13. Raea
Raea
Ciara and Kellan are with me when our transport lands right outside the palace.
Home again.
I’ve been fidgeting with the necklace Ryker gave me the whole way, feeling uneasy about something I haven’t put a name to yet. When he kissed my temple earlier, he was scared, though he was masking it well. Maybe that’s it. The feeling lingers beyond my grasp.
Tate took the transport back to Thirik, but I wish I knew he would be safe. I wish I could hold onto all of them and bring them home with me behind the protection of my father’s most powerful wards.
Of course, many of the palaces are warded, but none as strong as my father’s.
In fact, there hasn’t been a person to ward as strongly since the Veil went up.
The last one who could ward as strongly as my father was a Grand Duke under the emperor at the time.
He died shortly after the Veil slipped into place due to unknown causes.
Most likely, he forfeited his lifeforce creating the Veil.
I hear the moment the thrusters turn off. When the transport door opens, the three of us leave our bags, heading straight for the palace.
The train of my light pink gown snags on something several feet behind me before Ciara laughs and kicks it free.
It seemed excessive when I found it in my bags at the start of the school year, but I’m thankful for it now.
I need to be an image of strength, of protection, of confidence for my people.
The silver diadem on my head is woven into my loose hair, the single opal falling over my forehead.
It’s one of my favorites, and it goes so well with this gown.
“Princess Raea,” Ezra says, stepping off first.
The palace is swarming with people. I've never seen so many transports, all of them timing their landings while others launch back into space.
“Duchess Ciara, you and Duke Kellan will be staying here in the palace in your usual rooms.”
None of us says anything as we follow Ezra in through the private entrance. I want to find my parents, but I have no idea where to start—probably the command center.
“Princess Raea, please come with me,” Godwin, my father’s head of the palace guard, says.
I leave the group and follow him to the private control room, where my father is waiting.
“My girl,” he says, rushing to my side, wrapping me in the scent of leather and pine. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”
I nod, taking note of his demeanor. He seems so calm. I let his ease fall over me, soothing my nerves. “Neither did I,” I respond with a small smile.
“Happy birthday.” He turns and grabs a wrapped gift from the table. He seems so casual, as if the system isn’t changing.
In my periphery, men and women swarm around boards with military movements.
The command center ahead has multiple screens flashing with transport whereabouts and live footage—albeit a bit delayed—from around the kingdom.
It all feels very overwhelming. The last time I was in here, it was quiet.
This is the safest room in the whole system, or so my father says.
“Thank you, Father,” I say, taking the box.
It’s big and heavy. I unwrap the material and lift the lid to find a gorgeous sapphire gown inside.
I am utterly speechless. I don’t know if it's a coincidence or if he and Ryker planned it, but it matches my necklace perfectly as if the two are part of the same ensemble.
The ache hits instantly. I rub at my stomach, blowing out a breath for the count of three.
“He will be okay.” My father clutches my shoulders, offering me reassurance.
“Queen Priana is strong and will know what to do. We’ve been in contact with her, and she will alert us if anything changes.
I will see you at lunch. Ciara and Kellan must join us.
Go now. Your mother awaits you in your chambers. ”
I give him one last hug and carry my gown to my rooms. When the open door reveals my mother, my facade crumbles. On shaky feet, I run to her, letting her strong arms hold me together.
“Oh, sweet girl,” she coos, holding me as I sob. “Everything will be okay. No crying.”
I laugh despite the tears flowing down my cheeks. I’ve only ever seen my mother cry once. She shows emotion, but she’s able to hold herself together in a way I never can.
“Let’s get your hair fixed up. Would you like Ciara to come in here and get ready for lunch?”
I nod, and Zhel, my chambermaid, leaves. My mother follows, leaving me to get ready. I wipe my tears and admire the dress my father gave me before Mera lifts it off the bed and rushes it to my closet. Ciara comes in without knocking. She’s been crying. Her eyes are puffy, cheeks flushed.
“Come sit,” I say, patting the bed beside me.
When she sits down, I pull her into a hug and promise her everything will be alright. Her parents are making their way from Sislaf, a planet where they were sent to negotiate accepting refugees. Was it only a few weeks ago that I was working with Ryker on this very thing?
“Tell me about your necklace.” She sighs, lifting the cool sapphire from my chest and cradling it in her palm.
