Page 161 of A Thread of Breath and Bone

Ciara is transformed. She is taller, her rich brown skin radiating a warmth that feels like a summer afternoon. But it’s the wings that stop my heart—massive, arched spans of brown and white feathers that shimmer with every movement. My best friend is no longer a girl from the forests of Kyrr. She is a creature of the sky.

She grins. “I have wings!”

“You have wings,” I repeat breathlessly, running my hands over the layers of brown and white feathers. This all feels so unreal. I mean, I’ve seen other Elven and Fae with wings, but my best friend…

Words get caught in my throat.

Ciara giggles, wrapping an arm around me, spinning me until I’m facing the rest of our crew. My eyes move, one by one, taking them all in. They land on Kamden first. He’s huge. He’s always been big, but now he smirks, waving as he explains he’s Fae. Not that I couldn’t tell, but I must look confused. Really, it’s my mind struggling to keep up.

Tate has his arms crossed, the new bulk really doing something for him. “I know,” he teases. “I’m hot. I bet you’re really wishing you would’ve chosen me, huh?” His newfound Fae lineage looks good on him.

I can’t help the laugh that tumbles out of me as I grin, my eyes watering. Trysten is already talking to Ryker. I expected him to be Fae too so it’s not surprising. I didn’t account for his new status to be so…hot. I mean, I’ve always noticed Trysten, but damn. Too bad he doesn’t hold a candle to my mate.

I’m sure some Fae female will enjoy the sight of his ass, those big thighs, and those arms that look like he could lift a mountain. The tapered ears really suit him.

I find Aolyn beyond talking with Carys. I take a step toward her, but the air around her feels brittle, as if it might shatter at a touch. She looks luminous, her pale skin glowing, but her eyes are dark pits of grief.

“Half-witch,” Ciara whispers, and the word hits me like a physical blow.

In a world of Fae and Elven, a witch is a wild card—a remnant of a darker, more ancient power that most fear to even name. The witches were a way to even the playing field for humans, but they were never meant to carry those gifts. Instead, it became dark and dangerous, and though they are rare, there are some powerful witches throughout the galaxy. Or at least that’s what I’ve learned since coming here.

My head moves so fast, I make myself dizzy. Behind me, my skin prickles, and I realize one person is missing. When I look at Ciara, she’s already grinning over my shoulder.

I turn, finding Kellan’s chest as my forehead bounces off it. His strong arms grip my shoulders, keeping me upright. My heart is thundering so loud I can barely hear the conversations breaking out around me. It was one thing to go through this with Ryker. He’s my other half, and whatever we do, we do together. My best friend, however…

I don't look up. I can't. The man I knew is gone, replaced by a male whose presence is an overwhelming force of cinnamon, salt, and raw, immortal power. I expect to find a stranger, but when his fingers tilt my chin up, I find the same hazel eyes that have anchored me since we were children. He is different—stronger, harder, more lethal—but the “RaeRae” he whispers is the same tether to my humanity I’ve always leaned on.

The memories I have of him feel disjointed. I can envision Kellan as a little boy all the way to how he looked a few days ago. I watched him grow into a man. A man that I loved. A man I still love, only differently now.

Except now he isn’t a man. He’s this strong, powerful Elven male.

My knees give out as I wrap my hands around him, stealing a moment.

His chuckle reverberates through me as he holds me together. “I didn’t die.”

“I know,” I say, my voice muffled, “but this is hard.”

His soothing hand runs down my back. “Now you know how I feel.”

I pull back, punching his arm and groaning when pain shoots up my wrist.

Kellan laughs, rubbing the spot as if I were actually capable of hurting him. Maybe before, but now I might as well be punching a damn wall.

I feel Ryker’s jealousy, sharp but restrained. I want to roll my eyes, but I’m not going to torture him. Instead, I take a step back, grabbing Kellan’s hand in my right, Ciara’s in my left, squeezing. They both tower over me more than ever.

“I love you guys,” I say softly.

“What about me?” Tate asks.

I giggle, letting them go before launching at Tate, forcing him to catch me. His grip tightens around me as he spins, hollering about spending thousands of years being a pain in my ass.

There’s something about looking at all of them now and understanding that our friendships go beyond what they ever were. Not only did they follow us here, choosing to leave all that they knew, their families, their sense of duty. They all came here to help Ryker and I fight a war way bigger than any of us truly comprehend, and now, they’ve given their lives to the cause.

However long we live—thousands of years or only a hundred—I’ll be grateful for every moment and never be able to truly express my gratitude.

Ryker’s growl when Tate trips, nearly dropping me, has us both laughing.

“I’m unbreakable, you know,” I tease.