Page 7 of The Cost of Blood and Bonds

She finishes wrapping but doesn’t let go. I finally look up.

She stares back at me with those piercing teal eyes threaded with green at the edges. The same eyes that make merchants slip extra pastries into her basket, make even the stingiest vendors cut her deals. There’s something magnetic about her; there always has been. She’s always stood out in Terrath, with her black hair and warm brown skin. Finn got every one of her features.

“Please be careful. I trained you in the shallows so you wouldn’t drown, not so you could dive into the deep.”

The corner of my mouth tugs up. She catches it, and her own smile breaks through.

She presses a kiss to the top of my head and pulls me against her.

I close my eyes and breathe her in, and I let her love settle over me.

Chapter 2

Ryewood

The roar of the crowd hits us before we even reach our seats. The colosseum stretches out with stone tiers descending toward the arena floor. Father built it himself centuries ago, with nothing but his magic and sheer will.

Most people see it as a marvel, but I know better; it’s a reminder. Father making sure no one forgets who holds the power here.

“All right,” I announce, turning around, finding Finn’s already grinning. “You know what time it is.”

Hayes is fighting a smile, and Grier shakes his head like he’s above this.

“Annual tradition,” Finn says. “Most useless shifter form. I’m going rabbit.”

“Rabbit?” I shove his shoulder. “You’ve picked rabbit three years in a row.”

“And one day, I’ll be right.” Finn spreads his hands wide, insufferably pleased with himself. “It’s called commitment, Rye.”

I laugh despite myself. Only Finn could make a losing streak sound like a strategy.

“Chicken,” Hayes says, like he’s commenting on the weather.

Finn catches my eye across Hayes’s head, the same thought passing between us.

“I’m sorry—” Finn says, holding up a hand. “Did the heir to the realm just join in? Without us having to pry it out of him?” He throws his arm around Hayes. “Well, shit. If Hayes is playing along, anything’s possible. Rabbit’s basically guaranteed now.”

Hayes rolls his eyes, but his smirk ruins it.

“All right, I’m going pig,” I announce. “Percival’s in the trials this year, after all.”

“Cat,” Grier says dryly.

We all stare. Even Grier’s playing along. Fuck, I love today.

He shrugs. “That prissy bastard is definitely coming out as a cat.”

That gets Finn and me immediately, but the real surprise is Hayes cracking up too.

Grier looks pleased with himself.

The laughter carries us to the royal box.

Then we see Father, and the laughter dies in our throats. Hayes stiffens beside me. Finn and Grier fall into step behind us, their easy manner gone, and just like that, Hayes and I are princes, and they’re our guards again.

Father holds court at the center of the box, wearing that warm smile, playing the benevolent king. The nobles are fucking eating it up, the way they always do. It always unsettles me how much he looks like Hayes when he’s performing in public. He barely looks older than Hayes, centuries of magic keeping time from touching him. They have the same brown hair, light green eyes, and warmth that draws people in. The difference is that Hayes’s warmth stays when no one’s watching.

We make our way to the far corner, and Hayes drops into the seat beside me. Some of the tension leaves his shoulders.