44. Raea
Raea
“Put me down!” I argue, slapping his beautiful chest. It’s my mistake, because it hurts my hand. The muscles below his shirt ripple as Ryker laughs. He insisted on carrying me down the mountain. I let him because not only was I exhausted, but he looked like he needed it.
It didn’t stop there. No, now we’re entering the sanctuary space, and his grip only tightens. “I can walk, Ry. Put. Me. Down.” His lips pull into a smirk when I cross my arms. It's pointless. Fighting against him is like fighting a mountain. He’s immovable.
He hums, his eyes alight with amusement. “I distinctly remember a similar situation not too long ago.”
I refuse to smile or let him win this argument, but my lips twitch all the same. “Last time was different,” I huff
He cocks his head to the side as if thinking. “Is it though?”
I groan and tilt my head back. Relenting, I rest my head against his solid chest, his heartbeat a perfect thump beneath my ear. Carys said I need the rest because tomorrow is the beginning of everything.
I can’t wrap my head around what being Elven even means.
Ryker’s boots thud softly against the stone walkway, the scent of damp caves, bubbling waters, and him—roaring oceans after a storm, fresh citrus groves in morning mist, a hint of warm sandalwood, and something pure male. It’s that scent that constantly leaves me wanting to taste him.
Soft voices drift up from the soaking pools at the bottom of the cavern. Torchlight illuminates our path as Ryker takes the twists and turns deeper into our rooms.
As we pass our friends’ room, I can hear laughter within, and a twinge of jealousy hits me. I wish, for once, I could not be in my position. I never asked for this. I have always wanted a quiet life.
Joke’s on me.
It would seem the fate of the whole galaxy hinges on me and my magic.
Magic.
Gods, how did I get here? Ryker must sense my tension because he stops in front of their door, setting me down with a soft kiss to my temple.
“I think you should grab Kellan and Ciara. I’ll grab Clara and meet back here.” He’s about to walk away when I reach out, my hand wrapping in his before he gets too far. It’s strange not feeling the power anymore. I’d gotten so used to it, but when the Veil fell, it too disappeared.
Ryker pauses, waiting for me. I don’t say anything as I curl into his chest, his strong arms wrapping around me. When I look up, his eyes are already on me. Standing on my tip toes I press a kiss to his mouth and then turn back for the door.
Even without being Bonded, he’s always known exactly what I need. I knock once and enter. He’s right. I do need Kellan and Ciara.
The water bubbles around me, steam clouding my vision as I laugh at Kellan and Ciara. They’ve been splashing each other in the face whenever they disagree for the past hour. The water drips off Kellan’s face.
It took about ten seconds of walking into their living space for Kellan and Ciara to be at my side.
Aolyn had stood, but only watched. I wish things were better with her, but I know it will take time.
Kellan had taken one look at me and proclaimed we were going to the hot springs scattered throughout the caverns.
The main pool is moderate temperature, but the hotter ones, the one we are in now, are located through a network of tunnels, away from prying eyes.
None of us had appropriate swimwear, but when we reached the ground level, the hostess told us to wait a minute and returned with canvas bags, our names sewn onto each.
Apparently, Brynna had seen to it that we not only had swimwear but slippers and robes as well. And did she tell any of us about this? Of course not. She’s a real piece of work. It’s not like any of us asked to be here. Then again, if I had a father like hers, I would probably be bitchy too.
When Ciara stops giggling, I tug her to me, wrapping an arm around her. “Miss you,” I whisper.
Her eyes soften as she wraps me in her arms. “I’m always here for you, Rae. You don’t have to do this alone.”
Kellan scoots closer and I take his hand with my free one. “We followed you here not so we could have a free ride to safety, but to learn and to fight with you, RaeRae. You’ve been taking this on alone, and we haven’t pushed, but I’m pushing. Let us help.”
My lip wobbles for a moment before I nod.
He’s right. All of them chose to come. They didn’t have to.
Even when we were at school, they stood with us.
Ryker and I have learned from our royal positions that we have to do things alone, but that’s not true.
We’ve been blind to the fact our friends haven’t left us.
They’ve given us the space to figure out what we need.
