…
A drizzly bear.
He added all the bear and rain emojis he could find, hoping they would put a smile on her face, and sent the message.
Less than a minute later, she replied.
Thank you for the laugh, Nik. I needed that.
She added a slew of emojis, including a few he didn’t recognize, and his fingers flew over the keyboard as he responded. They chatted the entire trip to the hotel, staying far away from heavy topics as he attempted to lift her spirits. By the time his taxi pulled up and he got out, he felt lighter than before.
Not better, because he was alone, but less angry. It meant something that even when River was having a horrible night, she talked to him. It was a privilege he didn’t take lightly.
Their steady stream of conversation kept him company as he brushed his teeth, hopped in the shower, and climbed into bed. River seemed more relaxed by the time his head landed on the pillow. Less tense, and more like herself. Had she gotten something to eat? Gods, he hoped so.
That night, as Nikhail drifted off into a restless sleep, he made a vow: They wouldn’t keep their relationship secret much longer. It was too stressful, and it wasn’t fair to River.He wasn’t sure that the Waterborn matriarch would continue harassing her daughter if she knew she was with him, but he’d like to see her try.
River was his, and he would protect her from everyone, including her family, if necessary.
CHAPTER 31
The Gods are Here
It isn’t fair that Nikhail is so gods-damned handsome.
That was the thought that kept running through River’s mind while she waited for the bonding ceremony to begin. She sat primly in her chair, thanks to years of training. The air fae was across the aisle from her, and River was trying—and failing—to keep her eyes on the currently vacant dais at the front of the room.
They were in the smaller of the two ballrooms in Waterborn House, the one her mother reserved for special occasions. Even as a young girl, River had understood that the residence was a ridiculous size, as it only housed four people.
After meeting Ember and hearing about the plight of the unhoused and impoverished in the Southern Region, River thought it was downright wasteful. If she owned Waterborn House, she’d sell it and donate all the proceeds to helping those in need.
But it wasn’t her home, and this wasn’t her day. At least the room was being used today.
Guests dressed in their finest outfits filled neat rows ofrented chairs. Black-out curtains covered the windows, but the room was still well lit. Red and black roses were strategically placed throughout the space, and the decorations were elegant but not overstated.
River barely took note of those, though. She only had eyes for Nikhail.
The handsome air fae was always put together, but he’d stepped things up to another level today. He looked like a model ready to walk the catwalk during Golden City Fashion Week, with his tailored black suit and gleaming shoes. His dark hair was perfectly styled, calling for her to run her hands through it. His arms were bent, resting on his knees as he casually chatted with Atlas and Therian, who sat on either side of him.
Seeing Nikhail at ease and surrounded by his friends was far more attractive than it had any right to be. Power emanated from him even now, as if it couldn’t stay away from him. River would be lying if she said it didn’t speak to her and her magic.
Just being near Nikhail calmed her more than anything else ever had. Even her morning jaunt to Isolation Lake through the fresh layer of snow hadn’t done nearly as much to soothe her magic as being close to the air fae did.
At the lake earlier, she’d let out all her frustrations and fears about what was to come. Between Tertia’s comments at dinner last night and her father’s continued state, her magic had been turbulent this morning.
Nikhail turned his head, his amber eyes catching hers. A smile stretched across his lips, and he wiggled his fingers, waving at her. The action was so carefree that she smirked and waved back.
After what they’d shared in the library and solarium, this simple greeting didn’t feel like enough. She wanted to cross theaisle and sit with him, but she couldn’t do that yet. It wouldn’t be fair to spring their relationship on Ryker in public. The least they could do was talk to him in private, give him time to adjust to the idea of her and Nikhail together before they told anyone else.
River shivered at the thought. How had she gone from thinking that Nikhail would leave her yesterday to pondering how best to make their relationship public? In a way, it felt like they were moving fast, but in her soul, it just felt… right.
She believed Nikhail when he said that her curse didn’t scare him, that he wanted to be with her regardless of how dangerous she was. Maybe it was stupid, or maybe it was because of the way his presence soothed her magic, but she wanted what he was offering—a chance not to be alone.
Fabric rustled beside River as the scent of vanilla wafted towards her. She yanked her gaze from Nikhail before her mother could catch her looking at the air fae, studying the front of the room instead. A cellist sat on the edge of the dais, bow in hand. She was human, judging by the curve of her ears, and she wore a modest, black, long-sleeved evening gown that pooled at her feet.
The real centerpiece of the setup was a bigger version of the arch that had been present at Icar and Myan’s bonding ceremony. Covered in the same roses as the rest of the room, it was dark and beautiful—perfect for Ryker and Brynleigh. They’d arrive soon, and the ceremony would begin.
Not soon enough, River thought morosely as her mother’s vanilla scent grew stronger.