36. Raea
Raea
The humid, floral-scented air hits me the moment a breeze brushes past us.
I’m still in shock. My mind reels as I look back to where we came from—where the gateway should be. There is nothing now but cerulean blue water glittering beneath the sun, as if the world never tore itself open.
My friends all look dazed, shocked, and confused. I am too. What did I just do? I left my home, my family.
Ryker’s hand cups my face as he brings my attention to him. The sapphire in his eyes seems impossibly deeper, the silver now glittering almost like it’s alive. “Breathe, love,” he soothes, running a thumb over my cheekbone.
For a moment, I let him calm me.
I don’t think about the fact that the war started, and we left.
I don’t think about our parents or our friends that we left behind.
I don’t think about Ezra, Rune, Aksel, and Theovan probably fighting their way to find us.
I don’t think about the fact that I have a twin sister or that Sienna betrayed us. That King Aki played a part in it.
“That’s it,” he says, “it’s going to be okay.”
For the first time, I look around, taking in our surroundings. Before us is a beach filled with tents and warriors who all pass us without looking our way.
I look down at my hands, still trembling, my ring still on the wrong finger.
The light catches the sapphire dangling from my brow.
Under the light of a different sun, the stone glows celestial blue, pulsing with the same rhythm as the waves.
It matches the weight of Ryker’s necklace against my skin, and for a fleeting second, the jewelry feels more like a tether.
My parents’ love and Ryker’s promise are the only things that haven't been distorted by the jump across the galaxy.
My gaze settles on a man walking toward us. He wears a leather vest over bare skin, tattoos winding across his chest like a story written in muscle and ink. His long, sand-colored hair is pulled back, his beard thick, his green eyes sharp without being unkind.
He studies Ryker for a beat too long—measuring, not challenging—then lets his gaze drift to me.
“Well,” he says mildly, as if we’ve merely arrived late to a meeting. “That was dramatic.”
Ryker stiffens beside me. I feel the wind stir at his back.
“I’m Finn,” the man continues. “And before you ask—yes. That was supposed to happen.”
A woman stands at his side. She is beautiful in the way sharpened steel is beautiful.
Short. Lean. Braided hair pulled back tight from a face carved in restraint and irritation.
Leather armor hugs her frame, practical and unadorned, and her pale blue eyes, which are almost as clear as glass, flick over us like we are problems she’s already tired of solving.
“Brynna,” she says flatly. No welcome. No ceremony. “This is the planet of Auralis. Come with us.” Her eyes flick to Ryker. “You stay close.” Then to me. “You stay alive.” She turns on her heel and starts walking, clearly unconcerned whether we follow.
Finn winces faintly. “She is friendly,” he offers, then lowers his voice. “Just not today.”
Ryker exhales through his nose. I almost smile. As we follow, Clara shifts closer to me. Finn’s steps slow slightly as his attention drifts to her. Not curiosity. Not alarm. Something else. His brow furrows, and for the first time, the easy humor fades.
Finn crouches briefly to Clara’s level, his expression unreadable. “You’re safe here.” Something in his voice makes my chest ache.
Brynna glances back, sharp eyes catching the moment. Her jaw tightens. “Keep up. This isn’t a sightseeing tour.”
The eight of us—nine, including Clara—follow Brynna. Ryker lifts Clara into his arms and clutches my hand with the other. The camp seems calm despite the chaos of what we just came from.
Thick tents line the beach in every direction, and the scent of campfire and meats eventually reaches me.
We wind our way through, getting closer to the forest at the edge.
Remaining silent, we study our surroundings and the strangers that we’ve found ourselves with.
It’s a short walk from where we came through before a hidden building comes into view.
The columns have been wrapped in flowering vines, and branches cover the multiple archways that surround a beautiful garden at the center of the space.
Brynna positions herself between us and the open forest, her irritation sharpening into vigilance.
Flora I've never seen before covers every inch of the space that hasn’t already been dedicated to the stone walkways and the towering orb in the center.
“Don’t worry,” Finn says over his shoulder as we finally catch up to Brynna. “You’ll have answers soon.”
Flanking us, Trysten and Kamden are uneasy. Kellan remains behind us, walking beside Aolyn and Ciara with Tate trailing further behind. None of us dares speak—either from shock or awe, I’m not entirely sure.
