9. Raea
Raea
“So what do you think about this one?” Ciara asks, modeling another swimsuit she ordered. We’ve been locked in my room all afternoon. Tonight there’s a group of us heading to the village. Ryker says I can’t spend my life waiting for tomorrow to come.
I have to live for today, too.
And today I’m twenty-one.
Come tomorrow, I’ll officially be twenty-two.
I glance down at my Prism and frown. Ryker’s gift has been delayed…again.
His birthday is the day after mine. In Okenen, the custom is to release a bottle into the ocean with a wish for the coming year—a gift to Okraethon, the giant octopus said to protect the Okenen people. But this year we’ll be celebrating here.
I groan, dropping my Prism before looking over at Ciara with a reluctant smile. “You look radiant.”
She scoffs, disappearing into my bathroom again to change for the evening just as I get an alert from Ryker.
Anders Rykerson: Be there in five.
Just then, I hear a knock at the door. “Got it,” I yell out to Aolyn, who is in her bathroom finishing up her makeup. I swing the door open to find Kamden and Kellan standing side by side awkwardly.
“We are just finishing up in here,” I say, holding open the door. Both men enter, heading straight for the sitting area. “Hey, Kel.” Kellan pauses, turning toward me as I close the door. “You okay?”
He looks…tired. I’ve known Kellan since I was seven, and we’ve practically lived together since then. The usual brightness in Kellan’s hazel eyes has dulled.
Kellan nods, his lips tilting up. “Yeah, all good, RaeRae.” He pulls me in, my senses surrounded by the scent of cinnamon and salt. His arms wrap around me tighter for a moment before he releases me. “Can we meet down at the lake tomorrow before breakfast? I want to give you my gift.”
A smile spreads across my face. Kellan and I love exchanging gifts. It's our own love language. “Want to walk together?”
He nods eagerly as another knock sounds at the door.
This time, when I open it, Tate is standing on the other side with a bright pink cloak, large glittery glasses in the shape of cakes, and the largest bottle of bubbles I’ve ever seen. “All hail, the birthday Princess!” His shout echoes off the stone walls as I giggle, tugging him inside.
“Please tell me you aren’t wearing that?”
He looks down, pulling open the cloak to reveal a shirt he hand-painted that reads I’m with the birthday girl.
I can’t help but laugh even harder.
“No…” He begins pulling off the cloak. “You are.”
“No!” I giggle, running from him as the door opens, and Ryker walks through. I run straight into Ryker’s arms, yelping as Tate attempts to throw the cloak over me. I can’t stop laughing when Ryker lifts a brow as the pink cloak is draped over his head, covering both of us.
It falls a moment later, pooling at our feet.
Ciara throws the bathroom door open. “What is going on out here?” When she spots Tate and the cake glasses he has now managed to get on my face despite me practically hanging off Ryker, she says, “Oh good, you brought it.”
“Ciara!” I shout, laughing too hard to catch my breath.
“Nice shirt,” Trysten says awkwardly to Tate.
This only makes me laugh harder until Ryker lets me down, keeping hold of me with an arm around my shoulders.
“You look fuckable even with the glasses,” he whispers so only I can hear.
I roll my eyes but surge up on my toes, fusing our mouths. Ever since that day in his room, he’s taken every opportunity to remind me how beautiful he thinks I am.
I can’t shake my need to be around him since we’ve been back at school. I’ve almost told him I love him multiple times, but I have a plan. And that plan can’t be enacted for another two days—his birthday.
Behind us, Kellan clears his throat. “Are we ready to go?”
Aolyn steps out of her bathroom and grins. “All ready.”
I unfold myself from Ryker’s lap when we arrive at the village.
Aolyn sat on Kamden’s lap so we could all squeeze into one transport pod.
It was a tight fit with how large the men are.
Well, that, and the fact that Ezra and Aksel managed to squeeze in, too.
Thankfully, the pod was dark, so I didn’t have to look anyone in the eye every time I blushed at the thought of how close Ryker and I were.
The evening air feels refreshing. A light breeze carries the scent of fresh pine mingled with baked goods. Ryker takes my hand. Kellan stands on my other side. The pink cloak I'm wearing does a good job at warding off the chill in the air.
I tried to get out of it, but my friends convinced me that making memories was more important than my pride. I couldn’t argue after that. Dressed in a pink cloak and glittery cake-shaped glasses, I make my way down the alley with an entourage of friends and guards toward the heart of the village.
