Page 89 of A Thread of Breath and Bone

“I wouldn’t try it,” she says, “but then again, it might be amusing.”

My gaze snaps back to her. “You control the shadows and the mist.”

I say it more as an acknowledgment, not a question.

Is this my future self? Is this a warning that the choices I make could lead to this?

I want the starlight. I want goodness and joy.

“What happens?” I ask, swallowing thickly, unsure if I want the answer.

She—me—grins before responding. “We’ll meet again very soon, Soraea.”

With that, I’m thrust back into my dark room, gasping for air as Ryker cradles me to his chest, muttering and begging for me to wake up.

“Ry?” I say with a shaky voice.

He exhales, burying his face in my hair. “You’re okay. You’re awake.”

I cup his cheek, feeling the scruff beneath my palm before sliding my hand behind his neck and pulling his mouth to mine. I kiss him, long and slow, allowing his warmth, his love to fill my soul. I don’t want to lose this version of myself. I don’t want to become…that.

“Just a dream,” I say, curling into his chest as we both lie back down on the pillows. “I’m okay.”

Maybe if I say it enough, I can will it into existence.

The way he holds me, still trembling, means he isn’t quite sure, but I kiss his bare chest, once, twice, three times. Then I whisper on a sleepy yawn, “I love you, Ry. I’ll never leave you.”

Chapter 32

Raea

I look out the windows into the vast emptiness, wondering what these next few weeks will bring. In three days, Ryker and I will be married, and I have a feeling that sometime within these next few weeks, the true ‘war’ will begin. The transport air is recycled and stale, making me crave the citrus and sea salt of Malaya that I know is waiting for us beyond the clouds.

Elison was up late studying the words of Astor and Calia and deduced the same thing. He’s off somewhere, hopefully sleeping. King Aki is locked away in a warded room on the transport with my father.

This morning, he’d been muttering strange things between his outbursts, demanding that we return him to Malaya. Ryker has been quiet. Not distant, but withdrawn. I can’t imagine how this is affecting him. He told me over breakfast this morning that he was angry his father was back. He admitted that he wished his father had really died.

I wasn’t expecting that, but after meeting the king, I can’t quite blame him. It would be hard to grow up with him as a father.

Another planet flies past the window, nothing more than a bright spot in an endless sea of black, here and then gone in a blink.

If we travel to Auralan, to Caelus, this will be my view for years. There has to be another way.

“Hey,” Ciara says, settling beside me. I look up to see her and Tate. He hands me a cup of tea. “Nervous?”

I shake my head. How do I explain the short version?

Tate sits on my other side. “Of course she’s not nervous. She’s about to be banged out of her mind. He looks like the kind of guy who’s going to break you in half and put you back together.”

I choke. My tea spews out of my mouth before I can stop it.

Ciara cackles, the sound so familiar and soothing.

“I hate you,” I wheeze, still trying to suck in air.

Tate grins. “Nah, you love me. Obsessed,” he says with a wink.

A giggle escapes me. I really do love him. Obsessed is a bit far, but I can’t imagine my life without him.