Page 140 of The Cost of Blood and Bonds

Gem snorts. “Your humility is inspiring.”

“I know.” He doesn’t miss a beat. “Oh, and Rye’s going into the trials, too, I suppose. If anyone cares about that.”

Rye shoves him, and Finn just laughs.

“To making it out the other side,” Grier says, raising his own glass.

“To making it out.” I hear myself say, and down the glass.

Finn keeps the jokes coming, Rosie’s laugh rings out easy and bright, and I let myself sink into it. The warmth of the alcohol fills my body, and some of the tension dulls. These are the only people in the world who aren’t trying to use me.

Grier catches Gem’s eye and gives a subtle tilt of his head toward the terrace. She gives an almost imperceptible nod.

“I need air,” Gem says, already moving. Her hand brushes Rye’s arm. “Come with me?”

He hesitates, looks at me. I nod.

They disappear into the night, and then it’s just me, Finn, and Rosie.

Chapter 47

Ryewood

Gemma leads me through the gardens. Her hand is warm in mine, but her grip is tight with urgency. I can feel it in the tension of her shoulders, the way she keeps glancing back toward the ballroom, and the quickness of her steps. She’s not just escaping the crowd. This is something different. Something’s wrong.

Grier stands near the hedgerow with his arms crossed and his face unreadable. He gives me a single nod as we pass, then turns his attention back to the castle, standing watch for us.

I don’t understand what’s happening, but every instinct I have is screaming.

Gemma doesn’t stop until we’re deep in the gardens, past the rose arbors, past the stone benches, all the way to the weeping willow by the pond. Our spot, the place where I kissed her for the first time.

She turns to face me. Moonlight catches the amber, violet, teal, and green rings of her eyes, and my chest aches just looking at her.

“Gemma.” I reach for her. “Talk to me. What’s going on⁠—”

“I have to do something tonight.” Her voice is steady, but I can see her fingers dig into her palm. “Something important. And after…I might have to run.”

The words land like a stone in my stomach.

“Run where? Why?” I grip her arms. “Gemma, whatever it is, let me help. Let me⁠—”

“You can’t.” She shakes her head. “Not tonight, at least. You have the trials tomorrow.”

“I don’t care about the trials.”

“I do. I need you to survive them, Ryewood. I need you to come back to me. And if you disappear with us tonight, the King will only hunt us harder.” She stills under my touch. “After the trials, will you still…. You said you wanted to run away together. To disappear. Did you mean it?”

The question hangs between us. And for the first time since I’ve known her, I see her, all of her. With no walls, no masks, no sharp deflection or teasing smile to hide behind, just her. Vulnerable in a way I didn’t know she could be. Her eyes are searching mine, bracing for rejection. Like she genuinely doesn’t know what I’m going to say. Like she’s terrified I might say no.

This woman. This maddening, beautiful, impossible woman, who’s had me wrapped around her finger since the moment I first saw her. Who keeps me at arm’s length with one hand while pulling me closer with the other. Who I would kill for. Who has taken me so completely apart that I don’t know how to put myself back together without her.

She’s scared…of losing me. My chest cracks open at the realization, and I almost laugh. I cup her face in my hands. Tilt it up so she can’t look away.

“I would follow you anywhere. Give up anything. The title, the crown, all of it, none of it matters. Not without you.”

Her breath catches, and relief floods her face, like she was bracing for a blow that never came. I’m so in love with her I can barely breathe. I want to memorize her like this. Want to live in this moment forever.

“Of course I meant it. I’ve never meant anything more in my life.” My voice breaks on the words. “I love you, Ella⁠—”