19. Ryker
Ryker
Seeing Raea like this is addictive—unburdened, light, a version of herself I want to shield from the rest of the galaxy. She’s a vision in pale blue chiffon, her white hair loose and catching the soft lanterns of Ayallenora like captured starlight. She’s wearing the necklace I gifted her as well.
As we walk, some bow, some wave, but none of them are surprised to see her.
In fact, one could assume she’s spent time here for the residents of Ayallenora to no longer gawk at their princess.
She thanks them all and wishes them a wonderful evening.
The path she takes us on winds down into the valley.
Around us, businesses built in a circular shape with a spire, looking like trees, pop out of the canopy around us.
Lights flicker on with a soft glow, almost like candlelight, as the sky falls into a dimming gray.
Small lanterns light our steps, and she explains the old architecture.
As we come upon the second level, I see homes built into the side of the valley, roots and vines almost concealing them.
Stone bridges arch around us above and below, some directly ahead leading to the other side of the river, where more homes are located.
The trees here are impossibly tall, and entire homes have been built into their roots. Below us, a dark river meanders slowly, as if it too has paused to take in the views of this unique city.
String lights hang from the canopies above, creating a sense of falling stars. We pass through the base of a tree that’s been hollowed out and is wide enough to span the path we’re walking on.
“Are you excited to go home tomorrow?” Raea asks.
I study her, knowing the real question beneath the words. “I’ll miss you,” I say, and the tension in her shoulders melts. “But I can’t wait to show you Malaya. I’m sure my mother is already obsessing over your rooms.” I smile, thinking of the northern wing that overlooks the sea—our private world.
For a second, the weight of the evacuations and the missing Veil threatens to drown the moment. It feels almost criminal to have this normalcy while billions are being displaced. But we are the faces of stability. If we show fear, the system crumbles.
Raea seems to reach the same conclusion, squeezing my hand. “Do you feel as hollow as I do? Like the memories they stole left empty spaces?” she whispers, her gaze following the lazy meander of the river below.
I tighten my grip on her hand, drawing her flush against my side.
“Yes, I do. But tonight, let’s not waste it on mourning what we cannot change and start reclaiming what’s ours.
This city, this night—it belongs to us, Soraea.
Not the crowns, and certainly not the gods.
” I tug on her hand, urging her to walk faster.
“Come on, slowpoke, the night won’t last forever. ”
We wander down another level and find ourselves in a stone archway built between the two sides of the valley.
Its interior is as tall as all three levels, made from river rock and stone pillars, spanning over the river.
From here, I feel small as I look up the walls of the valley, seeing the towering buildings, the hidden homes, and the impossibly giant trees illuminated with lights.
“This is beautiful,” I say, tugging her close. A rock hits the water, and I turn to see Ezra watching our surroundings like a force to be reckoned with.
“We are going to eat at the White Pinnacle, and then we can head out for dancing at Temple Plaza.”
As she walks a step ahead of me, dragging my hand along, her hair lifts on a breeze, bringing the scent of the forest, fresh rain, and something sweet.
I pull out my Prism and snap a photo before tugging her back to my chest. She giggles when I wrap my arms around her, bringing the device in front of us for another photo.
She poses with me, smiling first at the Prism, then at me. For another, she wraps her arms around me and kisses me. I groan into her mouth, tasting her and wishing we were somewhere a little more private. She pulls away quickly, remembering where we are.
We descend to the lowest level, where the air is thick with the scent of damp earth and the White Pinnacle restaurant awaits. The space is built into the valley walls, sheer canopies creating private nooks amid glowing moss and a low, rolling fog.
“Princess,” the hostess greets Raea. “Would you like your usual table?”
Usual? I guess she comes here a lot.
Raea confirms and asks for the table across from us for Ezra and Rune. We receive glances as we’re ushered through the space.
“I come here a lot,” Raea supplies as I pull out the comfiest-looking chair for her. She sits, holding up her train as I push it closer to the makeshift table.
“And how often is a lot?”
She blushes, tipping her chin to her chest. “During breaks, it’s not uncommon for me to be here several times in a month.”