“Riven said training starts tomorrow. Carys told us on the way back that the Bonding trials are unknown tests from the universe, not the gods. Even if Caelus had wanted to tell us, he wouldn’t have been able to. So for now, we train. Until we are summoned for the awakening.”
Ciara searches my face. “So they’re sure of our lineage? I mean…what if we’re just human? Or our bloodlines are diluted?”
I shrug. Honestly, I don’t know, but a selfish part of me wants them to be like Ryker and me. I don’t want to have to live an extremely long life without them. The idea of it lodges in my throat and burns.
Kellan squeezes my hand. “You know that where you go, I go. If that means becoming one of those weird freaks with pointed ears, then so be it.”
I snort, and Ciara cackles. The tension breaks, and I can breathe again. We stay in the tunnels, moving between pools, daring each other to do the cold plunge.
It’s late when Ryker retrieves me. I yawn as he wraps the robe around me. He nips at my ear. “I waited for you.”
“See you in the morning,” I say through another yawn, glancing back at Ciara and Kellan. Then to Ryker, with a teasing smile. “You can share.”
He smirks, rolling his eyes.
Kellan stops us when he says, “You aren’t alone, Raea.”
My lips pull a sad smile as I nod. I know I’m not alone. I have them, but when it comes down to it, it will be my magic. If I can’t figure it out, then we’re all doomed.
Not even Ryker can take that weight from my shoulders.
Morning comes too soon. Riven wasn’t joking when he said he’d be at our door at dawn. When Ryker had opened it, he’d only handed him a training uniform and told us to get dressed.
The sky is a soft pink when we leave the sanctuary and head out to the beach. Our friends are all dragging along behind us, griping about the time of day. It reminds me that I need to ask Finn how time works here. It would be nice to at least have some semblance of balance and framework.
Riven doesn’t even blink when he moves his hands in a pattern, opening another gateway. He only pauses to make sure the eight of us follow. The prickling magic crawls over my skin, and I shake it off as I step through into a vast training area.
The forest is thick in some spots, with suspended bridges and ropes dangling from the canopy.
The clearing is full of different sparring rings recessed and filled with sand.
To the right, there’s a shed of various weapons: bows, staffs, swords, and daggers.
To our left, there’s some sort of obstacle ring.
Trysten whoops as he slaps Ryker on the shoulder. Of course they’d be excited about this. Kamden and Tate are already making bets with each other to see who falls flat on their face first.
“Welcome to Zhaerinth. This is the primary training ground we’ll be using.
” He gestures to the clearing, and that’s when I see the various warriors stepping up on the bridges.
“Until you’ve been awakened, we aren’t sure what lines you all hail from, and so, you’ll be trained in a little of everything. ”
He gestures to the rings. “I’m sure most of you are familiar with sparring. In these rings, you’ll be trained by my best three in various weapons and hand-to-hand. You might not have our speed or our strength, but the movements need to be more than second nature.”
He then gestures to the obstacle course where a tall female warrior with red hair waits.
“Alex will work with you on the course. You’ll need to learn to move quickly through whatever terrain you find yourself in.
These monsters we are up against defy the laws of nature.
You need to use your surroundings to give yourself an advantage. ”
Tate’s hand shoots up as he bounces on his toes.
I tuck my lips, fighting a giggle.
Riven rolls his eyes. “Yes?”
Tate grins. “So how do you fight shadows? Like, they don’t have form, so we can’t stab them.”
Riven’s jaw ticks. “You will learn to fight the shadows when your magic awakens, Lord Kinnuenen. For now, there are plenty of other creatures you need to know how to kill. Plenty of unholy and dark things that will rip even the strongest of us to shreds.”
“Will we learn about them?” Ciara asks.
“Finn has agreed to teach you.” Riven nods. “Now, back to what I was saying.” He lifts a hand to the trees. “Hope you don’t have a fear of heights.”
We are separated into various areas. Ryker is in the training pit, sparring with one of the warriors. He ditched his shirt a while ago, his black leather pants hanging deliciously low and tight. Sweat rolls down his back in thick beads as the muscles ripple with every move.
“Damn,” Alex says, standing beside me, her eyes growing wide as she takes in Ryker. It’s the same look all the women would give him back at school.
