Chapter 41
forty-one
. . .
raea
Zayla looks so beautiful from the sandstone castle.
The desert here is home to wild animals grazing on the sparse plant life, visible from the terrace as far as the eye can see.
Overhead, there are four moons varying in size.
The sun is setting, and it’s that beautiful time of day when the skies are pink and the moons are out.
Baedyn doesn’t have this.
Behind me, the party is still going on. It’s Queen Meganna’s thirty-fifth birthday, and her husband, King Osiris, is dancing with her. They are so at ease in front of their guests. I guess having a kingdom of only eight planets helps with that.
The heat from the day is still radiating off the stone, and sweat trickles down my spine beneath my corset.
I’m wearing a blue and cream gown in the loose style of the kingdom that lifts and flows with my movements.
It feels magical. I only wish Ryker were here to see.
He’d appreciate it. The blue of my gown reminds me of his eyes.
I close my eyes and try to picture where he is. I can’t remember Malaya, even though Father has said I’ve been there several times. I was just too young. I wish I could access the memories. I sway with the music even though I’m alone.
A chill races down my spine, and fear seeps into my bones. I turn just as the music halts, and screams fill the dance hall. Darkness swirls, and one by one, royal members fall to their knees, begging for life. A scream ripples through the darkness before it’s silenced.
I feel the power radiating up my arms. It’s not enough. I slam my back against the wall, hiding myself. I need to calm myself down. Breathe in for three. Out for three. My fingers tingle, the power waiting to be released.
“There you are,” it hisses.
The eerie voice is neither male nor female—just something ancient and evil. A dark, hooded face appears from the mist. It’s as if life and color have been drained from it. Its hand wraps around my throat, the grip unrelenting, and my vision starts to go black on the edges.
I release my power and throw my palms to its chest. It screams, but its grip only tightens.
It’s a war to see who will give out first. I reach for Ryker.
I need his help. My skin burns from the release of energy, and my vision goes dark.
I can still feel, but everything else is gone.
There’s only that endless void of nothingness.
“You have to fight!” I hear Ryker’s voice in my head. “Fight, Raea.”
I inhale sharply as I am jolted awake by Aolyn. She’s standing over me with worry in her eyes. Dammit, not again.
“Are you okay?” she asks.
Her eyes skate around my face. It’s barely first light, and the room is still cast in shadows. She’s dressed in her white nightgown, her slender arms hugging her center as she looks upon me with frightened eyes. I scrunch my face, trying to recall my dream.
“I’m fine. I don’t remember it,” I lie.
“You were screaming for Ryker.” She sits beside me on the bed. I bury my face in my hands and sit up. “Are you going to tell me what’s been going on with you two? I know it’s more.”
“It’s a long story, but the short version is that I agreed to be his…girlfriend? I don’t know. We haven’t said anything about titles.”
She doesn’t say anything as she looks me over and then smirks. “Is that all? I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. Everyone can see it. Why do you think I went to him instead of Kellan? I think that ship sailed long before you agreed to it.”
“It’s the Bond. That’s all. He makes me crazy.” I slap my hands down on the sheets and groan. “I don’t know how else to explain it.” I throw the covers off myself, feeling too hot all of a sudden.
“Some days I can’t stay away from him, an invisible string pulling us together.
Other days, I just want to slap his beautiful face.
” I pace the room. “At first, I thought he was cocky, but he isn’t.
After he saved me, my thoughts became a tangled mess.
Now, I can’t breathe without him, and I can barely breathe when he’s near.
I’m losing my damn mind, and I just…I just need him.
It’s so intense. I want to be his, because the idea of being with anyone else makes me sick. ”
Aolyn just laughs, bringing her knees to her chest. “Oh my gods, you’re in love with him.”
I roll my eyes and crawl back into bed. “I’m not. I’m going back to sleep.” I throw myself against the pillow and roll over so my back is toward her. She giggles and curls up behind me, wrapping her arms around me.
“You know, for someone so intelligent,” she whispers, “you are pretty clueless. Don’t worry, I won’t say anything.” She makes a delighted hum as she pulls the blankets over herself.
“I don’t love Ryker. It’s too soon.”
“You know it’s okay to love Kellan; he’s your best friend, but you’re in love with Ryker. Sleep now, my young Princess,” she trills.
I chuckle and close my eyes.
I’m not in love with him, right?
It’s still early when I wake up; Aolyn is still asleep beside me. I have to get ready because today I’m headed to Onyxera to visit the village in the lava tubes with Paxton, Korē, Thriven, and Aurora for our assignment for Ethnography.
I slip into a maxi dress made of thick, all-black material.
The material stops at the top of my breasts, where the corset lifts them, and from there, a series of ropes drape over my shoulders and chest, creating a cage appearance.
Apparently, this is typical fashion for the Kadorian nobility.
I twist sections of my hair and braid others, bringing them together in a coronet at the back of my head.
I paint my lips a soft pink and brush on blush before lining my eyes with coal. I slip my diadem over my head, letting the jewel fall over my forehead, and slip on a few bangles and a necklace. I’ll be representing my kingdom today. I grab my cloak and Prism, along with my bag, on my way out.
Ryker is there waiting for me. I didn’t expect him back yet, so I can’t help the giddy smile that spreads across my face as I launch myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck with a giddy squeal. “You’re here!”