I nod and pull out a bench seat beside her.
“They have amazing food, and I love the atmosphere.”
The server appears with a fresh loaf of bread and honey butter before taking our orders. We order a soup, a meat platter, and handpicked roasted vegetables to share. Throughout dinner, Raea tells me about various trips she’s taken, her life here on Kyrr, and her favorite places in the system.
In turn, I share the same, also including how difficult it was to raise my siblings after my father left, and the burden I still feel in his absence.
For dessert, she orders two berrybars and moans when the freshly baked item arrives. My mouth explodes with the taste of warm oats, brown butter, honey, and three different berries.
“These are good,” I say, inspecting the bar before taking another bite.
“They’re my favorite,” she responds around a mouthful.
Once she swallows, I kiss her again because I can and because her sharing these parts of herself with me means worlds to me.
“Ready for some dancing?” she asks with a devilish grin.
“This is not what I had in mind.” I laugh softly into her ear.
The music around us is loud, and the square is packed with people dancing a little more provocatively than I'm used to.
Raea tangles her hands in her hair and smiles as she slides her body down mine, making me groan.
I grasp her hips, holding her close as she twists with the music, moving up and down with the beat.
It reminds me of her birthday. I guess I know where she learned to dance like this.
“Live a little,” she says over the music. She throws her arms around my neck and rocks her head side to side. The loose strands of her long hair whip out in all directions, some already sticking to her face in this heat.
I glance around the plaza. Nobody seems to care or notice who we are.
I don’t even see Ezra or Rune, though I'm sure they’re here somewhere.
Raea breaks me out of my thoughts by kissing me.
She doesn’t hold back, her tongue sliding into my mouth as she stands on her toes.
When she pulls back with a grin, I tug her closer, rocking my hips in time with the music.
After a few songs, the music changes to a slower ballad, and she doesn’t hesitate to sway with me.
“This plaza is part of a network of dance clubs where people can come to let loose. They play all styles of music, so you can learn different dances and hear music from other cultures. There’s no judgment, and everyone is here to have a good time.
Nobody cares who we are, and that’s why we were sent through the monitors and handed over our devices.
No Prisms or recording devices allowed.”
I look around again, holding her sweat-slicked body against mine. “Won’t people talk?”
She shrugs. “I’ve been here several times, and nothing has ever been said about it.”
I don’t trust easily, and I know a good story is always waiting to be sold to the press. I press a kiss to her hair before spinning her out of my arms and back in. She giggles melodically before shuffling her feet with the dance.
After a long evening, we decide to head back to the palace and walk in the chilled air to cool our heated bodies.
Outside the Temple Plaza, which was aptly named for being built at the base of a temple dedicated to our two gods, we take a small path that will lead us back to the main path that winds out of here.
“Thank you for tonight and for coming with me,” she says. She looks so relaxed and happy.
“I wish I could take you on a million different dates on every planet,” I reply, bringing our interlaced hands up so I can kiss her knuckles. “I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t get the same kind of reception everywhere, though. This place is special.”
She nods.
We find ourselves on a bridge with golden lockets draped all along its surface and a statue of the two gods with their hands interlocked, their free hands outstretched as if they’re offering a blessing.
The bridge spans the river with more of those hanging lights draped from the canopy above. It feels magical.
A couple ahead of us stops at the midway point, and the man bends at the waist, holding out a ring in his uplifted palm.
Raea squeals quietly as we watch. The woman nods, taking the ring from him, and cries as he kneels before her, holding a blade over his heart in a promise to always love her, or may his death be swift.
When I look back at Raea, she’s wiping her cheek.
“Don’t judge,” she says through a shaky laugh. “I love love. I love that they get to choose.” She wipes her eyes again and leans into me when I wrap an arm over her shoulder.
We finish crossing the bridge, and she shivers when a light breeze tunnels through the valley.
“Do I no longer keep you warm?” I ask, my voice laced with amusement.
She bites her lips to hide a smile. “Sometimes.” She laughs. “It’s more comforting now.”
I arch a brow at her.
“My magic has a way of changing how I perceive being warm.”
Ah. Makes sense.