Page 48 of A Thread of Breath and Bone

Ryker looks to me as he says, “I’d really like to have the wedding on Malaya to help relieve some of the pressure with Kyrr taking on refugees. I know it’s customary to have a Ceremony on the bride’s planet, but there’s a lawn out front of the castle⁠—”

“Oh, yes. It’s so beautiful. Would your mother be willing to host us?” my mother interjects.

Ryker nods. “It won’t be a problem.”

“Very well. In the meantime, there will be a lot of planning. Invitations need to go out for the wedding. We’ve invited forty gentlemen to the Bonding ball, aside from Kellan and Ryker, of course.” My father stands and comes to the front of the desk. “My girl, I am sorry this burden has fallen to you, but you will be a beautiful queen. I wouldn’t have parted so easily with you had it been anyone else.”

Ryker squeezes my hand as I fight back tears.

“Now, before you two go, what are we going to do over the next two weeks to ensure that the pain you both try to hide so well doesn’t keep happening?”

I want to tell him it won’t matter, but proximity has eased it, at least for now. Ideas are thrown out about timing and distance. Ryker needs to go home, and I need to be here to get ready and fitted for gowns. Once we’re married, I will remain on Malaya with him.

After debating for a while, we decide that in three days' time, I will travel to Malaya. I will spend a few days there and then come home. After a few days, he will fly here and remain here until we leave together for Malaya. My mother hugs us both before we leave to get ready for dinner. The only thing that’s left is to talk to Kellan and Ciara and invite our friends.

I’m in the big library, curled up with one of my books, lost in thought about the memories I can’t access when Ryker enters, looking too gorgeous for his own good. His tall stature, dark hair, and blue eyes literally turn me to putty. He smirks, sitting at my feet and pulling them into his lap.

We’re both quiet, not needing words as we sit in silence with the weight. I know why my parents did it, but it still hurts, and I can’t help but feel angry at the loss. I wish I could have had more memories with him.

"They took our history, Ryker," I whisper, looking at the empty spaces in my mind where our childhood should be. "They stole years of our lives before we even had a chance to choose each other."

He leans forward, his thumb tracing the line of my jaw with a fierce intensity. "Then we start now. Tonight. If they stole our past, we’ll reclaim it by building a future they can’t touch. We make new memories, Raea. Starting with somewhere that belongs only to us.” Ryker digs his thumb into my calf muscle, and I nearly moan. Without saying anything, his lips quirk up.

“Wanna go somewhere with me?”

Maybe it's the romance book I've been reading, but I want to date him. I want to go out with him. I want to feel like a normal couple before we get married. Even if it’s only a few hours.

“Where do you want to go?”

I glance out over the darkening skies and decide I want off this island. There are too many eyes and distractions here. “To the west end of the colony. There’s a city there I'd like to show you.”

He nods and stands, holding out a hand for me. We alert Rune and Ezra first, then my parents, who attempt to hide their amusement, and then I message Ciara and Kellan telling them we’ll be back after they’re in bed.

Sam pilots the pod transport to the Avion Colony, and we fly low enough to take in the sprawling cities below. The colonies are divided into cities with holographic walls marking boundary lines and alerting you when you cross from one to another.

Ryker holds my hand the entire trip, and I point out different landmarks as we go. The cities of Avis and Crowdenn are the two most populated cities of the colony. We are headed to the least popular of the three, Ayallenora.

The pod comes down outside the main city center. This is my favorite of all the places on Kyrr. Here, the world is big, and we are small. It’s as if the city itself were built by a clan of giants.

The city is built into a valley of trees with a large river running through it at its center. Built in layers, the top layer of the city is made up of shops and restaurants, serving those who are passing through. The second layer is homes and businesses, but it’s the lowest layer, the one closest to the water, that holds the magic.

There, it’s the heart of the city to the locals. Markets, schools, gyms, and the local fare reside there. As we step out into the crunching gravel, I take Ryker's hand, and my grin widens.

“Ready?” I ask.

He nods, turning on my energy shield before his. I feel the protection glide over my skin, like a second layer. “Let’s go.”

Chapter 19

Ryker

Seeing Raea like this is addictive—unburdened, light, a version of herself I want to shield from the rest of the galaxy. She’s a vision in pale blue chiffon, her white hair loose and catching the soft lanterns of Ayallenora like captured starlight. She’s wearing the necklace I gifted her as well.

As we walk, some bow, some wave, but none of them are surprised to see her. In fact, one could assume she’s spent time here for the residents of Ayallenora to no longer gawk at their princess. She thanks them all and wishes them a wonderful evening. The path she takes us on winds down into the valley. Around us, businesses built in a circular shape with a spire, looking like trees, pop out of the canopy around us. Lights flicker on with a soft glow, almost like candlelight, as the sky falls into a dimming gray.

Small lanterns light our steps, and she explains the old architecture. As we come upon the second level, I see homes built into the side of the valley, roots and vines almost concealing them. Stone bridges arch around us above and below, some directly ahead leading to the other side of the river, where more homes are located.

The trees here are impossibly tall, and entire homes have been built into their roots. Below us, a dark river meanders slowly, as if it too has paused to take in the views of this unique city.