Page 132 of A Thread of Breath and Bone

He nods, the moonlight catching on the strands of blond in his hair. His green eyes are like a glowing forest, the bead in his long beard ethereal in the light. “I could leave, but the elders were right. I must be here. The gods have given me a gift and in time—” He pauses, shaking his head again. “I’ll be here. I’ll fight with you and your mate. Our lives are woven together, and there are things at play that I cannot speak of just yet. It’s not time.”

He stands, dusting off his hands. “I might not know you, Raea, but one of my abilities is to sense a person’s soul. Whether they’re good or evil. Are they fighting a darkness within?” He nods as if answering his own question. “You are good, Raea. The light within you is sustained, and you are pure of heart. Don’t let this world or this war tell you otherwise.”

I watch the iridescent purple of a mermaid's tail catch the moonlight, a glimpse of a world that is as beautiful as it is dangerous. Finn’s words—that my light is sustained and my heart is pure—should be a comfort, but they feel like another set of expectations I’m not sure I can meet. I am a girl who screamed at her mate for caring. I don't feel like a Light Bringer. I just feel tired.

Finn disappears back toward the garden. I blow out a long breath, my anger finally leaving me. Another mermaid’s tail trails below the surface, leaving behind a temporary trace of gold.

I decide to stay a little while longer.

Chapter 47

Raea

Two weeks into training, and while we’re still not as fast or as strong as the Fae and Elven warriors, we’re improving. The bruises covering my body say as much. We’ve finally conquered the obstacle course. We can mostly keep up in the sparring rings. And somewhere between the bruises and the sweat, we’ve grown closer.

Today, Ryker and I are running the obstacle course together.

Riven called it a test of us as mates, of whatever the Bond is doing beneath the surface. His cryptic warning leaves me uneasy, but he’s been on edge all week. I know he’s worried about my awakening.

Our friends gather to watch. Riven gives one sharp nod—begin. I take off first, hopping pillar to pillar, almost dancing. Ryker follows a step behind. When we hit the hollow log, we drop to our stomachs, crawling through the dark space. He slaps my rear, and I squeal when his hands wrap around my waist.

“Stop.” I giggle, attempting to pull away. “Don’t make us los⁠—”

Ryker snorts. “Lose? It’s not a race, Princess.” He presses a quick kiss to my calf, and I laugh.

Ever since our fight, something between us has shifted—stronger, steadier. We found the line between protection and trust. Ryker can’t shield me from every trial, and I can’t mistake his love for doubt in my strength.

“Careful, or I’ll kick you,” I tease.

He grunts but releases me, allowing me to crawl through until I reach the rope. He crawls out a beat after me and gestures to his back. “On.”

I roll my eyes, but launch at him when he bends low, catching my thighs as I wrap my arms around him. Once I’m locked in, he starts climbing.

“Hold on.”

I can feel the mass of muscle rippling underneath me. He’s fast, reaching the platform in record time, even with me on his back. I slide down before he can argue and throw myself at the handholds.

He waits until I’m halfway across before following. I’ve done this enough to know I have to swing myself before I let go. I’m too short to make the distance otherwise. I almost stumble, but land on my feet. When I turn, Ryker is already there, and he slams into me.

I fall to my back, but he cradles me, taking my weight as he falls with me. He grins when he settles on top of me, his sapphire blue eyes alight with amusement.

“Well, well,” he muses, “is this what it takes to get you underneath me these days?”

I wiggle my brows with a teasing smirk. “Maybe we can disappear tonight.”

He groans, burying his face in the crook of my neck and inhaling. Aside from heated kisses and wandering hands, we haven’t been alone much to get any sort of physical intimacy, and we’re both feeling it.

“You know we can hear you, right?” Vaeric drawls from below the platform.

Ryker lifts his head and replies, “Then stop listening, asshole.”

I fight the laugh that threatens to break free. Vaeric has taken Ryker under his wing like it’s his personal mission, and they’ve become friends…kind of.

Trysten sighs. “I’d rather not stand here and wait all day.”

Ryker nips at my lip. I yelp, and he jumps to his feet, offering out a hand. He pulls me up, his mouth meeting mine in a searing kiss that leaves me breathless.

“Tonight,” he mutters.