“We’ll be there in five. If you want to talk, now’s your chance,” Trysten remarks casually, as if our entire future hangs in the balance, and he couldn’t be less invested in the outcome. He plops down onto the bunk opposite mine, while Kellan lingers, arms crossed in a protective stance, his gaze firmly fixed on Raea. At the front, Tate and Ciara remain seated, monitoring the consoles.
I run a hand through my hair, a habit that has become all too familiar when I’m backed into a corner. How the hell do I even begin this conversation?
“I’m still trying to make sense of it all,” I admit. “After my father went missing, I spent countless hours poring over his notes and journals. They were filled with cryptic messages, maps marked with strange symbols, and supply lists that seemed to make no sense.”
“What does any of that have to do with this?” Trysten interjects.Before I can respond, Kellan shoots him a sharp look that silences him instantly.
“Listen,” Kellan snaps, his voice low but commanding.
Trysten’s eyes widen, and he quickly averts his gaze back to me. I almost allow myself a chuckle at the sight. I feel a flicker of gratitude towards Kellan. Despite my reservations about him being Raea’s so-called best friend, he’s been unexpectedly helpful. “My father’s transport didn’t just vanish without a trace—he left of his own accord. The specifics aren’t crucial right now,” I continue, my voice steadying as I gather my thoughts. “What really matters is that Raea and I found something. And with that something?—”
I glance back at Raea, and my heart squeezes. Despite the bruises that mar her creamy satin skin, she’s perfection. Her time in the sun seems to have kissed her cheeks, giving her a warm glow. Has it really only been a day or two since she left?
“I think we both have magic,” I finish, frustration tinging my voice as I shake my head. I broke my promise to her that we’d keep this between us, but they need some answers. “I don’t know why or how since we’re still unBonded, but there’s something between us, like our magic seems to work only around each other.”
Trysten whistles softly.
Kellan shifts uncomfortably.
Despite how much I hate the bastard, I can’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Kellan. She didn’t tell him, and by the look of disbelief on his face, he’s hurt over it.
“Anyway,” I continue, “the books gave us more insight into the veil and the shadow forces. There’s even information on the gods in them. There is something wrong that either the crowns aren’t telling us, or they’re oblivious to. The veil has been flickering in and out more frequently than we know. I can feel it. Raea does too. The shadows are just the beginning,” I add, burying my face in my hands and releasing a groan of exasperation.
“How the hell did we end up on that planet?” Trysten mutters, his anger simmering just below the surface. I can sense his hurt that I didn’t share this with him sooner, and honestly, I can’t blame him.
“The gods brought you there—at least, I think so. That was Sgya,” I explain, allowing the gravity of my words to settle in the air around us. “My father’s notes speculated that access to Sgya was a privilege granted only by the gods, and it might be why we managed to escape it. According to his notes, he’s been there before.” Both Kellan’s and Trysten’s eyes go wide. “Bonding magic feeds the veil’s power, but it’s not enough. It was never meant to be permanent.”
“Trysten,” Ciara calls out. “Time to land. Unless you’d prefer I do it.”
He stands with an air of reluctance, leaving Kellan and me behind.
“Tell me about your Bond?” Kellan’s hands turn to fists at his side as he glances between Raea and me.
I shake my head slowly, feeling a weight in my chest. If she knew the truth, she wouldn’t be avoiding me like this—wouldn’t constantly evade the connection that seems to pull us together and push us apart simultaneously. At least, I don’t think she would. I recall her frustrated rants about Bonding being forced upon us without our consent.
“I…it’s complicated.” My words barely pierce the silence. The truth has been gnawing at me for weeks. “We, uh…” I pause and draw in a steadying breath.
Gods, please don’t let her hate me for this.
“The Bond between us is powerful, but it’s more than that. When we were in the field, we were channeling energy back and forth; that’s how she managed to break free from those mist and shadow things. I still can’t fully grasp what it all means, but our Bond is intense—we’ve felt it since our first night at school. Well, technically, it was morning…when we touched…” My voice trails off, lost in the haze of memories of her running into me.
I had shown up at her door, flustered and annoyed at how I even ended up there, floundering like a teenager over what I wanted to say to her when she bounced off my chest. She was so pissy about the whole thing, I just kept my damn mouth shut and decided to let her hate me. It was better than her ignoring me. Being assigned as her escort was a complete surprise, and I knew that by accepting the role,it would only make the situation worse. But I did. I took on the role to make sure she was safe, but also so I could get to know her.
Kellan clears his throat, pulling me back to the present.
What does he want me to say?
Everything felt right in that moment—the energy, the safety, the inexplicable connection between us. But it’s not only my story to share.
“Why didn’t she tell me?” Kellan’s eyes blaze with a mix of anger and heartbreak. He’s breaking.
“She loves you.” I hate that she does, but I know it’s why she hasn’t said anything. She’s scared of hurting him and admitting her feelings for me, even though she’s been so damn persistent in avoiding all of this. I take a few more steps toward the consoles and raise my voice above the hum. “Let’s all agree on a story before we land, all right?”
Everyone around me nods.
I brace myself as the transport’s landing gear touches the ground with a subtle shake. I open the doors to a chaotic crowd of anxious faces—some familiar, some not. Among them, I spot a furious Kuron, Raea’s personal guard, and a visibly worried King Bastian and Queen Amaya.
We’re walking straight into a shitstorm.
