“Okay, well, I called all of you here because you’re my closest friends, and well, a lot has happened, and I don’t think I can do this alone anymore,” she says.
Raea looks up at me, a silent apology written on her features. My hand slips to her lower back unconsciously, but she doesn’t pull away. I don’t miss the look of death on Kellan’s features or the questioning gazes of her friends.
“Mind if I start?” I ask. She shakes her head. “There’s a lot that has happened, but the main point is the veil is going to fall. It’s not a matter of how or why, but when. Second, Raea and I have…abilities,” I pause, glancing at her. She’s chewing the hell out of her bottom lip. “And I think it’s because there’s a prophecy about us being fated to Bond that has a lot to do with the veil. It’s the only thing that makes sense, as we haven’t Bonded yet.”
Kellan mutters something unintelligible, his brows knitted in confusion that mirrors his rage. He knows of the Bond, and us being fated, but this is clearly something else.
“Ryker and I went to Ista,” Raea cuts in. She tells them about the books, her starlight heat sans the light, and the voices on Sgya, but when she mentions Aolyn claiming her life might be in danger, I nearly come undone.
“I spoke with my father,” Aolyn says, looking ashamed, like she’s torn between her father and Raea. “I told him I had a bad feeling about the veil, just trying to gauge his response.” She shakes her head. “His response was that I was safe for now, but not to worry. All would make sense soon.” She looks at Raea. “Please, go home or call Kuron.” Tears fill Aolyn’s eyes.
Ciara sits up. “Rae, you have to tell your parents.”
Raea looks up at me, questioning what I think. Pleading for help.
“We call our guards, keep them stationed in the halls and the yard. You don’t go anywhere unaccompanied by anyone not in this room. Inthe meantime, we need to up your training. Trysten, what’s your assessment of her progress?” I look to my best friend, who looks more lost than I’ve ever seen, but something settles over him.
“She’s doing great. I’d like to test her skills, though. Maybe you and I can tag team a surprise attack?”
“Absolutely not,” Kellan barks. “Are you out of your damn minds? She’s not doing that.”
I chuckle, feeling the urge to put Kellan in his place. Raea isn’t his, and as far as I’m concerned, she makes her own damn decisions.
Kamden surprises the hell out of me, though, when he speaks up. Honestly, I don’t even know why he’s here. “You’d rather she get attacked again by strangers?” I watch the blood drain from Raea’s face, and memories of seeing their bloodied bodies still aren’t enough to quell the rage inside.
“What?” Everyone seems to glance at her as she whispers, “How did you find out?”
Kamden admits he was on the roof that day and only reached her when Cole arrived. He thought it was best to stay out of it. Raea shudders. I wrap my arm around her, tucking her into my side.
“Since we’re on the topic of secrets,” I say, “My father is alive, I think, and living on Evello. Why? Not a clue, but he’s not missing.” Raea wraps her arms around my waist, resting her head on my chest.
“So where do we go from here?” she asks softly, her heart rate slowing to match mine. I don’t even know if she knows it.
“Let’s start at the beginning,” Tate says, letting the front feet of his chair drop back to the floor.
thirty-eight
. . .
raea
An hour later,we’ve recounted almost everything since the start of school. It feels good to get it all out, even if the looks Kellan keeps shooting my way are filled with betrayal. I need to talk to Kellanagain.I hate this valley between us. He needs to hear from me about my heart and what I’ve decided. But if I’ve learned anything this past hour, it’s that I need my friends in this with me, him included. We can’t keep doing this alone. I think Ryker agrees—if the looks of approval and pride he keeps casting my way are any indication.
“I keep having visions,” I start. “You were there in one of them.” I glance up at Ryker, who’s still hovering at my side. “I mean, we both were. In Mori, at the palace. There was a party or something, but you and I were out on the veranda, and everything was cloaked in shadows. There was screaming, but you said something.”
I close my eyes, allowing the vision to replay in my head as tears well up in my eyes. My heart sings, not in fear, but with an overwhelming sense of safety. Ryker has been with me every step of the way, even if unknowingly.
I glance at Ryker, letting a tear splash down on my cheek with a smile. His brows furrow in confusion. “You told me to wake up, and Idid. I don’t think my mind just conjured it,” I continue. He’s studying me when Kellan clears his throat.
“What other visions are you having?” Ciara asks.
I tell them about all the strange dreams and visions of another girl—the one who I think is the same one Aolyn keeps talking about.
“The voices, though,” I finish. “That’s the mist. On Sgya, they were trying to penetrate my mind, but it was like an iron dome around my thoughts. They kept claiming things like ‘Light-Bringer’ and ‘The New Dawn.’ I keep hearing them.”
“The prophecy,” Kellan says, looking at Ryker. “What does it say?”
Ryker moves to the other side of me, leaning down on the console and typing it out. His hand brushes over mine as he does. Instantly, all my frayed nerves calm. As if he feels the same, I watch his body relax.