He chuckles, wrapping his hands around me. “Just came to see you off, but I need to head back to Malaya.” He squeezes me as my heart does a little dance. He came all the way back just to see me.
“Gods, you’re breathtaking,” he groans, leaning down, wrapping warm hands around my waist. “Have fun today, and be careful.”
I inhale a lungful of him before pulling out of his arms. One heated look from him steals the breath from my lungs. I could just stay right here, and I’d be perfectly happy, and, well, that scares the hell out of me.
He grins, tugging me down the hall toward his room before I can say anything. His door opens as he places a gentle hand on my lower back, escorting me in. Once the door is closed, gone is the facade of calm and collected, and in its place is something carnal.
The back of my thighs hit the edge of his desk, and my freaking core ignites. There’s something predatory about the way Ryker leans over me, leaving no space between us for the way my chest is heaving. His eyes drop to my mouth in question.
“Tell me to kiss you,” he pleads.
I’m not sure if it’s a question or a demand, but the choice is mine. In response, I lean up on my toes, giving him what he wants. I still have a few minutes before I need to be downstairs.
He doesn’t hesitate to claim my mouth. My lips part, and his tongue sinks in, stroking and claiming me with the taste of fresh mint still lingering in his mouth. Yes. This is what I need more of. It’s a dangerous game we’re playing, but I don’t care right now. I just want to burn.
Warm hands find the backs of my thighs as he lifts me to the desk, spreading my legs so he can step between them. My dress rides up to my thighs as I wrap my legs around his waist, locking my ankles at his back, my slippers falling to the floor with a thud.
Nothing exists beyond us, beyond this door.
The veil could fall, the planets burn to the ground, and I wouldn’t have it in me to stop.
Not with the way he’s holding me and kissing me like I’m the very air he needs.
His breath mingles with mine as his tongue strokes mine, making my body putty in his arms.
“Your Bond, Raea,” Anders mutters, pulling away just enough to brush his mouth over my lips.
I nod and then lean back in for more, sliding my fingers into his hair and tugging on the silky strands.
He tastes so damn good, I could live with my mouth attached to his.
There’s so much energy flowing between us that we could sustain life itself.
His mouth leaves mine, skating across my jaw, peppering kisses tenderly and so at odds with how I feel.
His hands flex on my thighs as I rock forward, my core finding friction along his waistband. My power surges through me.
I’m.
On.
Fire.
“Raea,” he growls.
Right, my Bond.
I stack more bricks, noticing the wall has been blown apart.
Gods, if he wasn’t paying attention, I’d have given my Bond to him.
For some reason, I can’t find it within myself to care, not right now, not when I know this can very well be my future.
Driven by the escalating friction, my hips move forward.
I feel the soft graze of his teeth along my neck, sending a delicious spark of heat dancing along my spine.
“Ryker,” I breathe.
In one swift motion, he’s carrying me across the room.
He sits on his bed, keeping me in his lap, pinning me in place with his hands firmly on my waist. I shift, rocking my hips, uncaring when a breathy moan escapes me. He lifts his hips into my core, and I feel the hard length of him beneath the combat pants.
“Watch your Bond,” he rasps, grinding against my sensitized core.
I gasp, gripping his arms while focusing on the not-so-stable brick wall in my mind.
I lean forward, bringing our bodies flush; his solid length rubs against me as he holds me in place and presses all-too-gentle kisses along my neck.
Once he reaches my shoulder, he holds his mouth there, breathing, his whole body still.
“I can’t,” he says raggedly. “The first time I get my hands on you, it will not be like this.”
He pulls away, those deep sapphire eyes studying me as he cups my cheek.
Emotions I’m not ready to name threaten to break loose.
“Our first time will not be rushed. When I finally take you to bed, Soraea, I’m going to need hours, if not days, to worship every part of you before starting over again. ”
He kisses me again, all too gently, and the fire within me dulls to a simmer. My breath slows to match his while he holds me in place, gently cradling my face as he studies me.
“I am trying to do the honorable thing,” he explains. “But make no mistake, Princess, I’ve been worshipping you in my dreams for far too long.”
A warmth blossoms along my spine. I don’t know what to say, so I cup his cheek, brushing my hand along the stubble, before bringing our mouths together one last time in a sweet and tender kiss.
“Mine,” I whisper.
“Yours,” he promises as I sit up. Amusement dances across his face as we openly gaze into each other’s eyes.
“So,” he starts, sitting up so he’s leaning back against his hands. “What do I have to do to be your friend?”
I don’t know why, but I find myself laughing. A huge smile spreads across my face as I look down on him.
I slide my palms up his stomach, over his chest, settling them on his shoulders. “Why would you want to be my friend when you’re more than that?”
His lips quirk up. “Questions answered with questions. Hmm…” He brushes my hair back. “What if I want to be more and your friend? Can’t I be both?”
I drop my lips to his, smiling against them. “Okay, Prince,” I say, kissing him softly and sweetly before crawling off his lap and heading for the door, leaving him rumpled and utterly gorgeous on the bed with a smile.
When I open the door, a guard, whom I assume belongs to Ryker, gives me a questioning look but doesn’t say anything. I find Kuron, my guard, lingering at my door, doing a once-over before following me to the dining hall.