Page 90 of A Thread of Breath and Bone

“Things are changing so fast, I feel like I can’t get my bearings. There’s a whole prophecy I’m somehow supposed to fulfill, and people relying on me. My magic—” I suck in a sharp breath. “I don’t know what I’m doing, and I’m terrified. I don’t want to let everyone down. I’ve been training with Professor Ainslyn since we left school, but I don’t feel any closer than I did then. How could the gods leave me with nothing but cryptic words and an order to go to Caelus⁠—”

“What?” Ciara interrupts. She’s been holding my hand this whole time, and now she lets it go. “Go to Caelus?”

I sigh and then tell them about the Drift. About what Astor and Calia said, about King Aki. They both sit stunned. It’s how I feel.

The door hisses open, and Kellan enters. He looks at the three of us, then says, “RaeRae, you can’t ignore me forever.”

Indignation burns. I’m so tired and overwhelmed, I want to scream. If he wants to talk, fine.

I stand, glaring at him for the first time since the gardens. “What happened with Sienna? What did you tell her about me?”

His face drains of color as Ciara stands at my side. “What are you talking about?” She looks between the two of us.

I don’t look away when I say, “He was cozying up with Sienna and told her I was still a virgin.”

“I didn’t—” He slams his mouth closed and exhales. “It wasn’t like that. She said something about rumors of you and Ryker sleeping together. I just told her it wasn’t possible. That you wouldn’t risk your Bond. I told her that you hadn’t even kissed anyone.”

My face burns hot, but for the first time, it’s not from shame—it’s from the pride of a choice I finally made for myself. “Well, guess what, Kellan,” I say, my voice sharp and low. “You’re wrong. I have slept with him, and it’s amazing. Better than amazing.” I let out a disbelieving huff. I’m done being the girl whose innocence is a topic of conversation for people who don’t even know my heart. “You had no right speaking on a topic you knew nothing about.”

For a moment, I relish the way his features contort as he tries to hide every emotion. His body sags, clearly giving up the fight.

“Were you in a relationship with her?”

He shakes his head. “No. We kissed once⁠—”

“No!” Ciara gasps.

Tate whistles from behind me.

Kellan shoots him a glare. “I didn’t know she was going to hurt you. I never would have gotten involved. She never even hinted at disliking you. She was nice⁠—”

“You kept saying you loved me all year. Meanwhile, you had your tongue down her throat.”

His face falls. “It didn’t mean anything.”

“That’s bullshit,” Tate mutters, as he shakes his head, a look of disgust on his face.

Ciara grips my hand as she glances between Kellan and me, like this is just as painful for her, too. In some ways, it probably is. It’s always been the three of us, taking the worlds on together. When I glance at her, her big brown eyes are filled with tears.

My own tears pour from my eyes. “I can’t trust you.”

His features turn pleading as Ryker enters, pausing and assessing. Trysten stands beside him.

“You’re lucky she still cares about you, or I’d make you hurt like you’ve hurt her.” Ryker’s jaw clenches as he glares at Kellan.

Trysten stays at the door while Ryker crosses the room. He stands beside me, alerting me that we will be on Malaya in ten minutes.

After the fanfare of our arrival is complete, we enter a room with Queen Priana. It’s my parents and me, Ryker, and a handful of guards.

“Tell me,” Queen Priana says, standing in front of a flickering hearth.

Her blonde hair is pulled up into a regal style, her glittering, encrusted crown with azure and sapphire jewels shines like the sea, but it’s the way her bright blue eyes assess us that makes my heart sink. Ryker told me she can sense the emotions of everyone in the room.

My mother takes her hand as my father says, “Aki is in the transport.”

She gasps, stunned. She looks around to all of us, then to Ryker. “Your father⁠—”

“Alive. But mother…” He shakes his head. “He’s mentally unwell. I don’t think it wise to allow anyone to see him until he’s been fully evaluated and has had time to adjust.”