Page 10 of A Thread of Breath and Bone

Ciara and Tate leave just the three of us to reunite.

“Shall we?” I gesture toward the stairs. Raea takes my hand, glancing at me, then at the few lingering students watching. I pull her hand to my lips, kiss the back of it, then wrap my arm around her shoulders.

Raea pauses when we reach the third level. “I need to talk to him.”

I sigh and look past her toward Kellan’s room.

“He’s not there,” Trysten supplies. “Professor Ainslyn has him testing the new simulator for the short sword.”

At this, Raea startles. She looks between the door and then back to Trysten. Her features fall, but she masks it quickly. “Oh,” she says with a small smile. “Good.” She nods to herself as she continues up the steps.

If I didn’t know her, I’d think she was confused, but I do know her. I wish that I could offer her whatever reassurance she needs, but the truth of it is that I don’t give two shits about him.

We stop outside of her room, and she looks between Trysten and me, then toward Ezra, Rune, and Aksel in the background, not blending in at all.

“I need a minute alone,” she says nervously. “I just need to talk to her.”

Instinctively, I want to pull her into my arms and lock her in my room, but I know I can’t. I can’t protect her from everything, and shit, she doesn’t need me to. She’s more powerful than anyone I know.

I shove my hands into my pockets to keep from reaching for her, and nod to Ezra, who steps forward.

“Let me at least clear the room.”

“What the fuck is happening?” Trysten asks.

I tilt my head, signaling for him to follow me into my room.

School suddenly feels pointless. I’ve never cared much for it to begin with. There are a million things I could be doing instead of pretending that everything is normal.

Once Aksel clears my room, he heads back out to the hall, lingering between my door and Raea’s. Ezra is stationed outside of her room, so I guess it’s safe—for now.

I shut my door and drop onto the end of my bed, burying my head into my hands with a long sigh. “Well, Raea and I have gone public.”

He snorts. “No, shit. I’ve been following.”

I nod. I haven’t even bothered to look at what the team has been posting and sharing. “There was another kidnapping attempt on Raea.”

Trysten shoots to his feet. The color drains from his face, and he looks ready for battle, though there isn’t anyone to fight. Not yet, anyway.

“King Alexi—we had to leave Mori.” I tell him the whole story. Why we were in Mori looking for Elison, Raea’s magic, and about the note. I’m still unsure who sent it, but it said they were sorry and to leave as soon as we could.

Trysten nods and listens as I continue. About our escape, the attack of the creature, and the burials.

And somehow, I know this is only the beginning.

“I need to go,” I say. “Professor Ainslyn is waiting for Raea and me.”

Trysten drags a hand down his face. “I know this goes without saying, but if either of you needs anything, I’ve got your backs.”

I pat him on the shoulder. “Yeah, I know.” I pause once I make it to the door. “Actually, can you help me put together a list of recon guys who have experience in undercover ops. I need to learn more about King Alexi, and we need to figure out what his next move is. Do it covertly. I don’t need the quadrants finding out about this. Or my mother.”

Trysten nods. “Yeah. And Ryker?” He pauses. “I’ll watch her back, too. I’d gladly go to Umbrith with you and back, but her—” He shakes his head. “You’re a package deal now.”

I nod, something burning in my chest. Trysten has always been there. Every fight. Every bad decision. Every version of me. We have stirred up shit together, bailed each other out, and were there when we got our first tattoos. Every big event has always included Trysten. To know he cares about the most important person in my life means more than he’ll ever understand.

With that, I step out, grabbing Raea. We need to get to Professor Ainslyn, and then we need to figure out where the fuck we are sleeping.

“Ah, so good to see you both,” Professor Ainslyn says as he steps around his desk to meet us at the door. He’s still every bit the warrior despite the prosthetic leg. I’ve watched him take men twice his size to the mat.