The last time I was here, Ryker and I were on an unofficial first date. Funny how quickly things have changed. He went from being a ‘maybe’ to being ‘everything.’ I never imagined I’d get this much time to love him before the Ceremony.
“Whatcha thinkin’ about RaeRae?” Kellan asks, nudging my shoulder.
I’m brought back to the present to find that we’ve meandered to the edge of the square. I breathe a sigh of relief that Kellan is here. Things are still a little weird between us, but at least he’s here.
I want my best friend back.
I look up into his beautiful hazel eyes that are filled with firelight from the sconces on the wall.
“Did you know that the first time I came here, Tate carried me on his shoulders?” I giggle, turning to find Tate already coming toward us with an arm full of drinks for everyone.
It’s some kind of towering concoction topped with fruit and sprinkles.
“Birthday girl!” Tate yells. “First shot of the night goes to you.”
It’s only then that I notice Ciara beside him, carrying a wooden board with shots in little neon beakers. My stomach instantly swirls. I’ve never been drunk. I mean, I have had sips of wine and different drinks, but this…
“She doesn’t drink,” Kellan supplies.
Ryker’s hand tightens around mine as he tilts my chin. “What do you want to do, love? If you drink, I won’t let anything happen to you. If not, that’s okay too.”
I tug him down and kiss him softly. “I’ll take the drink. Don’t take advantage of me, Prince.”
His responding hum sends sparks south of my stomach.
I eye the neon pink liquid Ciara hands me with suspicion, but throw it back before I can hesitate any longer, nearly choking from the burn.
Our friends holler around us, making me giggle.
Ciara passes out shots to everyone except Ezra and Aksel, who look displeased.
Everyone downs them before reaching for whatever drink Tate brought.
Tate lifts his glass high, a lopsided grin softening into something gentler.
“To Raea. Thanks for befriending me when I was a total disaster and for always giving me the stability I didn’t even know I needed.
For all the times I joke, you’re a cornerstone in my life. I’m grateful for you every single day.”
My eyes sting before I can stop them, the unexpected sweetness hitting harder than any drink could.
Kellan clears his throat, shifting his weight as if trying to steady his emotions.
“RaeRae,” he says, voice rougher than usual.
“I’m forever grateful for you. For being my best friend.
For being there through all the highs and every rock-bottom low.
I pray to the gods we get years and years more of this—of us—of memories we haven’t even dreamed of yet. ”
“To Rae,” Ciara chimes in, her eyes already glassy. “I love you. You’re my sister in every way that counts, and I wouldn’t trade you for even the most beautiful pair of shoes in the galaxy.”
A watery laugh escapes me, part snort, part sob.
“Raea,” Aolyn says softly, “thank you for believing in me when you had every reason not to. You’ve always been the best of us.” Her lips tremble as she presses them into a smile that doesn’t quite hide the emotion beneath.
Kamden steps forward next, raising his drink. “There’s no one else I’d rather watch AerBall with. This year, you’ve become an unexpected friend—and no matter where life takes us, you’ll always have one in me.”
“Damn it,” Trysten mutters, glaring at his own drink like it betrayed him. All eyes snap to him. “Yeah, speeches aren’t my thing. But Raea… you’ve got my loyalty for life. A friend, a body to protect you, an ear to listen—whatever you need, I’ve got you.”
Tears stream freely down my cheeks now, but laughter bubbles up anyway, colliding with the ache in my chest. These people—my people—are my family.
And then Ryker steps forward, tilting my chin up until our eyes meet. His voice is low and steady, but beneath it runs a current of something older—something that’s been waiting a very long time.
“To my heart and soul,” he begins, the words a breath more than a sound.
“Raea, you’re the reason I breathe. I’m so thankful for you—today and every day.
” His thumb brushes along my jaw, and the rest of the world falls away.
“For years, I watched you from a distance. I told myself it was because of the decree, that royals weren’t meant to grow close.
But the truth is…I stayed away because the pull toward you terrified me.
Because every time you laughed with your friends, I ached to be the one standing at your side. ”
He swallows, eyes never leaving mine. “I thought I envied your friends—the ones who got to hold pieces of your heart I was never allowed to touch. But it was never them I longed to be. It was the place they held in your life. It was you I wanted, always.”