Kamden steps closer once we pass through the arches.
My gaze lifts, finding a dome about seventy-five feet above us, completely masked by the canopy of trees.
Ryker squeezes my hand as we approach the orb at the center of the room.
The overlapping bronze rings surround a glass orb at the center that is probably the planet we are on now.
Brynna and Finn face us, pausing and assessing. Just beyond the orb is a statue of a god—Caelus, if I had to guess. He looks…young. While the gods remain ageless, I can’t help but see the youthful features in his countenance.
“You made it,” Finn says. “That alone puts you ahead of most.” He leans back with a deceptive casualness that belies the predatory grace of a warrior. “Like Brynna said, we are on Auralis, one of six planets in the Auralan system. Soraea, we’ve been waiting for you.”
Ryker pulls me flush against his side, his arm a solid band of iron around me
“Don’t be scared. You need to trust me,” Finn says, looking at me and only me.
A dark laugh rumbles from Ryker. “Trust you? We just stepped into another system on the edge of the galaxy. I don’t think so. Trust is earned.”
My gaze swings to him before glancing around, taking in confused faces.
“Fair enough,” he says to Ryker. “They can’t understand me in the elder language, but you, Soraea—”
“Raea,” I interrupt.
“—you can because you are one of us. Your mate understands because of his link to you. Fae can learn, but Elvisiah is the language written in our blood.”
Warmth radiates from within, blooming and growing like the truth of it is opening something within me.
The words don't hit my ears—they vibrate in the marrow of my bones, as if a lock I never knew existed has finally found its key. It’s a language of sunlight and ancient soil.
It makes the common language feel thin and hollow by comparison.
I clear my throat, stepping forward. “Will my home be okay? We were brought here, but we left everyone we love behind.”
Finn looks at me for a long moment before Brynna says, “We’ve been fighting the shadow forces for a millennium.
They will do their best to protect your people.
You are the only hope we have of actually winning the war.
So you’re here to learn. To train.” Her eyes swing to Ryker.
“To mate.” Her gaze hardens into something fierce and otherworldly. “You need to be focused.”
Finn grins like this conversation is something typical friends have over brunch.
Trysten finally stands beside us. “Mind speaking in the common tongue so we can all understand what the hell is going on?”
Brynna’s eyes flash to him, and I swear she looks like she’s seconds from murdering him.
Finn smiles faintly, then says in the common language, “You’ll all be training. But first, let’s get you settled. Raea.” He glances at me. “The elders will want to meet with you.” Finn’s gaze lingers on me, no humor this time. “And you’ll need to learn control. We’ll start there.”
Finn’s eyes move to Brynna, and she sighs. “Anders—”
“Ryker,” he cuts her off.
Her jaw ticks. “What kind of name is Ryker? Never mind, I honestly don’t give a shit.” She pinches the bridge of her nose like we are a nuisance. Some welcoming party. “My sister and I are instructed to bring you before the Fae king.”
Ryker’s knuckles go white as he anchors his hand in mine. “I won’t go anywhere without my mate.”
Brynna’s nostrils flare, and I think she’s about to unleash some unholy words when another female—this one taller, more regal—places a hand on her shoulder.
“Sister,” she muses with a smile before turning her gaze toward us.
“You all look exhausted. Let us get you settled into your rooms. We will have food brought up, and we can meet tomorrow.”
There’s something final about her words.
When I look at Kamden, he’s practically drooling. I push his chin up, closing his mouth, and I tuck my lips to stifle my laughter when he scowls at me.
Clara yawns, reaching for Trysten, who takes her without question.
The gardens are spectacular as we are led through the opposite side, the eight of us walking with slow steps as we mutter our thoughts about our surroundings.
The sunlight is almost blinding as we navigate grass pathways, surrounded by stacked garden beds on either side with towering trees, their leaves larger than I am.
Moss grows up their trunks. Plants and flowers of every color grow at their shaded base. There is a sweet scent in the air that is unlike anything I'm familiar with, and somewhere in the distance, I can hear the constant trickle of a fountain or maybe a stream.
I tilt my head up to Ryker, blocking the sun with my palm, and take in the worry in his eyes. The sapphire is completely covered in swirling shades of silver and white. His jaw is also tense, along with the rest of his body. I pause our walking momentarily, halting everyone.