Page 151 of A Thread of Breath and Bone

“The rune,” I say.

“Show me?” I project the image in my mind down the bridge, unsure how it works. She grins, turning toward me and throwing her arms around me. “It’s working.”

“What’s working?” Kellan asks, turning around. His eyes go wide as saucers as he takes in her back and then quickly averts them when a growl tumbles out of me. I don’t even mean to, but the idea of him seeing my mate’s exposed back really ticks me off. With her dress open, you can see the top of her ass, and she’s not wearing anything underneath.

I fight with the fabric, then give up when it refuses to budge. Instead, I wrap her in my coat, Kellan offering his to cover her lap as we make our way back toward the hall. Trysten goes ahead to find Carys while Kellan checks on the rest of our party.

It takes only minutes before Carys returns with them all in tow. Aolyn is drunk, Ciara looks halfway there herself, and Tate is slurring his words. Kamden says something about finding them passed out on the sofa in the sitting room.

Carys pulls us down a hall, quickly checking to make sure we weren’t followed before showing us a shortcut through hidden panels in the palace walls. “I used to sneak around when I was younger. These passages haven’t been used by anyone else as long as my family has ruled. I’d appreciate it if you don’t mention it to anyone, especially my sister.”

“Why’s it so dark?” Tate’s voice echoes down the pitch-black passage.

With my Fae sight, I can see just fine, but their human eyesight won’t be able to see shit.

Everyone shushes Tate. Soraea surprises me when she lights up the passage with a glowing ember that hovers above us. She snuggles back into my chest as she murmurs, “Finn taught me today.”

Carys replies without looking back. “The Elven call it the Heatless Flame, or Dra’kayen. It burns without heat. It’s one of the smaller magics of the Elven. Even though we both share the ability to see in the dark, the Elven like their flames.”

“Cool trick,” Ciara slurs.

The passageway narrows as we descend to what I can only assume is the courtyard. The walls become cooler, and the moisture clings to the stone.

“Reminds me of Ista,” Raea mumbles sleepily, her body still trembling in my arms.

Without having to ask, Carys says, “She’ll be okay. She’s probably in shock. I'll send for a healer when we return. Your friends will need to see one anyway.” She asks us to be quiet as she pushes against the wall. Slowly, it pops open, and she glances back only long enough to put out Raea’s flame. She looks around before opening it all the way, ushering us out.

The door seals behind us, and it blends in with the stonework so well that I can’t even be sure where we came from. Carys twists her hands quickly, opening the gateway. Guards on rotation round the corner. They pause, shocked to see us, but Carys waves them off. Overhead, sentries stationed on the wall all look down upon us, watching.

As soon as I step through behind everyone else, it closes.

Chapter 55

Raea

Voices are a mumbled mess in my head as I fight to open my eyes. I feel so tired, like there’s a weight on my chest. Bits and pieces come to me in flashes. The Fae males leading me down the dark halls, telling me we had to be quick. Pulling me along into a hall before shoving me through a door with a large bed at the center of the room. Another flash of them above me. One had my wrists pinned to the bed, another pinned my feet. The male with the blond hair and hawkish nose had opened a cabinet in the far corner.

It had been full of items like candles, chains, and whips. He claimed it was for pleasure. Another flash: a male leaning over me, his hand hovering as he saturates the air with a cloying, sickly-sweet mist. He claims it is to help me relax, but it tastes like rotting flowers and heavy silver. I inhale it against my will, and the world liquefies. My limbs turn to lead even as my mind screams for me to fight.

More flashes.

My dress torn, exposing my breasts. Another tear ripping the gown up to my stomach. The males laughing as they joked about being with the most powerful female in history. Laughing that I had yet to be claimed.

One of them was ready, already grabbing himself as he prepared to take a part of my soul, but then I called upon Ryker’s magic. I had used the gust of wind to pull my hands free before shoving them at the male above me. He had flown off me as the rain came. The room became flooded as the wind tore things off the shelves and artwork from the wall.

Then Riven stormed in. I had only caught a glimpse of the male, who had looked terrifying. Even when he appeared on the beach with Morana, he had been calm, a warrior prepared. Riven had unleashed his dark side in that room, tearing into the five males as a sword of dark obsidian appeared out of thin air. It was only seconds before the five of them were bleeding and restrained with magic.

“She just needs to rest,” someone says. “I’ll check back in the morning.”

The door clicks shut as my eyes finally peel open. It takes a moment for my vision to clear. The bed dips behind me as Ryker leans over me. “How do you feel?” he asks.

I tell him I’m okay before I roll over. His sapphire eyes glow in the lowlight as I pull him closer, needing to be surrounded by his warmth and his scent. When I bury my face in his shirt, I inhale deeply. The truth is, I feel hollow and cold. I don’t even know how to begin processing the events of tonight.

Even though we’ve been away from home, he still smells like the roaring oceans of Okenen and the citrus trees that grow on the palace grounds. The sandalwood smells heavenly.

“Take off your shirt,” I mumble, pressing a kiss to his chest.

He hums. “Is that a command, Princess?” I know he’s trying, I can feel his worry as if it’s my own.