Page 60 of A Thread of Breath and Bone

I place a quick kiss on the top of her head before we fall into conversation about school. We both wish we had finished out our year. I mostly miss AerBall and the team…but I do wish I had had a chance to graduate. She is going to miss her entire senior year.

The transport hovers off a little island, and I lead her out to where a glider waits. The shell of the boat is made of clear glass that allows you to see into the water where the Erowhales live. The fjord here is one of my favorite spots to stargaze. There are no close colonies, only a few small villages scattered in the area, and the mountains on either side of the inlet of water cocoon us, making us feel as small as ants.

“Ryker, this is—” Raea starts, squealing when the Erowhale brushes along the glass bottom of the glider boat. “What was that?” she gasps, rushing to look over the edge.

I tighten my hold on her waist as I nod to the captain to get going to our destination. “Erowhales are a rare breed of bioluminescent whales that only live in the cold water of these fjords. Their bodies are translucent, but when they brush against things, they light up. That’s why most people don’t know of their existence. They’re curious, so they’ll probably keep brushing up against the glider.”

The grin she gives me makes my heart stall a beat before rapidly resuming. Her love for learning and for wildlife astounds me. I want to show her everything in the system if I get to see that smile on her face.

Raea thinks the gods have already written our ending. But after that bridge on Kyrr—after seeing a couple who had nothing but their own choice—I knew a cosmic tether wasn't enough. I don't want her to belong to me because a scroll says she must. I want her to choose me because she can't imagine a world where she doesn't.

As the glider races over the water to the smaller island further into the fjord, more Erowhales come to greet us. Raea tries calling out to them when they brush against the bottom. Some hover close by, watching her like they can almost understand her. Who knows, maybe they can.

When the boat slows, Raea gasps. “What is this?” she asks, looking at me and then back to the cave where I had a team come and set everything up for us. The lights illuminate the large space when they’re turned on.

Inside the cave, there’s a private beach with a small cottage we use for day trips. Overhead, there’s a hole open to the sky above, revealing a blanket of stars and planets.

On the island, the trees are wrapped with delicate lights, and soft lanterns hang from their branches over a blanket filled with desserts and pillows. Candles illuminate the small space from their spot in the sand.

“I thought it was my turn to share one of my favorite spots with you.”

She throws her arms around me and kisses me before turning back toward the beach where we are now docking. Aksel and Theovan stay on the transport until I request their return…tomorrow.

I sweep Raea into my arms as we walk on the small deck, and her giggle sounds like music to my ears. The sand shifts under my feet before I place her down on the blanket and sit beside her. There is way more food here than either of us could possibly eat. Desserts from around the system fill platters and stands mixed in with greenery and florals.

“This is very romantic,” Raea says breathily as she scoots closer. “Which I'm very okay with.” She leans past me, grabs a ball of chocolate, and bites into it with a small moan.

I pull her hand back and eat the rest of it, the taste of chocolate and whiskey cream fill my mouth. Shit that’s good. We take turns feeding each other between kisses and planet gazing.

When a drip of syrup falls on her lips, I lick it off and she lets out a breathy moan. It goes straight to my cock, and I have to suck in a sharp breath.

“Come here,” I say standing and taking her hand in mine. I pull up some soft music on my Prism and together we sway under the canopy of lanterns and stars high above us. An invisible breeze makes her shiver and snuggles closer. The iridescent Bond between us hums happily like we’re recharging it somehow. Deep within me, I feel the well of power fill to the brim.

The waves kiss the sand beyond the mouth of the cave, a soft hush beneath the glow of a thousand candles scattered around us.

“Thank you,” she whispers.

I kiss her cheek and pull away. I brought her here for a reason. It wasn’t to see the whales or to have decadent desserts in the middle of a cave under the night sky. Though I'd do this for the rest of my life if it made her happy. That’s all I want.

When I think back to the beginning of the school year, I prayed that somehow, I’d be the one who made her heart beat. That I'd be responsible for her smiles and her laughter, and now that I am, I plan on hearing it and seeing it as much as possible.

Raea once told me she hated the idea of Bonding because she felt out of control. That she hated the idea that we couldn’t choose who we married. I understood because back then, I would have done anything to win her hand. I would have taken her on dates and won her heart.

Thank the gods that my prayers were answered.

Steadying myself, I bow before her, extending my hand with the ring I had made, sitting in my palm.

Raea gasps and then covers her mouth with a hand while her eyes fill with tears. She’s already nodding, and I haven’t even said anything. I take her free hand in mine and notice the small tremors from my nerves. Suddenly, words feel too small for what’s sitting in my chest.

“Soraea.” Her name is a prayer and a plea combined. I clear the grit from my throat, forcing my voice to hold steady. “Princess.”

Her watery laugh cracks the air between us, and I swear I’ll chase that sound for the rest of my life.

“You once told me you envied the commoners,” I say softly, thumb tracing idle circles over her knuckles. “That they could choose who they loved, who they married. And every time our Bond pulled at you, every time it felt too much, you reminded me that choice was what you longed for most.”

She nods, breath trembling, and laces our fingers together.

“I told you before, but I want you to hear it now—here, with no crown, no prophecy, no destiny between us…” My chest tightens. “I chose you long before the Bond. Before I ever knew the stars had a plan for us, I was already yours. I have loved you from the shadows, from a distance I hated but could not close. And now, when every force in existence says I’m meant to love you, I need you to know I still choose to.”