My irritation burns as my gaze swings to her. In my head, some possessive part of me wants to scream mine. Instead, I say, “Yeah. My thoughts exactly.”
She lets out a low whistle. “You’re a lucky bitch. I wouldn’t mind the gods choosing my mate if he looked like that. He’s going to be one hell of a male.”
I almost choke on my spit. “You know? About the mate thing?”
Her grin grows as we turn back toward the course, starting again.
I was hoping she would give me a longer break, but I’m not that lucky.
“I smell it on you. Elven and Fae have a better sense of smell. You two…” Her eyes gleam mischievously.
“Trust me. We all can scent you on each other. But your Mating Bond, it’s been the source of gossip in the camps. ”
My cheeks heat as I glance down at my boots.
Great. What exactly do we smell like?
Ryker and I haven’t been intimate since we first arrived. Aside from sleeping in the same bed, there shouldn’t be a scent. “Male?”
She nods as she leads me back to the start of the course. “Fae and Elven men, as you would call them, are males. Men are human.”
Huh. Good to know.
When I look up at the course, I shake off my unease. What Riven didn’t tell us was that this obstacle course has magic. Why I thought it would be normal…
Well, I have no idea.
Before I can reply, I hear, “Go!”
I leap to the first platform, cursing at my short stature.
There are five pillars, all various heights and widths, that I’m supposed to hop over, made from floating stones. Apparently, I should be able to run and shoot a bow and arrow if necessary while doing this. If I fall, there’s a barrier to catch me.
Once my lifeforce is restored, I’m told I’ll have to learn to catch myself.
I jump to them, taking more time than I’d like to admit, wobbling to catch my balance.
On the last pillar that’s situated about twelve feet high, I have to hop side to side on boulders.
They’re close enough together that a full Elven or Fae warrior can run through this section, too.
Instead, I hop left, then right, my feet sliding as I go.
I’m told this is to learn precision jumping and magical coordination.
Right.
Except I don’t have access to my magic.
Alex doesn’t say anything from where she stands and watches. I make it through the boulders faster this time and slide to the floor, crawling through a narrow tunnel carved out of the tree trunk.
This is the only part I excel at. Being small in a space built to fit a warrior means I have plenty of room.
The tunnel is filled with otherworldly darkness. Thick, cloying air, and the sound of hushed whispers. I’ve survived Morana’s shadows once, so I don’t stop. I have no desire to linger in them or a replication of them, any longer than I have to.
On the other side, I stand, not pausing to brush my hands clear of debris.
Alex had blasted me with magic the first time I did, sending a feeling of teeth clamping around my ankles.
I climb the rope quickly now. It’s thick and burns my hand, but being light also helps.
Hand over hand, I grunt as I pull myself up to the platform.
I don’t look down. From here, I’m a hundred feet up. The breeze cools my sweat-slicked skin as I take a deep breath and reach for the first hold of the rock ceiling above me. It spans the distance between the course and the forest to where the suspended bridge awaits.
This is where I fell last time, screaming until I was caught by a web of living vines. Alex had told me to grab some water and start again.
I dry my palm on my shirt and reach with the other hand.
The handholds are nothing more than pockets in the stone.
No magic is needed for this one. Its purpose is clear enough.
My eyes scan the glittering gray stone for my next hold.
My fingers ache, and my palms sweat as I move, arms straining under the weight.
I’m exhausted. I thought I was fit, but in the span of thirty minutes, Alex has proven me wrong. So very wrong. My right hand slips, my whole body swinging as I flail, attempting to reach the next hold. If I fall, not only will I hate myself, but I might throw up.
Screaming, I manage the next hold, my fingers gripping the stone. Ten feet to go, I don’t wait long, throwing myself forward, ignoring the burn in my fingers where I've scraped them raw, and blood is coating the tips.
I reach for the last hold, determined and already celebrating, but the blood has me losing my grip, and before I can throw myself forward, I go careening back. A scream tears at my throat as I fall. The vines catch me before I hit the ground.
They slowly unravel from my body as I stumble forward and fall to my knees, heaving up the contents of my stomach. Godsdamnit!
Alex’s shadow falls over me. She at least waits until I’m done puking to say, “Good. Again.”