Ryker’s gaze goes distant as if he’s thinking.
Kamden puts his Prism down. “Wait, hold up. What energy?” he asks.
“It’s like a heartbeat,” I say, studying Ryker. “The air, the ground, everything—there’s so much energy there.” Something passes over Ryker’s features as if another piece of the puzzle has slipped into place.
There’s a memory that is on the edge of my mind, just out of reach, but the emotions surrounding it are there. A fondness and friendship with Ryker as kids. The image is surrounded by a haze I can’t penetrate. Ryker tilts his head as if he too can see it. “Did you?—”
“Yes,” I say, feeling perplexed. “I can’t remember or access them, but I feel them sometimes.”
“You two are super weird,” Ciara mutters, earning a “You have no idea,” from Trysten that’s seconded by Aolyn.
“She’s right. It’s like a heartbeat,” Ryker says, finally breaking our gaze and looking at our friends gathered around the table. “It’s a distinct pulse, and it’s in the plants, the ground, everywhere. It’s here too, but Sgya was the strongest I’ve ever felt.”
“Well, okay then. The two freakshows over here can feel the planet’s heartbeat,” Tate mutters.
“You guys do realize that you both feel the energy or whatever, and you’re able to channel that energy from the planet and back into it?” Ciara looks between us. “Or were you stealing energy from those shadow things?”
“I think it was from the planet. I think—” I pause and turn away from them. My mind is reeling from all of the possibilities. The thing is, I alreadyknowthe answer. “It’s the same energy that powers the veil.” I release my hands, noticing that I have been clenching them too tightly. “I think Sgya is the energy source or stores it.” It’s insane, but the moment I say it, I know it’s true. “That’s why the mist and shadows were there.” I’m talking more out loud than to them as I think through everything. “They can’t access the energy. They knew I could, which is why they were trying to take me. I can unlock the power of the veil.”
I turn around, and everyone is lost in their own thoughts. This sounds crazy, but it’s starting to make sense.
“If,” I look at Ryker, conveying my apology, “the prophecy is about Ryker and me, we would need to have access to that power source. That’s why he was able to touch me, and Kellan wasn’t. If the mist is alive—” I gulp back down the bile in my throat. “It wants to consume the energy. Which means, technically, we are all in danger. Not just Ryker and me. All of the Bonds are energy sources.” My hands find their way to my hair, where I fidget with the tied ribbon.
Oh, gods.
“The strongest ones are said to burst out and can sometimes be felt for miles. I don’t know if they’ll wait for the Bonding Ceremonies, but anyone who has a Bond is tapped into Sgya, just in smalleramounts. That’s why the gods required it of royalty. We have bloodlines to uphold, to keep pure, and a duty to our kingdoms. If they knew the empire would eventually fall, they created a failsafe—us,” Ryker finishes for me, putting it together.
I sit down in the chair and pull back Sgya’s size so that I can see the whole thing. “Bloodlines…” I mutter as my mind spins.
“Every time we Bond, we give energy to the veil. The energy is at its highest on the woman’s twenty-third birthday. It’s why we have to wait,” Aolyn says, but her voice is distant as I’m gripped with another image, this time recalling the same strange people I saw on Sgya.
Immortals.
“So if the Bonds are a failsafe, why is the veil losing energy?” Tate asks.
I suck in a sharp breath, gaining Ryker’s attention. “We need to go to the Isles and use that pass. The bloodlines and immortals,” my head spins. “What if…what if they never surrendered to the veil?”
thirty-nine
. . .
raea
Kellan stands,gripping the back of his chair as if it’s the only thing keeping him grounded. “The reality is, there are fewer and fewer Bonds every year,” he begins. “Kingdoms are no longer producing bloodlines with the same frequency as they once did. It’s been six decades since the last royal family had more than five kids and a decade since one had three. Plus, the last time a royal Bonding occurred was over a century ago.”
As he speaks, Kellan’s jaw tightens, a sign that he’s just putting it all together and attempting to keep his calm. It’s clear he now understands the implications of this revelation just as much as we do. “Royal bloodlines,” he continues, a sigh escaping his lips, “are renowned for producing stronger and more enduring Bonds.” His grip becomes white-knuckled.
Ryker exchanges a knowing glance with me, our silent communication growing increasingly easier with each passing day. Royal babies are becoming rarer with each generation. My parents said they struggled to conceive me for years. Queen Meganna still hasn’t been able to conceive.
“And with everyone willing to lose their Bond early,” Trystensupplies, leaning back in his chair until the front two legs are lifted from the floor.
“So what? Ryker and Raea Bond, they restore the veil, and everything goes back to normal?” Tate asks.
As if it were that simple.I feel like the answer is right in front of me, but I’m just not seeing it.
“No,” Ryker chimes in, coming to sit in front of me, his knees trapping mine in place. The heat from his body makes the fine hair on my arms stand on end. It would be entirely inappropriate to lean in right now and steal some of that warmth. “The prophecy says the days are numbered. The veil was never meant to last. It bought us time.” He looks at me, keeping his gaze locked on mine. “The birth of the firstborn will the veil be complete.” His eyes swirl, taking on an otherworldly look. “A baby.”
My heart stutters to a complete stop.A baby?Oh, my gods. They want me to have a baby…with Ryker? I mean, obviously, if we were Bonded, but—suddenly, the air in the room is not enough. I want to have sex with the man—who wouldn’t—but a baby? I haven’t gotten that far yet.
