Page 50 of A Thread of Breath and Bone

I glance around the plaza. Nobody seems to care or notice who we are. I don’t even see Ezra or Rune, though I'm sure they’re here somewhere. Raea breaks me out of my thoughts by kissing me. She doesn’t hold back, her tongue sliding into my mouth as she stands on her toes. When she pulls back with a grin, I tug her closer, rocking my hips in time with the music.

After a few songs, the music changes to a slower ballad, and she doesn’t hesitate to sway with me.

“This plaza is part of a network of dance clubs where people can come to let loose. They play all styles of music, so you can learn different dances and hear music from other cultures. There’s no judgment, and everyone is here to have a good time. Nobody cares who we are, and that’s why we were sent through the monitors and handed over our devices. No Prisms or recording devices allowed.”

I look around again, holding her sweat-slicked body against mine. “Won’t people talk?”

She shrugs. “I’ve been here several times, and nothing has ever been said about it.”

I don’t trust easily, and I know a good story is always waiting to be sold to the press. I press a kiss to her hair before spinning her out of my arms and back in. She giggles melodically before shuffling her feet with the dance.

After a long evening, we decide to head back to the palace and walk in the chilled air to cool our heated bodies. Outside the Temple Plaza, which was aptly named for being built at the base of a temple dedicated to our two gods, we take a small path that will lead us back to the main path that winds out of here.

“Thank you for tonight and for coming with me,” she says. She looks so relaxed and happy.

“I wish I could take you on a million different dates on every planet,” I reply, bringing our interlaced hands up so I can kiss her knuckles. “I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t get the same kind of reception everywhere, though. This place is special.”

She nods.

We find ourselves on a bridge with golden lockets draped all along its surface and a statue of the two gods with their hands interlocked, their free hands outstretched as if they’re offering a blessing. The bridge spans the river with more of those hanging lights draped from the canopy above. It feels magical.

A couple ahead of us stops at the midway point, and the man bends at the waist, holding out a ring in his uplifted palm. Raea squeals quietly as we watch. The woman nods, taking the ring from him, and cries as he kneels before her, holding a blade over his heart in a promise to always love her, or may his death be swift. When I look back at Raea, she’s wiping her cheek.

“Don’t judge,” she says through a shaky laugh. “I love love. I love that they get to choose.” She wipes her eyes again and leans into me when I wrap an arm over her shoulder.

We finish crossing the bridge, and she shivers when a light breeze tunnels through the valley.

“Do I no longer keep you warm?” I ask, my voice laced with amusement.

She bites her lips to hide a smile. “Sometimes.” She laughs. “It’s more comforting now.”

I arch a brow at her.

“My magic has a way of changing how I perceive being warm.”

Ah. Makes sense.

We pass a few young adults who stop and ask for a picture with her. She happily stands at their side and transforms her posture and face into a strong and gentle future queen.

When we continue walking, I ask, “And how is your magic these days?”

“Annoyingly distant and uncaring, that the universe might very well be coming to an end.”

I chuckle at that. “It takes practice,” I say with a soft nudge of my shoulder.

She grins and nods.

Once we make it back to the pod, the atmosphere between us has changed. She chews on her bottom lip nervously as she clings to my arm, sitting as close to me as possible. I don’t even know if she knows that she’s drawing mindless patterns on my arm.

“What are you thinking about?” I ask, brushing hair away from her face.

She glances up at me with those green eyes, and I see fear flash through them. “You leaving.”

The transition from the wild energy of the plaza to the hollow silence of the palace is jarring. Raea’s nerves hit me in waves, a frantic buzzing through our Bond.

Tonight was one of the best nights of my life, and I can only hope and pray that we have time for more of this. I want to give her more nights lost in a city or village, sharing our secrets with each other.

I messaged my mother one of the photos from earlier, and she’s been gushing ever since. She’s thrilled that Raea will be my wife. I spoke with my mother before we left for Ayallenora and explained everything to her. She didn’t even sound remotely surprised. I tried not to be upset, but I feel as if our parents have always known and kept us in the dark. I will return home tomorrow afternoon and begin preparations for Raea’s visit, the Ceremony, and wedding—and the Bonding phase.