Page 74 of A Thread of Breath and Bone

The rest of the guards and Ezra stay close as I hand out the next blanket. I pull my hood back up, but the damage is done. Prisms are already out and someone in line is taking a photo. I almost feel bad for Cassia.

After an hour, the line thins, and I know I should probably head back to the palace. Before I can find a replacement for my task, I feel the energy in the air shift and my Bond hums excitedly pulling a breathy laugh from me. I look over my shoulder and find sapphire eyes watching me from across the courtyard.

He’s here.

My Bond pulls so hard it’s almost painful, like something inside me is stretching toward him without permission. Three days shouldn’t feel like this. Three days shouldn’t feel like starvation. I feel the heat rise on my cheeks as I pull my gaze away and focus on the man in front of me. When the line runs out, I sigh with relief.

Ezra follows me to the transport, where Ryker and Trysten are waiting. With no one else around, I run and jump straight into his arms. He catches me easily, like he’s been bracing for it, and for a heartbeat, we both forget where we are. His hands slide up my back, firm, grounding—and he exhales like he’s been holding his breath since Malaya. Storms over the ocean, warm sandalwood, and that distinctly Ryker scent wraps around me, grounding me—the scent of home.

“If Ezra clears his throat,” Ryker murmurs against the skin of my neck, “I’m ignoring him.”

I snort against his collarbone. “If Ezra clears his throat, he’s dead.”

He holds me to him for long minutes, both of us inhaling deeply as our Bond settles for the first time in days. Gods, this separation is becoming torture.

“Hi, Princess,” Ryker says, his breath tickling my sensitive skin.

I squeeze him tighter before letting him set me down.

“Raea,” Trysten bows.

I reach over and give him a hug. I’ve missed him, too. “I’m glad you’re here.” It’s only been a few weeks since I've seen him, but the amount of tattoos covering his arms has me gaping like an idiot. “Did you get more tattoos?”

Trysten snorts softly. “Nah, not right now.”

“Well, I'm happy to see you.”

“Not me?” Ryker asks before chuckling.

I roll my eyes and lean back into him, letting his arms wrap around me. I didn’t know it was possible to miss him like I have. I’ve been keeping busy and ignoring the ache in my body, but now that he’s here, it’s apparent how much I've been ignoring it.

“Princess, we should return to the castle,” Ezra says. He opens the door, and Ryker helps me up, finding a seat beside me.

“I’m always glad to see you,” I hum, closing my eyes and leaning into him as the transport lifts off, carrying us up to the palace. His thumb traces the bare skin at my wrist, subtle but possessive, like he needs to remind himself I’m real.

“Princess.” One of the Regils stops before us as we enter the palace. “A message for you. Ordered to be hand-delivered as soon as you arrived back.”

I nod, accepting the folded and sealed letter. The seal has an EK in it. “It’s from Elison,” I say to Ryker, holding up the paper.

“Holy shit!” Ciara squeals as she comes running for us. Tate isn’t far behind her. “Trysten!” Ciara jumps and launches herself at Trysten, nearly taking him out. I had no idea they were that close.

Trysten lets out a surprised laugh and hugs her before shaking hands with Tate and pulling him for a rough pat on the back. “Didn’t know you were both here.”

“Do you guys mind showing Trysten around? He can pick any room near us. I need to handle something.”

Ryker looks down at the letter in his hand and then apologizes to Trysten, telling him we’ll see them later. We both take the stairs to my rooms, shutting ourselves inside. Mera is somewhere busying herself, but I'm not worried about her overhearing us.

“Why do you think it had to be hand-delivered?” I ask, dropping onto one of the stuffed sofas.

Ryker sits beside me and pulls me between his legs until I'm resting against his chest. He takes my hand, lifts it, and inspects the ring on my finger. “You’re wearing it.”

I playfully slap him. “Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I?”

Both of his arms tighten around me as he inhales, burying his face in my hair. “Gods, I’ve missed you.”

I do the same, leaning back and inhaling, closing my eyes a moment to feel the well within me refill. Our Bond floats around us, wrapping us in a cocoon. I step onto the invisible bridge that tethers us and walk to where the thick mist still blocks the center. I press my hand into it, then my face, feeling the coolness of it as if I were physically there.

Ryker shudders. “What are you doing?”