“Ready to go?” Kellan asks, glaring at Anders.
“Yep, yes.” I feel flustered. I look between the two men, who both still have their hands on me. Kellan’s squeezing my hand in silent communication while Anders possessively presses into my lower back like he’s considering forcing me to follow him. The two men couldn’t be more opposite; their differences don’t stop with how they hold me.
Where Kellan is handsome with soft features and a boyish lookthat I love, Anders is all hard lines, broody, and devastatingly beautiful—it makes my insides feel fluttery.
“Anders,” I say, a little breathless, bowing my head. I need some fresh airnow.I step out of his hold and follow Kellan through the doors, my mind still hung up on what happened. I’ve never felt or experienced anything like it. I can still feel the heat of his palm pressed into my back.
“Raea,” Anders calls out, catching up in a few graceful strides. Both Kellan and I turn, our hands still locked onto each other. Honestly, it’s more a habit than anything romantic. Anders towers over me, his eyes holding me to the spot, not once looking at Kellan. His jaw clenches once, twice.
“Your parents…” he starts, running a hand through his dark locks. “Chancellor Xara has assigned me as your new escort while you’re here. Unfortunately for me, this means that where you go, I go when we aren’t in class.” He looks pissed about the arrangement, but it’s nothing compared to what I feel.
Anger, hurt, disappointment...they all tangle together, warring over which emotion will present itself first. Anger always wins. I feel my flush as I glare at my dorm leader. There’s no way I’m agreeing to this. I can’t believe they did this.
“They what?” I snap. “I don’t need a bodyguard. This is school, Anders.” I cross my arms, digging my nails into my biceps. “What is going to hurt me here?” Something similar to amusement flashes through his eyes, but it’s gone before I can be sure I saw it.
“They aren’t worried you’ll be hurt,” he huffs, locking down his emotions as he slides his hands into his trouser pockets. “You are not to beBonded.”His gaze swings to Kellan, and I swear the temperature drops a few degrees. Kellan doesn’t let go of my hand, no, his response is much worse. He wraps a possessive arm around my waist.
I have half a mind to snap at Kellan, but not here, not in front of Anders. I could never hurt or embarrass him like that. Instead, I keep my ire on Anders. This will be the shortest assignment in history because, like hell do I agree.
“Nobody. Is. Bonding. With. Me.” I jab a finger into his chest, punctuating each word.Damn, he’s solid.Not the right time to think about that. “And you are not my bodyguard.” I turn with Kellan and storm into the dark night, not daring to look back.
four
. . .
I wake up gasping,my body sweat-slicked as I fight to untangle my mind from the weird dream. Vivid flashes of a forest covered in mist, black ravens cawing unnervingly, and me…or at least she looked like me. Dressed in a daring black gown, she stood next to a creature that could only be described as evil incarnate. Her milky white hand brushed over the leathery skin and sharp spines of the beast, who bared bloody fangs at me. The girl, me, just stood there with a smile on her blood-red lips that sent a cold shiver down my spine. It was as if I were watching myself, or a version of myself. Except, her eyes weren’t dark green; they were lighter and surrounded by black makeup painted like a mask over her eyes.
I shake off the uneasy feeling as I scrunch my toes in the rug, allowing my body to cool off as I rip off my nightgown, and shift my gaze out to the open balcony doors where I find Baedyn’s twin moons still above the horizon. This is the only time of day that I feel like I can be truly alone. At home, this is the time of day when the palace is quiet, and I can roam the halls undisturbed or walk my mother’s gardens without Kuron or Ezra at my side. They’d probably lock me away if they knew I snuck out.
The first week at school always demands adjustment. It’s just asilly nightmare, I tell myself. At home, I am Princess Raea Tierson, heir to the Treon Kingdom. Handmaids, bodyguards, and a team manage my studies. I wear gowns and fine jewelry, surrounded by every comfort. My mornings are for kingdom lore, my afternoons for queenly training, brunches, and teas. Thrice a week, I also train in combat maneuvers. My mother cannot bear the thought of me fighting; my father allows it only because Kuron insisted I learn to defend myself. In the palace, I’m a reflection of my parents, a future queen.
