Raea Tierson: And I’m yours.
It takes me over an hour, but finally, I drift off.
forty-one
. . .
raea
Zayla looks sobeautiful from the sandstone castle. The desert here is home to wild animals grazing on the sparse plant life, visible from the terrace as far as the eye can see. Overhead, there are four moons varying in size. The sun is setting, and it’s that beautiful time of day when the skies are pink and the moons are out.
Baedyn doesn’t have this.
Behind me, the party is still going on. It’s Queen Meganna’s thirty-fifth birthday, and her husband, King Osiris, is dancing with her. They are so at ease in front of their guests. I guess having a kingdom of only eight planets helps with that.
The heat from the day is still radiating off the stone, and sweat trickles down my spine beneath my corset. I’m wearing a blue and cream gown in the loose style of the kingdom that lifts and flows with my movements. It feels magical. I only wish Ryker were here to see. He’d appreciate it. The blue of my gown reminds me of his eyes.
I close my eyes and try to picture where he is. I can’t remember Malaya, even though Father has said I’ve been there several times. I was just too young. I wish I could access the memories. I sway with the music even though I’m alone.
A chill races down my spine, and fear seeps into my bones. I turn just as the music halts, and screams fill the dance hall. Darkness swirls, and one by one,royal members fall to their knees, begging for life. A scream ripples through the darkness before it’s silenced.
I feel the power radiating up my arms. It’s not enough. I slam my back against the wall, hiding myself. I need to calm myself down. Breathe in for three. Out for three. My fingers tingle, the power waiting to be released.
“There you are,” it hisses.
The eerie voice is neither male nor female—just something ancient and evil. A dark, hooded face appears from the mist. It’s as if life and color have been drained from it. Its hand wraps around my throat, the grip unrelenting, and my vision starts to go black on the edges.
I release my power and throw my palms to its chest. It screams, but its grip only tightens. It’s a war to see who will give out first. I reach for Ryker. I need his help. My skin burns from the release of energy, and my vision goes dark. I can still feel, but everything else is gone. There’s only that endless void of nothingness.
“You have to fight!” I hear Ryker’s voice in my head. “Fight, Raea.”
I inhale sharply as I am jolted awake by Aolyn. She’s standing over me with worry in her eyes. Dammit, not again.
“Are you okay?” she asks.
Her eyes skate around my face. It’s barely first light, and the room is still cast in shadows. She’s dressed in her white nightgown, her slender arms hugging her center as she looks upon me with frightened eyes. I scrunch my face, trying to recall my dream.
“I’m fine. I don’t remember it,” I lie.
“You were screaming for Ryker.” She sits beside me on the bed. I bury my face in my hands and sit up. “Are you going to tell me what’s been going on with you two? I know it’s more.”
“It’s a long story, but the short version is that I agreed to be his…girlfriend? I don’t know. We haven’t said anything about titles.”
She doesn’t say anything as she looks me over and then smirks. “Is that all? I’ve seen the way you two look at each other. Everyone can see it. Why do you think I went to him instead of Kellan? I think that ship sailed long before you agreed to it.”
“It’s the Bond. That’s all. He makes me crazy.” I slap my handsdown on the sheets and groan. “I don’t know how else to explain it.” I throw the covers off myself, feeling too hot all of a sudden.
“Some days I can’t stay away from him, an invisible string pulling us together. Other days, I just want to slap his beautiful face.” I pace the room. “At first, I thought he was cocky, but he isn’t. After he saved me, my thoughts became a tangled mess. Now, I can’t breathe without him, and I can barely breathe when he’s near. I’m losing my damn mind, and I just…I justneedhim. It’s so intense. I want to be his, because the idea of being with anyone else makes me sick.”
Aolyn just laughs, bringing her knees to her chest. “Oh my gods, you’re in love with him.”
I roll my eyes and crawl back into bed. “I’m not. I’m going back to sleep.” I throw myself against the pillow and roll over so my back is toward her. She giggles and curls up behind me, wrapping her arms around me.
“You know, for someone so intelligent,” she whispers, “you are pretty clueless. Don’t worry, I won’t say anything.” She makes a delighted hum as she pulls the blankets over herself.
“I don’t love Ryker. It’s too soon.”
“You know it’s okay to love Kellan; he’s your best friend, but you’reinlove with Ryker. Sleep now, my young Princess,” she trills.
