Page 26 of A Thread of Breath and Bone

Kellan clears his throat, shifting his weight as if trying to steady his emotions. “RaeRae,” he says, voice rougher than usual. “I’m forever grateful for you. For being my best friend. For being there through all the highs and every rock-bottom low. I pray to the gods we get years and years more of this—of us—of memories we haven’t even dreamed of yet.”

“To Rae,” Ciara chimes in, her eyes already glassy. “I love you. You’re my sister in every way that counts, and I wouldn’t trade you for even the most beautiful pair of shoes in the galaxy.”

A watery laugh escapes me, part snort, part sob.

“Raea,” Aolyn says softly, “thank you for believing in me when you had every reason not to. You’ve always been the best of us.” Her lips tremble as she presses them into a smile that doesn’t quite hide the emotion beneath.

Kamden steps forward next, raising his drink. “There’s no one else I’d rather watch AerBall with. This year, you’ve become an unexpected friend—and no matter where life takes us, you’ll always have one in me.”

“Damn it,” Trysten mutters, glaring at his own drink like it betrayed him. All eyes snap to him. “Yeah, speeches aren’t my thing. But Raea… you’ve got my loyalty for life. A friend, a body to protect you, an ear to listen—whatever you need, I’ve got you.”

Tears stream freely down my cheeks now, but laughter bubbles up anyway, colliding with the ache in my chest. These people—my people—are my family.

And then Ryker steps forward, tilting my chin up until our eyes meet. His voice is low and steady, but beneath it runs a current of something older—something that’s been waiting a very long time.

“To my heart and soul,” he begins, the words a breath more than a sound. “Raea, you’re the reason I breathe. I’m so thankful for you—today and every day.” His thumb brushes along my jaw, and the rest of the world falls away. “For years, I watched you from a distance. I told myself it was because of the decree, that royals weren’t meant to grow close. But the truth is…I stayed away because the pull toward you terrified me. Because every time you laughed with your friends, I ached to be the one standing at your side.”

He swallows, eyes never leaving mine. “I thought I envied your friends—the ones who got to hold pieces of your heart I was never allowed to touch. But it was never them I longed to be. It was the place they held in your life. It was you I wanted, always.”

His voice roughens, emotion thickening every word. “I’m godsdamn blessed to stand beside you now. Whatever lies ahead, I’ll be here—cheering you on, holding you when you cry, carrying you when you can’t stand. And every second of it, I’ll be eternally grateful for whatever cosmic force brought us together.” He pauses a moment. “Here’s to another turn around the sun, beautiful.” Then just for my ears, he bends and whispers, “I love you beyond eternity…and then some.”

The sob catches in my throat before I can stop it. Tears slip into my hair.

“To Raea,” Ciara whispers again, clinking her glass against Tate’s. I swipe at my eyes and lift mine too, tapping it against each of theirs in turn.

“I love you all so much.” My lips wobble with the words. “Thank you for giving me more than friendship. Thank you for being my family. Old or new—” I glance between Kellan and Kamden, then to Trysten “—you’re all irreplaceable.”

Tate sniffs loudly. “Okay, enough with the pitiful, sappy stuff. Let’s drink and celebrate!”

Laughter ripples through the group, and I’m grateful for the lightness cutting through the emotion. The drink hits my tongue, sour and sweet, and warmth spreads through my chest as the alcohol softens every edge.

“Time to party!” Ciara cheers, lifting her glass again.

We spill toward the center of the square where glowing holograms swirl above a makeshift dance floor, pulsing inside what used to be an abandoned building. The room is dark but alive—candles flickering, strange music thumping, youth spinning in chaotic joy.

With a dramatic flourish, Tate sweeps low, throwing me over his shoulder like a sack of flour. I squeal, laughing breathlessly as he parades me toward the center of the floor. Upside down, I catch a glimpse of Ryker watching with a smirk tugging at his lips—just before he disappears from view.

An hour later, the room is a beautiful kaleidoscope of colors that move through the crowd, and my body feels alive as I dance, the crowd pushing in from all sides. Ryker hasn’t taken his eyes off me since he went to fetch me another drink.

My hands run along my body, slowly, sensually, in time with the music. Across the room, his gaze heats as he drags his teeth over his bottom lip. Beside me, Ciara is talking to Tate about a dare or something, but I barely hear it. I can’t pull my eyes from the handsome prince.

“Five gold coins, and you’ve got a deal,” Tate says, over the music.

I spin with the music, getting lost in a trance. I’ve never felt so…free. I’ll probably regret this tomorrow, but for now, I’m going to enjoy every second of it.

“Oh, here he comes,” Ciara whispers.

Hands wrap around my waist from behind, and for a moment, I lean back, grinding my ass on him. In my hazy state, it takes several moments before I realize I’m not grinding into Ryker. I turn to see a stranger grinning down at me. Over his shoulder, Ryker hands my water to Trysten, crosses his arms, as his eyes dare me.

“Ryker’s got iron control. I say he just glowers and broods,” Kamden says.

I glance to my left to find my friends watching this whole interaction, as if they’re taking bets. Meanwhile, the stranger wraps his hands around my waist as he introduces himself.

“Hi, I’m Tucker. Need a dance partner?”

Ryker’s jaw tightens.

Behind me, I hear, “Three…Two…”