His voice roughens, emotion thickening every word.
“I’m godsdamn blessed to stand beside you now.
Whatever lies ahead, I’ll be here—cheering you on, holding you when you cry, carrying you when you can’t stand.
And every second of it, I’ll be eternally grateful for whatever cosmic force brought us together.
” He pauses a moment. “Here’s to another turn around the sun, beautiful.
” Then just for my ears, he bends and whispers, “I love you beyond eternity…and then some.”
The sob catches in my throat before I can stop it. Tears slip into my hair.
“To Raea,” Ciara whispers again, clinking her glass against Tate’s. I swipe at my eyes and lift mine too, tapping it against each of theirs in turn.
“I love you all so much.” My lips wobble with the words. “Thank you for giving me more than friendship. Thank you for being my family. Old or new—” I glance between Kellan and Kamden, then to Trysten “—you’re all irreplaceable.”
Tate sniffs loudly. “Okay, enough with the pitiful, sappy stuff. Let’s drink and celebrate!”
Laughter ripples through the group, and I’m grateful for the lightness cutting through the emotion. The drink hits my tongue, sour and sweet, and warmth spreads through my chest as the alcohol softens every edge.
“Time to party!” Ciara cheers, lifting her glass again.
We spill toward the center of the square where glowing holograms swirl above a makeshift dance floor, pulsing inside what used to be an abandoned building. The room is dark but alive—candles flickering, strange music thumping, youth spinning in chaotic joy.
With a dramatic flourish, Tate sweeps low, throwing me over his shoulder like a sack of flour. I squeal, laughing breathlessly as he parades me toward the center of the floor. Upside down, I catch a glimpse of Ryker watching with a smirk tugging at his lips—just before he disappears from view.
An hour later, the room is a beautiful kaleidoscope of colors that move through the crowd, and my body feels alive as I dance, the crowd pushing in from all sides. Ryker hasn’t taken his eyes off me since he went to fetch me another drink.
My hands run along my body, slowly, sensually, in time with the music. Across the room, his gaze heats as he drags his teeth over his bottom lip. Beside me, Ciara is talking to Tate about a dare or something, but I barely hear it. I can’t pull my eyes from the handsome prince.
“Five gold coins, and you’ve got a deal,” Tate says, over the music.
I spin with the music, getting lost in a trance. I’ve never felt so…free. I’ll probably regret this tomorrow, but for now, I’m going to enjoy every second of it.
“Oh, here he comes,” Ciara whispers.
Hands wrap around my waist from behind, and for a moment, I lean back, grinding my ass on him.
In my hazy state, it takes several moments before I realize I’m not grinding into Ryker.
I turn to see a stranger grinning down at me.
Over his shoulder, Ryker hands my water to Trysten, crosses his arms, as his eyes dare me.
“Ryker’s got iron control. I say he just glowers and broods,” Kamden says.
I glance to my left to find my friends watching this whole interaction, as if they’re taking bets. Meanwhile, the stranger wraps his hands around my waist as he introduces himself.
“Hi, I’m Tucker. Need a dance partner?”
Ryker’s jaw tightens.
Behind me, I hear, “Three…Two…”
Before Tucker can pull me any closer, Ryker’s at my side, one arm slipping around my shoulders. “Appreciate you keeping watch of my girl,” he says, voice smooth as velvet, but there’s an edge to it, “but I can take it from here.”
Around us, people are staring. Tucker looks between the two of us, then throws his hands up, backing away with an apology.
I snort and face Ryker. “Really? I could have handled him.”
Ryker’s mischievous grin widens. “Just assisting, love.” His mouth moves to my neck, kissing and sucking as he draws me close.
“You’re staking your claim,” I say breathlessly as I arch into him.
I feel his responding grin as he stands to his full height, keeping strong arms on my waist. “Semantics.”
Behind us, Kamden groans before I hear the exchanging of coins. I look over my shoulder as Tate says, “Told you. Every time.”
Ciara cackles. “Worth it.”
My eyes narrow at the three of them. “Did you plan this?”
Ciara giggles before mouthing, “His idea,” as she points to Tate.
Tate grins. “More shots?”
They all scatter quickly. He pulls me close, and for the rest of the evening, he doesn’t leave my side. His hands stay on my hips for the rest of the night, and by the time we stumble back toward campus, exhaustion and alcohol have turned the world soft around the edges.