Page 159 of A Thread of Breath and Bone

Raea’s eyes won’t stop watering every time she looks at the rune on my arm. Her guilt feels like my own, flooding me with the same intensity. We’re meeting Finn and Carys to train in a few minutes. Brynna will be ushering our friends to the field once they’ve had a moment to bathe and change.

We still haven’t seen them, and I know Soraea is as anxious as I am to make sure they’re okay, but also to find out which race they belong to. While Raea and I had known, our friends were not given any indication.

I’m surprised when several warriors, both Fae and Elven, stand in a group when we exit the gateway with Carys. She leads us to the group, introducing us. There are a few familiar faces we’ve seen over the past few weeks.

Before I’m pulled away to the opposite side of the field, I ask Carys to give Raea and me a minute. The group of warriors disperses with a plan in place as I pull Raea to the side, behind a shed used to store some of the weapons and weights for training.

The sky is stormy and overcast, mirroring Raea’s mood. She doesn’t fight me when I lift her into my arms, locking her ankles behind me.

“Raea,” I say softly. “I told you it was nothing. I made sure you were cooled down.”

Maybe it's wrong to keep the full truth from her, but she doesn’t need to know how badly I was hurt. Telling her the basics was enough.

Her white hair ripples in the breeze, flowing across her green eyes. “I didn’t know, and my dream—” She shakes her head, blowing out a long breath. “What would have happened if I had hurt you? Or hurt anyone else?”

“You didn’t.” I sigh, knowing it’s going to take time. “That’s what today is about. You just need to practice and get control, okay?”

She nods as I press a long kiss to her forehead before letting her body slide to the ground. She heads off to where Finn is speaking with a group of Elven warriors clad in leather armor. Their cuirass is stamped with a symbol I don’t recognize, their bracers tied with more leather. Finn hands Raea her own set before introducing her to the others gathered.

I head to where Carys and Riven are waiting with Vaeric and the others.

“I thought we might as well test out what you’re capable of and then work from there,” Carys says.

When I nod, one of the Fae warriors throws a type of forcefield around us. It’s a large dome that covers the air high above the trees, all the way into the field of grass.

Riven steps toward me. “Kahtesh, here—” He gestures to the male behind him with the pinched features. “—can sense the power of your magic and whether you’ve reached full capacity.”

I shove my hands into my pockets. “So what exactly am I doing?” I look around taking in each of their features, cataloging them. “Am I supposed to summon a specific type of storm? I’ve never done that.”

Riven shakes his head. “We just want you to do whatever you’re able to do.”

Blowing out a long sigh, I take a few steps back and one of the females snorts. Whatever. Honestly, I don’t give a shit about anyone else’s opinions. I’m secure enough to not need their validation. I already have enough from my mate and best friend.

I close my eyes, and like every single time since I met with the village elders in the Ancestor Isles, I look for those strands of light that connect me to my magic. I open my eyes as I pull on the blue strand for water. Rain feels like a safe bet to start with. I look to the skies, to the dome overhead, and watch as rain falls at the same time clouds form. It would seem that the clouds don’t need to be fully formed before the water falls.

“More,” Kahtesh says.

I pull hard, and then reach for the white strand for wind. The two resemble a hurricane. The Fae who created the forcefield quickly throws another one up around their group, leaving me alone in the downpour.

Through the wind and rain, I hear Kahtesh. “More. You’re holding back.”

I grit my teeth, tugging harder, not understanding what else he wants. Another strand shimmers, but before I can reach it, it disappears. Exhaustion settles in as I release my hold and the storm stops in an instant.

Kahtesh steps out from the group. “You had more.” He has the audacity to get in my face as if he can scare me into a different outcome.

“I suggest you take a step back,” I respond cooly.

Kahtesh steps so close I can taste the stale air on his breath. He is looking for a crack in the 'human' prince, but he’ll never find one. I don't pull my hands from my pockets. Instead, I let the air around us grow heavy and static, the hair on his arms stand as the sharp scent of ozone thickens. I offer him a slow, jagged grin.

The male before me looks seconds away from attempting to pummel me. Let him. I could use a good fight. It’s been too long and gods know I have enough things to work out.

“Stand down, Kahtesh,” Vaeric barks, stepping forward. His grumpy face turns to me. “Let’s go again.”

Chapter 58

Raea

“More! You’re holding back,” Moira snaps.