I smile and brush my fingers over the chain.
Memories of this morning flash through my mind.
It feels like it was ages ago. A different life.
A life where I still hoped to finish school, to fall deeper in love with a boy I’m fated to marry, and spend Ryker’s twenty-fourth birthday in bed with him. Everything changed so quickly.
I clear my throat and my thoughts.
“Ryker,” I say.
She grins and rolls her eyes. “Obviously, you’ve been playing with it nonstop. Plus, c’mon, that shade of blue matches his eyes.”
I chuckle, scrunching my face and shrugging. I glance down at the necklace where it hangs between my breasts again.
“Are you guys going to be okay? You know, with like the Bond and the prophecy thing? I kind of feel like you guys should probably be together or something.”
My gut squeezes and I fight back the knot in my throat.
I’ve been thinking the same thing, but I won’t ask him to choose me or his kingdom and there’s probably no chance of my parents letting me out of their sight.
Besides, this is serious. This isn't a vacation. I can’t be on Malaya following him around while the kingdoms fall apart.
“I don’t know. We will just have to see what happens. Besides, I still have a year.” I melt into the comfortable, buttery soft sheets and hold back the urge to roll around and snuggle into the pillows.
“You can Bond now, Raea,” she argues, laying down beside me. “It might not be as strong, but you guys aren’t a normal couple. Your Bond is already much stronger than anyone I've ever talked to.”
I wrap my hand in hers. I’m glad she’s here.
The door opens as Mera stands before me. “Your Highness, Duchess, time to get up. Lunch will be served shortly.”
“Royal duties call,” Ciara whispers and winks at me.
I bite my lips, holding in my laugh.
“Kellan, your father wanted us to relay that your mother is on Kao, helping set up centers to accept refugees. She should return within the week,” my mother says.
The three of us are sitting at the family table with my parents. All of us are picking at our food. My appetite subsided the moment I left Ryker.
“This is all just precaution of course,” my father starts. He’s trying to make us feel better, but he doesn’t understand the prophecy. Or maybe he does and he doesn’t believe it. It was pretty clear though.
The days are numbered before the skies fall to night when Myrkr rises.
We never finished going over what all of it meant. What the hell is Myrkr? Is that a person? A god?
I swallow the panic crawling up my throat, using my breathing techniques to calm me while I ground myself using Ryker’s necklace. The metal is cool despite it laying against my body all day, but the sapphire is warm. The metal wire of the tree hums softly in my grasp.
I hadn’t noticed it before.
I wrap my hand around the stone completely and remember the feel of his lips on my neck, his warm body pinning mine to the wall. The memory of his emotions—happy, in love.
It’s so tangible it feels like my own emotions. I pull my guards down just to see if I can get anything. His planet is only forty minutes away this time of year through hyperjump. It’s nothing compared to other planets.
I knock down the walls of my Bond, but there’s nothing there.
Instead of light and energy and power, I'm met with pain so physical it takes my breath away. There’s nothing where my Bond usually sits behind the iron gates other than a black, empty space.
I slam my palms onto the table, gasping, forgetting everyone around me while I quickly close my iron wall. There’s no way I can go a year without seeing him. Nausea swirls in my stomach and I fight to release the tension in my fisted hands.
“Raea?” my mother gasps, shocked at my outburst.
When I open my eyes, Ciara and Kellan have sympathy written on their faces, even my father. He must know, he has to. It all makes sense now. The dress, him wanting me to stay home next year for school.
“I—I—” I stand rapidly, the chair screeching against the stone floor. “I’m so sorry, please excuse me.”
I run back to my chambers, my slippers sliding on the stone floors as I make the last turn.
I change quickly with Aza and slip into my Xori pants, corset, and a sweater.
It’s the same outfit I wore on my first day of school when Ryker followed me down to the lake.
Another shock of energy hits me straight in the stomach, causing me to whimper.
I’m lacing up my boots when Kellan and Ciara come in.
“I just need to go somewhere. I can’t just sit at the table and pretend like everything is fine,” I say in a rush.
“Do you want to go to the Drift?” Kellan asks.
I shake my head, losing any composure I have left. “No. I can’t!”
The Drift reminds me of Ryker. It’s where he told me he loved me. I can’t go there, not without him.
I mutter an apology, realizing my heightened emotions are getting the better of me.