Page 37 of A Thread of Breath and Bone

I nod, offering him a small smile. “Yeah, Kel, I’d like that. I have some news. Tell you at the top?”

Atlas Falls is the most magical of the five falls. If you jump from the top, you land on trumpet pads. They’re circular plants that are the size of beds that grow at the base of the falls. They are soft and mushy and absorb your fall.

As kids, we would come out all the time to play. When you hit the pads, you bounce right off into the water. The falls are also warm here. Similar to the lake on Baedyn, they have thermal pods buried within the mountain. Even though the season of frost is coming to Kyrr, we can still swim.

Atlas comes into view around the next bend, and like kids, we all take off running with smiles on our faces. Ciara is already ditching her clothes on her way to the top. I gather them as we get closer and add them to a pile along with mine.

I feel the heat of Kellan’s gaze on my body. Ezra and Clark—Ciara’s bodyguard—make it to the top behind us. They’re both used to our antics, so don’t say anything as they pass us and find a spot to sit in the trees that line the river.

Ciara charges into the river toward the falls. The water is so shallow here at the top that when I step in, it’s only to my knees, and I'm short. Kellan wades in after me, and we meet up with Ciara, who’s standing at the edge.

“Hell yes, bitches,” she bellows, the sound echoing through the canyon. Kellan and I laugh beside her. “On three?” she asks, her head swinging over to look at us. Her hair is extra curly up here in the mist, and her bright orange swimsuit looks amazing on her.

“On three,” I agree.

Kellan nods and counts down.

We jump, and the feeling of falling only lasts a few seconds before we all land on the pads. The jelly absorbs our fall, and we bounce off in a fit of giggles.

“That was amazing.” I sigh, floating onto my back.

“We should go again,” Ciara says.

Kellan rolls to his back beside me, and the three of us go quiet as we stare up at the gray-blue sky. I sense that they’re both waiting on me to say something.

“My father told me about the prophecy. There’s more,” I start. Both of their heads whip toward me. I tell them everything. About the book, the painting, Ryker and I as kids, Ryker and I this morning being able to feel the Veil disappear. I even admit that it happened during a make-out session. I had felt Ryker’s emotions before he pulled away. It was as if he had a piece of him hollowed out.

Ciara squeals at my steamy confession, while Kellan only grows quieter.

Kellan and I have been so careful over the past year not to kiss or risk our Bonds, and yet I was willing to risk it all for Ryker, less than a full school year in. It makes me feel hypocritical, but maybe that's how it is between Ryker and me. Our bodies are familiar with one another, even if we aren’t.

I leave out the parts about how only minutes before I was pinned to a wall with his fingers playing me like he knew every press and pull for maximum release. Gods, do I miss him. There’s a phantom scent on the breeze that smells like sandalwood and citrus that brushes by me, making my stomach tighten.

“We should jump again,” I say when the three of us fall into silence.

“Let’s go,” Kellan bites out forcefully.

Ciara and I share a glance and follow him out.

The dining table is full of Treon’s nobility from other planets, including some of our military. It’s been a long time since there were this many people at a table, filling up all forty seats. There’s an anxious buzz in the air. Too many people moving with nothing to do. It’s hard to sit here, tapping our fingers, waiting. I’m sitting beside my father, my mother is across from me, and Kellan is to my right.

Once everyone is served the first course, a warm soup with a roll, my father glances at my mother and then stands, clearing his throat to catch everyone’s attention. The room quiets at once.

“We do not know the days that lie ahead of us. We must take advantage of every day as if tomorrow will not come. It is because of this that we have decided to move Princess Raea’s Bonding Ceremony up.”

The room fills with hushed voices while my world spins on its axis. I haven’t had time to tell Kellan or Ciara, and guilt wraps its spindly claws around my heart and squeezes. I should have been the one to tell them, not my father, not like this. There just wasn’t a good time today. I wanted us to have a few blissful hours without the weight of the future.

“In six weeks’ time, there will be a Bonding Ceremony here at the palace.” My father turns his attention to me as my stomach clenches. “I thought we had more time before I would be giving you away, but it seems that will not be the case. My dearest, Raea, you will make this kingdom proud.” He smiles.

My stomach is in free fall, and all I can do is dig my nails into the palms of my hands until the pain is the only thing I can focus on. Why did he publicly announce this? I haven’t even had a chance to message Ryker.

What. The. Hell.

Kellan reaches under the table and squeezes my bouncing knee.

Everyone else offers their congratulations. Ciara can’t keep the grin from her face. My mother watches me with sharp eyes. I feel cold and clammy, and honestly…everything is changing too quickly. I feel adrift, lost in space with no tether and no oxygen, and somehow I’m weighed down with all the expectations.

“You didn’t tell me,” Kellan whispers, leaning in as dessert is served, which I push away. I haven’t managed more than a few bites here and there for the entire meal.