29. Raea #2
And just like that—before I can speak, before I can even breathe—they’re gone. The clearing still hums with their presence, the flowers still pulse with their impossible light, but the space they occupied feels hollow, as if the forest itself is holding its breath.
I drop onto the sodden ground with a huff of disbelief. “Can someone, for once, just speak plainly?” I groan, fighting back tears.
I wanted answers, not riddles.
“You’re mad the gods didn’t speak plainly, but you dismiss that they spoke at all, love.” He pulls me into his chest, cradling my head as he kisses the top of it. “You got us here. You got the gods to speak to us. That isn’t nothing.”
He’s right. I let the words permeate my mind, settling into memory so that they won’t be forgotten. Once we get home, I want to sit down with Elison and my father, even Professor Ainslyn. Maybe with a few minds on their words, we can solve the riddle.
I step out of his embrace and take a moment to look around. It’s different from the last time we were here. That had been hell, but this feels…oddly peaceful.
The trees, the energy, the animals…all of it is so unique and so extremely beautiful. Calia is a beautiful artist.
I still can’t get over the way her eyes glowed gold, like mine. Does it have to do with the power of the stars themselves? My head feels like it could explode from the amount of questions I have for her.
I turn back to Ryker. “Care to explore for a few minutes before we have to return home?”
He looks around a moment, then nods and reaches for my hand.
As we stroll through the forest of corded trunks and pulsing violet moss, I find myself leaning into Ryker’s side, unable to tolerate even an inch of distance.
On Sgya, my need for him feels less like hunger and more like a resonance.
My magic harmonizes with his, as if the planet of the gods itself is acknowledging that we are two halves of a whole.
Unlike last time, creatures of various sizes make themselves known.
There’s another large white cat similar to the one in the Drift, with rows of silver markings on its pristine fur that lies across a thick branch, its long tail swishing lazily as it watches us.
Its black nose twitches, but otherwise it appears to ignore our presence.
Various birds and butterflies flit through the canopy in an array of colors. A monkey with pink and orange fur, like the colors of a flower, jumps through the thick branches high above.
“I’m always so amazed at how much we have yet to see of this system. Imagine going your whole life stuck on a single planet and never traveling beyond. Never experiencing the vastness of what the universe has to offer,” I hum softly.
“This place is beautiful. Tell me, what’s one planet or moon that you’ve always dreamed of visiting, and haven’t yet had the opportunity?”
Easy. “I’d like to visit Einvald. I’d love to walk the halls of Ael’drien.”
Ryker bumps my shoulder. “Look at you speaking Elvisiah.”
I feel a blush spread to my cheeks. I don’t know why his praise when it comes to languages should matter, but it does. He can speak and read so many of them. I can only understand because of magic, not because I learned it.
We exit the forest, finding our way down the slope toward the edge of the river. It’s late afternoon, or at least I think it is. The time on Sgya messes with my head. I can only hope that our hour here hasn’t meant it’s been days back home.
Ryker helps me over a boulder, pulling me into his arms, his mouth meeting mine in a quick kiss.
Behind him, a branch snaps, drawing our attention. I’m startled when we hear, “Son.”
We both turn to find King Aki standing there, his appearance haggard and worn, but otherwise, he looks…fine. For being trapped on Evello, one of Sgya’s moons for the past five years, almost six now, he looks like he needs a shower and a hot meal, maybe a shave, but…
“Father?” Ryker says in disbelief, staying anchored to my side. A range of emotions flit through his eyes—everything from shock, hope, and anger.
For a heartbeat, he stares at him—like he’s seeing a ghost, like some small part of him still can’t quite believe it. Something fragile flickers there…and then it’s gone.
King Aki’s gaze shifts from me to Ryker, then back to me. “What is she doing here?” His gaze lingers too long, sharp and assessing, like he’s already decided something about me.
I don’t know why, but that was not what I was expecting him to say. I shake off the slight blow and squeeze Ryker’s hand. When I glance up at him, he’s working his jaw like he’s deciding what to say.
Ryker steps forward, putting himself between me and his father. “You left us. You left without warning and without explanation. You don’t get to sit here and ask questions. I do.” His jaw tightens.
I fail to hide my shock. That is not what I expected him to say.
Maybe something closer to ‘You’re alive’ or ‘How did you get here?’ Then again, Ryker has held many secrets, and those secrets have cost him a part of himself.
So maybe it shouldn’t surprise me that the first thing he says to his father is acknowledging that the king did in fact leave his family.
King Aki’s nostrils flare. “You’ve always been such an entitled little prick.”
This is the man Ryker has been breaking himself to honor? The 'beloved king' the media mourns? There is no warmth in his gaze, only a sharp, biting malice that makes my magic hum below my skin, waiting to respond.
“So typical,” Ryker scoffs. “Do you know the kind of pain you left Mother in? For years she was so depressed she could barely get out of bed. She’s only just now beginning to feel better, to get back to the Mother I had before you left.
And let’s not talk about the fact that Clara barely even remembers you.
Or Cole. He’s been acting out since the day you left.
” Ryker takes another step closer to his father.
“You want to call me a prick, fine. You’ve never been one to mince your words when it comes to me.
I’m not the one who abandoned my family. ”
Ryker turns toward me and I see everything unsaid between us. He’s hurting and confused. Needing to offer some comfort, I rest my palm on his chest, feeling the erratic thump of his heart beneath.
King Aki scoffs. “Of course you two would find a way. The royal decree is in place and still you both ignore it. Even as toddlers we could see it…” He trails off muttering to himself.
I have no idea what is going on right now.
The air feels tight, like something is about to snap.
“Let’s go,” Ryker says, placing a hand on my lower back as he guides me to the water. “All he does is speak lies for his own gain. I’m done listening.”
“I’m coming. You’re to return me back to Malaya, to my throne. My work here is finished.”
I can’t help the way my head tilts as I study him. His work? I can’t stop the question from tumbling from my mouth. “Your work? What work?”
“I do not answer to a vacuous princess,” Aki growls, his dark eyes swirling with a hatred I don’t understand.
He calls me vacuous—shallow—the same way the Duchesses looked at me during tea.
But I’ve survived Sgya, shadows, creatures made of nightmares.
I’ve lived through the fall of the Veil and walked through the Drift.
I am no longer the girl he remembers, and I won't let his shadow dim the light I've fought to claim.
I step back at the same time Ryker moves. He gets right in his father’s face. They’re matched in height, but Ryker is more muscular.
“Don’t ever speak to her that way again.
I don’t care what role you think you play, but you are nothing.
Not to me, not to anyone. I’ll take you home when we return to Malaya tomorrow.
You want a ride, keep your damn mouth shut.
” With that Ryker turns back to the water, marching ahead until he’s ankle deep.
He reaches for me. “C’mon love, time to go. ”
The tenderness in his voice is so different from the way he spoke to his father. I take his hand and gasp at the icy water.
Ryker’s hand settles on my waist as he brushes my hair back with the other. “Deep breath. You go first this time.”
I nod and let my gaze move to King Aki, who looks like he’s seconds away from exploding with anger over how his son is holding me. This was definitely not how I ever imagined meeting my future husband’s father and not how I ever pictured his response if I did.
With a long exhale I turn toward the hole, already shivering and anticipating the pain. With a deep inhale, I dive below the surface.