with Belmont.

Chapter 12

Mercury invites Merritt to a diplomatic meeting with Samsid, right hand to the East Sphere’s King, but Merritt is disturbed when he learns Mercury’s definition of diplomacy.

Chapter 13

Merritt and Belmont share a meaningful dinner, and Belmont offers Merritt a key privilege.

Chapter 14

Merritt overhears plans of an embargo to punish the West for its underage dog trade. He wants his sphere to join in the effort, but Mercury is resistant.

Chapter 15

After the success of the West Sphere embargo, Merritt takes Belmont out to a special place to celebrate.

Chapter 16

Merritt cooks dinner for Belmont.

Chapter 17

Merritt is tasked with fortifying the North Sphere in the lead-up to the Underground Gala, but his work is interrupted when a demolition vehicle descends upon his home.