45. Ryker
Ryker
I watch Raea fall, and my heart drops out of my chest even though I’ve been assured—three times—that she’s safe. Riven only slapped my shoulder and muttered something about not letting the one fated to save us die.
Still, I can barely breathe as those wicked vines wrap around her, slowing her fall and guiding her safely back to the ground.
When I finally pull my attention from her, Vaeric—the warrior I’ve been sparring with—tosses me a cloth. I’ve had my ass handed to me, and I can’t stop grinning. I have a lot to learn, and it feels good to be on this end of things.
Across the ring, in another pit, Trysten grunts when he hits the ground, sand flying up around him. I grin as I turn back to Vaeric. “What’s next?”
He grins wickedly, his canines on display.
I’ve learned over the past hour that High Fae have elongated canines capable of tearing out a throat.
Riven has been glamouring himself. In fact, Vaeric said most of the people we’ve met have been.
Their true forms would terrify us. By Elven decree, we have been kept comfortable until we were “ready” for the truth.
Assholes.
The word decree tastes like ash in my mouth.
They treated us like porcelain dolls because they thought we couldn't handle the sight of their cruel edges. But looking at Vaeric's canines, I don’t feel afraid. I feel a dark, answering hunger. If that is the truth of my bloodline, then I’m done with the Elven illusion of safety.
I want the teeth. I don’t need to be coddled.
I might not have been born in this system, but I’m not a weak human either.
“Eager to bleed some more?” he asks.
He grins, shaking his head, his long braids clinking with metal beads. The piercing through his eyebrow catches the sunlight for only a moment before the sun disappears behind the clouds again.
I look down at my hands, where my knuckles are bloody, and shrug. “Staffs?”
Vaeric hums, looking around the clearing to each of our friends, then finds Riven speaking with another warrior as they watch Ciara.
I’ve never taken the time to watch her during combat, but they have her training with short swords, one in each hand.
She uses the springboards and vaults to her advantage.
She flies through the air, the swords spinning around, only to be batted away as she comes down on another warrior with wings.
The warrior we met on the beach before we were sent through had wings, too. Hers had been large white wings dipped in gold. These wings are the color of damp sand, layered with darker, ash-toned hues.
Ciara grunts as they continue to go head-to-head. Beside me, Vaeric grabs the attention of Riven as he lifts two Bo Staffs. Riven nods once.
Vaeric tosses one to me. “Careful what you wish for, Prince. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I hiss as the healer pours a liquid over a deep gash in my arm while I hold a cloth to my nose, attempting to stem the blood flow.
Vaeric hit me in the damn face and didn’t even apologize.
Riven had only rolled his eyes and ushered me to the healer’s tent at the edge of the clearing.
Tate is already here, along with Kellan.
Kellan has a large cut from where a sword sliced up his arm. He sits silently watching as the healer uses magic to stitch him up. Inch by inch, the skin pulls back together.
Vaeric smirks, pulling the tent flap open when my mate comes marching in, taking in the room. Her eyes go wide as saucers as she watches Kellan’s arm close. He winks at her, and then his gaze swings to me. The low growl wasn’t meant to be heard, but I don’t give a shit.
Raea approaches me, her body covered in bruises and debris as she watches the healer clean more of my cuts. Her anxiety radiates off her as she crosses her arms over her chest.
“Who’d you piss off?” she grimaces.
I nod toward Vaeric, who grins, dipping his head. She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. I wrap my free hand around her waist, pulling her into the space between my thighs while the healer grumbles about sitting still.
Raea’s hands rest on my shoulders as she inspects me further.
“I’m fine,” I murmur for her ears alone.
Her shoulders fall as she takes the bloodied rag from my nose. She tosses it in the bin behind her. Guess the bleeding finally stopped.
With both hands free, I grip her waist, fighting the urge to pull her into my lap.
I don’t miss the way she winces. Before I can ask, she says she fell on one of the pillars, clipping the edge before she rolled off.
The healer finishes with the last cut, making it disappear completely before asking if she can see Raea’s stomach.
Raea hesitates, and before she can say yes, I tug her shirt up, cursing under my breath. Her entire side is mottled purple and black. The healer only tsks before laying a hand on her side.
She studies Raea, her gaze tracking the length of her body. “Your bleeding is about to start. You’re in pain.”
Raea’s eyes grow wide before her gaze falls to the floor. “My cycles are always painful.”
The healer nods. “I can make you a tonic. I’ll have it sent to your rooms. I’ll make sure to keep some ready for you each turn.” Then to both of us she says, “You’ll need to rest tonight. Take a dip in the pools after dinner and then go straight to bed. To sleep.”
Raea’s cheeks turn crimson as I stifle my huff of amusement.
The bruise on her side fades, and with it, life returns to my mate.
After the healer is done with her side, she tends to Raea’s fingers, glowering at Vaeric, though he’s not responsible for the obstacle course.
Without another word, the healer leaves us to attend to Tate, who is still groaning on a cot in the corner over a broken pinky.
Vaeric leads us to where Riven is talking with Trysten and Aolyn. Both of them are covered in various bruises and debris.
“...again tomorrow,” Riven says.
The three of them look toward us as we approach. Trysten and Aolyn head to the tent, their turn to be healed.
