Page 108 of The Cost of Blood and Bonds

“Rosie.” His voice cracks like it’s the heaviest word he’s ever spoken.

“I know,” I say with a smile. “I know.”

He lets out a laugh, shaky with relief, like he can’t believe this is real, and pulls me into his chest.

I press my face into his neck and breathe him in, and for the first time in years, the ache of wanting him is gone, replaced by the warmth of finally having him.

Chapter 34

Ryewood

Everything is wrong.

There are trees where there shouldn’t be, stones split open like they’ve been torn apart from below, people screaming, and Gemma.

Gemma isn’t here.

She was right beside me. I grabbed for her, but I caught only her sleeve, right before the blast tore through us. The fabric tore in my hands, and then she was gone.

I force myself up. My shoulder screams. I don’t care.

“GEMMA!” I scream.

But she’s not there. There’s just chaos, just trees and rubble and nobles scattered across churned earth.

I stumble forward, climbing over roots, shoving past debris. My legs feel wrong, like they’re too slow, too heavy, not listening.

Where is she? Where is she? Where⁠—

I can’t breathe. I’m trying. I’m trying so hard, but the air won’t come. My lungs are seizing, burning.

“GEMMA!”

My voice breaks, and my legs are shaking. I stumble over a root that shouldn’t exist, that’s as thick as my leg.

Not her. Please. Not her. Anyone but her.

I stagger, my vision narrowing.

“Rye!”

The voice barely registers. Everything is muffled, distant, like I’m underwater.

“RYE!”

Hands grip my shoulders. Grier’s face swims into view. There’s blood on his temple, and his eyes are wild. I’ve never seen him look like that. Never seen⁠—

I can’t think about this. I can’t think about anything except⁠—

“Where is she?” The words tear out of me. “Grier—where is she?”

“Did he see where she went?”

“I don’t know!” I’m shouting. I can’t stop shouting. “She was right there. She was right next to me, and then—I tried to hold on—I tried⁠—”

I feel it again, the sleeve ripping, and her slipping away from me. My hands are shaking. Everything is shaking. The world is tilting, and I can’t make it stop.

“I can’t—” I gasp for air, but it won’t come. “I can’t breathe—Grier, I can’t⁠—”