Page 163 of A Thread of Breath and Bone

Aolyn is gone.

She didn't even say goodbye. She vanished into the twilight of Velmora. That planet is a world of shadows, a place that lingers between the breath of life and the silence of death. The thought of her seeking out human witch clans there makes my skin crawl.

Finn promised us she will be okay, that the witches who remain in Auralan are loyal to the Fae king and the councils.

Still, it makes me uneasy.

Kellan knocks his shoulder into mine, pulling my attention away from the stars, away from those heavenly bodies that burn so bright. I feel so drawn to them. I want to be up there right now in a transport. I miss the quiet.

I understand that our tech isn’t needed when you have magic, but I still miss it. There are some things, like space travel, that magic can’t give you.

Kellan points toward the break line, where the moonlight catches the iridescent tails of three mermaids. Their laughter carries over the roar of the surf, light and carefree. One shakes out a mane of dawn-pink hair that defies the weight of the water. Another adjusts a bun of teal silk. They play in the surf as if the war won’t touch them. Their joy is a stinging reminder of the simplicity I have lost.

“I hate seeing the weight on you,” Kellan says softly, breaking my thoughts. “I wish I could carry it for you.”

I offer him a soft smile before looking back at the water, at the way the sea foam follows its creator back into those inky depths. “I’m worried about her.”

Kellan shakes his head. “It’s more than that.”

I blow out a long breath, letting my shoulders relax. “Before,” I start. Before any of this. “Life felt simple. I knew what tomorrow would bring. I knew who I was. I knew exactly what my life would look like, and now I feel like I’m a boulder falling down the mountainside, and instead of slowing down, I’m picking up speed, and I’m headed for a cliff.” The churning in my gut intensifies. Kellan has a way of drawing things out of me, and I don’t realize how much I need to voice this.

Ryker knows me in a different way. He knows how I feel. He feels it too. But saying it out loud⁠—

“I’m here for you, Raea. You know I always will be. I’ll remind you of who you are, what you are. I’ll tease you about Azeban just to make you smile.”

Despite the heaviness, I smile, and he smiles right back.

“I will be the safe place you land when you do go off that cliff,” he says, his hazel eyes searching mine with a depth of history that Ryker cannot yet claim. He isn't asking for my heart, but he is offering to be the ground beneath my feet.

I rest my head against his shoulder, the scent of cinnamon and salt anchoring me. I cannot give him the love of a mate, but I can give him the truth. And for the first time since everything shattered, I realize something else—Kellan isn’t asking me for more. He isn’t waiting for a moment of weakness or hoping I’ll look back at him the way I once did. He is here because he loves me enough to stay. Because he would rather mend what we broke than pretend it never existed.

And somehow, that feels braver than chasing me ever did.

“You’re my anchor, Kellan. Without you, I’m pretty sure I’d have lost it already.” I try to sound lighthearted, but it comes out too solemn.

We are quiet for long minutes, both of us watching the waves, the mermaids tossing a large shell back and forth, the way the heavens sparkle on the surface of the water. With each inhale of the thin, salty air, my body relaxes.

“Your friendship will always be enough,” Kellan says softly, wrapping an arm around me to stave off the chill in the air. “And I’m glad you’re no longer shocking me.” His lips curl into a teasing smile.

Despite myself, I laugh.

“So, tell me about Elven magic.”

Chapter 60

Ryker

I wonder if it would be possible to open a gateway in space, or in the sky. Then I could fly one back here and give us a break from this darkness. I know we can’t stay here. I have no desire to move to Sorynth and be under the king’s watchful eye. He’d probably force us to be at court with him. No thank you. I can’t stand the man.

“How’s Clara?” Trysten asks, taking a sip of his drink and attempting to mask the burn.

I huff out a laugh, lifting my glass to his. “She’s thriving, actually. I hardly see her. She’s made a lot of friends, and they keep her busy. I’ve invited her to dinner almost every night, and she says no thanks. She’s really taken to Finn, too.”

Trysten’s brows rise. “Is that…good?”

I shrug before swiping a hand through my hair. Do I love it? Hell no, but I can’t be upset. Not when she is getting the attention I can’t give her, and he has been nothing but respectful. Raea also loves Finn. She can’t stop talking about the Elven villages he takes her to.

He seems like a genuinely kind and happy guy.