“So,” Riven says, looking between us. “How was your first day?”
I huff, but grin. “Vaeric is a worthy opponent."
At this, Vaeric grins. “I look forward to kicking your ass again tomorrow.” He dips his chin to Riven before disappearing into the trees.
Raea looks exhausted, but she’d have my ass if I picked her up. “I think it’s fair to say that being human on a Fae warrior course sucks.”
Riven shakes his head with a faint smile, brushing back the long raven strands of hair. “You did well, Raea. Tomorrow is another day.”
The eight of us are soaking in one of the private pools after eating the largest dinner I’ve seen in a while. Raea had eaten like she had a bottomless pit and then glowered at Tate when he made a joke about her eating for two.
I had nearly inhaled my mead and began choking on it, which only made Raea glare at me instead. She had informed them all in a not-so-polite tone that she had used a bunch of energy and that she was not carrying a child, announcing to everyone that she was on a prevention serum.
After that first time I’d taken her to bed, we both knew it was the right choice. While a baby might be a blessing for future us…a child being brought into this war would be unfair. Plus, it would only put her at further risk.
Our friends had grown silent after that. Then Aolyn asked if we still planned on getting married. It’s been a question I’ve been asking myself, too. With Raea seated on my lap, I’ve been toying with her ring—back on the correct finger—while everyone exchanges stories about today.
Raea animatedly tells them about the obstacle course.
She can’t make it past the rock overhang.
She gets some more time to practice tomorrow before we all shuffle again.
Kellan claims that the Fae swords are made from a metal he’s never seen or heard of, making it a point to say that it’s very sharp.
Kellan’s arm is completely healed now.
Ciara speaks, and the pool quiets around her. I’ve never seen anyone move the way she did today. “Kai’laina’s Elyndorai,” Ciara says. “Elyndorai are winged Elven warriors.”
Kamden asks what we’re all thinking. “Are you from that line?”
Ciara shrugs. “Kai’laina says I’ve got a natural affinity for fighting in the air. But until my awakening, we won’t know. The trait passes through the female line, generation after generation.” She laughs softly. “Which is funny, considering my mother’s terrified of heights.”
“Well, when you all get to the dark forest, just be ready.” Tate sighs.
“All I had to do today was try to find Morek in the dark, and that asshole would tap me on the shoulder and dart away. I spent hours playing the stupidest game of hide and seek except he was hiding right in front of me.” Tate scoffs.
“Being human definitely sucks. I’m ready for the awakening.
Then we’ll see how he likes it when I scare the shit out of him. ”
Everyone grins, hiding their faces so we don’t egg him on. Unfortunately, he doesn’t stop there.
“And you know what else?” Tate slaps the water like a petulant child throwing a tantrum. “Morek says I’ll still die because of my posture. The amount of times he slapped my back or my feet in the dark was maddening. My posture is fine.”
“You’re slow on your feet.” Trysten sighs apathetically, leaning back to rest his head against the rock.
Tate shakes his head. “There are times when I can be quick on my feet, but why waste the energy when it’s unnecessary. I walk at exactly the right pace to enjoy life.”
Raea giggles. “Right…” She drags out the word.
“You should listen to him. Not about the dying part.” She waves her hand like she’s brushing away the thought.
“Just the other parts. We need to learn whatever we can from them. We’d be wise to remember that there’s a war and we are the ones at a disadvantage.
If we want to save our family and friends, we have to take this seriously. ”
Trysten mutters an agreement, followed by the others.
After a few long minutes of comfortable silence, Kamden says, “Well, I need sleep. Moving boulders from one side of the field to another is boring as shit, but exhausting.”
As he says this, all three women yawn.
“Yeah, okay,” Aolyn says, eyeing the distance to her robe before Kamden jumps out, grabs it, and tosses it at her.
With everyone shuffling out of the pools, I whisper, “Ready for bed?”
Raea’s head is resting on my shoulder, her nose buried in my neck, while I run my thumb up and down her spine. I can tell she’s tired because she doesn’t even move when she hums, nodding subtly.
A teasing laugh escapes as I stand with her in my arms, the warm water draining off us. “Am I carrying you?”At that, she unfolds herself, suddenly awake enough to walk out of the pool and up to our room.
While Raea rinses off in the shower, I check on Clara. She’s already asleep, but she ate with us at dinner. Even though she’s the only child among us, I can’t help but notice how much happier she’s been. I hate saying that, but at home she was always so quiet and starving for attention.
Here, she’s been smiling and laughing. She loves to tell all of us stories of her days spent with other kids, learning about the different Fae and the history of the Fae people.
We haven’t been here but a few days, and she’s already stopped asking to go home.
She knows we can’t, and maybe that’s part of it, but I think she’s scared to go home, too.
Raea slips into the room. Her silk nightrobe is wet where her hair sits. She leans down, brushing Clara’s hair out of her face, and kisses her goodnight.
I don’t think I’ll ever tire of watching her with Clara. My two favorite people. I’d go to Umbrith and back to protect them. I’d steal the power of the suns if it kept them safe. I’ve never realized how vulnerable we are, but now more than ever, I need my magic.
It might be the only thing that keeps them safe if my body isn’t enough.