Page 29 of A Thread of Breath and Bone

I reach for his waistband, but he pins my arms to the wall with his free hand as he continues to stroke and build. That fire within me ignites as my magic floods my body. Still, Ryker lets me burn as he kisses me like he’s finally taking a breath for the first time this year.

My body quivers around him. “Yes, gods.”

He chuckles. “Quit praising the gods when I’m the one answering your prayers. Now, stop trembling and show me how hot you can burn.”

With another swirl of his thumb timed perfectly with a stroke of his finger, I shatter, turning my world into an explosion of color and heat. Light illuminates my skin, but I contain the heat within me. My whole body trembles against his as he strokes that very sensitive bundle of nerves with his thumb.

“So beautiful,” he mutters against my mouth.

“Fair is fair.” I slip my arm free of his grasp only to stroke him over his bulging pants. “It's your birthday tomorrow.”

He grins, pressing a kiss to my mouth as he shudders with another stroke of my hand.

“Or—” I slip my hand beneath the material, gripping him as his eyes shut.

“Fuck,” he mutters. “I am about this close to losing control.” He inhales sharply. “Okay, tonight we can play, but right now—” He pulls my hand from his pants. “I need you to focus.”

I tuck my lips in to stop from asking questions. Tonight?

I take a step back, finding my panties discarded, and slip into them while he disappears from the closet for a minute. I’m fully dressed when he returns.

He leans his shoulder against the door frame and lets his eyes rake over me from head to toe. “Good. Dressed. Now…” He pulls out a black velvet bag from his pocket. “Hold out your hand.”

I roll my eyes, holding out my hand. “You like me without them.”

A soft laugh reverberates through him. “I like you every way. Quit distracting me.”

“You make it so easy,” I tease, beckoning him to give me the gift.

Ryker dumps the bag in my palm, keeping eye contact with me. Colors dance around my periphery from our Bond, wrapping me in iridescent waves. The sensation of cold metal against my palm draws my eyes downward. It’s a silver necklace with a massive dark sapphire wrapped beneath a tree, its branches wrapping the jewel. My eyes water, making my vision blurry.

“It reminded me of us.” He shuffles his feet and slips his hands into his pockets.

I turn the necklace over, and my heart lodges in my throat. He had it engraved—You have my whole heart. He bought me jewelry. But not just any jewelry. This is custom-made. I know the sapphire is a rare jewel.

When I look up at him, he looks uneasy. I’m sure he’s hoping he didn’t cross a line. “I love it. Thank you.” My voice wobbles and betrays me. “And yes, I think it fits us perfectly. It reminds me of your eyes.” Heat creeps up my neck, lighting my cheeks on fire. “Can you help me put it on?”

I hand it to him and turn. His hand is so soft as he brushes my neck. The touch alone sends heat down my spine, heating my core. The slow movement of clasping the jewel has me holding my breath.

“Done,” he says softly.

I turn toward him and nearly lose it as his lips seal over mine, stealing my words as he lifts me into his arms. His love for me mixes with my own thoughts and feelings, and I pour every ounce of love I have into it. We’re both two souls attempting to collide and merge as one, but can’t. We can’t get close enough.

Energy builds between us, but it’s not me drawing upon it this time. It builds and builds. Our kiss becomes more urgent, but then something in the air vanishes, leaving nothing but a cold stillness. Ryker pulls away enough that I watch as color drains from his face.

It’s only then that I place the wrongness in the air.

Like a torch being blown out, the energy, the strands of light that flow from planet to planet, the flowing streams of magic…it’s just gone. That familiar current of energy, the heat, the extra bands of light I never noticed all seem to disappear, only leaving a hollow space where they once lived.

I already know the truth, but still I ask, “Ry.” I hear the terror in my voice. “Is it gone?”

He looks horrified before he confirms, “It’s gone.”

The halls are chaotic when we finally leave his room, students hauling bags and luggage from their rooms, others yelling into their Prisms. The scene makes my stomach churn. We’ve been holed up for the past hour speaking with our parents and coming up with a plan for Ryker and me.

The Veil is gone.

I feel numb to everything. Across every kingdom, the Veil is just…gone. The quadrants, our military force, have moved into defensive positions across the system, though none of us know what to expect.