At Drithm, it’s the opposite. Here, I am simply another royal, immersed in histories, politics, and training for a battle we may never experience. Here, I run, laugh, and feel free. I get dirty, roll on the floor, take hits while sparring without a room full of assistance. Here, I am not fragile. I walk with my feet in both worlds. I am Princess Raea Tierson, daughter of King Bastian and Queen Amaya, rulers of the most powerful kingdom, and I love my gowns, my jewelry, and the views from our palace. But I am also Raea—Sky Division transport pilot for the system, the girl who runs barefoot, connecting with the land’s energy without being told it’s unladylike.
I feel it—the energy pulsing beneath me, around me, even in the whisper of the trees. It’s always there, speaking to me, as if the planets are alive. This energy, unnoticed by anyone else, pulls at me night and day. I feel it even now with my bare feet on the plush rug. My tutor once laughed when I asked about it, dismissing it as the rumble of the waterfall. I have never told anyone else.
I find Aolyn asleep in her bed, making a mental note to ask her where she was; it seems odd I missed her all day yesterday. I dress quietly in my Xori pants, pulling a black chunky-knit sweater over my corset. These custom-made pants, a gift from Kellan’s mother, are woven from a flexible, nearly impenetrable material—a rare, high-cost commodity from the Okenen Kingdom’s planet Saedn. The fabric feels like a second skin, breathable and comfortable, and I wear them almost every day at the academy. I head down to the forest below.
Outside, I feel the damp soil between my toes, the soft hum of the planet exhilarating and comforting. The moons illuminate a small pathway along the forest floor. I walk until the AerBall stadiumappears to my right—a massive structure in the dark. AerBall is the system’s biggest sport—fast-paced and brutal. I’ve only been to a couple of games and never seen the appeal, though my father loves it.
I find the hidden path in the dark shadows of the trees, remembering it by heart, and follow it through the forest until I reach the secret lake. Most students don’t wander this far into the woods. Kellan and I discovered it during our third year at Drithm, and it became our special spot. It’s where we swam after long days of sparring and shared our deepest secrets.
Out here, there are no expectations. Just the crystal waters, a forest of trees, and boulders lining the shores, with the occasional Quelin flying overhead. Their wings mirror the ground below, but if you know what to look for, you can find them soaring on invisible winds above the trees.
I’m still angry about last night and need to clear my head. Of course, my parents wouldn’t trust me. As a royal female coming of age, it’s said that the closer you get to your twenty-third birthday, the more intense your emotions become. This includes not only the Bond but also the attraction to the man who could very well be your future husband.
So far, I only know of Kellan and Anders, but I still have a whole school year ahead of me, and I’m sure things will be downright awkward by next year.
I dip my toes into the lake, and the warm water envelops them like a gentle embrace—the lake is dependably warm. Beneath the shimmering surface lies a natural thermal energy pod, releasing heat that radiates up through the depths. It’s always the perfect temperature, even when it’s hot outside.
As I gaze at the glowing moons hanging in the sky, I realize I have at least an hour before the sun begins its ascent. I make quick work of my clothes, tossing them to a nearby rock, and with a deep breath, I dive into the water.
The moment I plunge under the surface, a sense of peace and rightness washes over me, releasing the uneasiness of my dream andthe sweat on my body. As I swim through its depths, the water glides over my skin like silk, smooth and soothing.
Mixed emotions swirl within me regarding my parents’ insistence on needing an escort. Their fear that I’ll form the wrong Bond before The Ceremony is louder than my own doubts. They fear I might lose it, but I would never take unnecessary risks. Though the prospect of the Bonding ceremony fills me with apprehension, I refuse to jeopardize my chance at something meaningful just because of an attraction. During the end-of-year ball last year, a Lord from Lyrek tried to force a Bond while we danced. As he leaned in, an unknown energy buzzed around us, but before anything could happen, Kellan swooped in, yanking him away—a protective gesture that left my heart racing.
At that moment, I had realized how deeply I craved a genuine Bond; it was a revelation that made me acutely aware of the delicate tension lingering between Kellan and me. Even now, whenever he leans close, I hesitate, feeling an invisible barrier keeping me from closing the distance. To safeguard my Bond, I dedicated months to honing my mental shield, ensuring it remains securely tucked away, hidden from all potential men and untimely connections. I never want to find myself in that situation again. I felt so scared, so...helpless, but never again.
It’s not that kissing him would give away my Bond. It’s the heat of the moment that makes most women drop their mental shields, allowing their Bond to link with the wrong man. Doing so leaves you without a true match when you turn twenty-three and therefore, no magic. I can’t trust myself to keep control. I’m told I feel things more intensely than others.
