River’s heart swelled. She leapt to her feet, crossed the room, and launched herself in the air. Ryker stood and caught her in a bone-crushing hug.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” She clung to him. “That means more to me than you could ever know.”
Already, River felt like a burden had been lifted from her shoulders.
It’s not that she needed Ryker’s blessing—after all, they didn’t live in the old fae courts, where women were traded like property, controlled by their fathers or brothers—but she wanted it.
After that, the air lightened.
River got her much-needed cup of coffee before retaking her seat beside Nikhail, and the conversation shifted as the others chatted about work. River listened, amused, as Atlas shared about an incident in his biology class last week.
One of his students, an Earth Elf, had apparently made quite a mess of things, trying to draw forth their magic. Vines and roots overtook the classroom, turning over tables and knocking over safety equipment, glassware, and several expensive pieces of equipment. It took most of the week to return the classroom to normal.
Afterward, the conversation shifted. Ryker and Nikhail chatted about their jobs—in general, vague terms, of course.
“You good?” Nikhail whispered in her ear.
“Yeah.”
He swept his thumb down the back of her hand. “You’re happy?”
“I am.” She glanced over her shoulder. “This is nice, and I’m enjoying it. It’s so… normal.”
There was no mention of being broken or cursed or hated, nor did anyone call River a disappointment. It felt easy in a way that not many things had lately, and she could see herself enjoying many more conversations like this in the future.
Later, after Atlas excused himself to grade papers in his bedroom, Ryker met River’s gaze from across the room.
“I have a question for you,” he said, fidgeting with his phone. “And you certainly don’t need to answer right now, but I’d appreciate it if you thought it over.”
Well, that sounded ominous.
“Okay,” River replied, drawing the word out slowly.
“Brynleigh and I were wondering if you wanted to return to the farmhouse.”
Nikhail tensed behind River, but he didn’t speak. A soft sigh exited River’s chest. “Oh.”
“We know you’re safe with Atlas and Nik, but we’d love to have you back. It’s so quiet without you.” Ryker’s mouth twitched up. “Marlowe misses you, too.”
River drew her lip ring into her mouth and tugged on it, the pain gently grounding her.
On one hand, River would love nothing more than to do just that. She’d forgiven Ryker, after all, and she adored her sister-in-law. Not only that, but she felt comfortable in the farmhouse. At home, in a way that she never had in her parents’ house.
But on the other hand, there was Nikhail. The thought of leaving the air fae, even to go be with Ryker and Brynleigh, had River’s heart aching in her chest.
Silence expanded, seeming to get heavier with each passing moment. She could feel the weight of Nikhail’s and Ryker’s attention as they both waited for her response. Neither would push her, she knew this, and somehow that made making the decision even worse. She didn’t want to hurt either of them.
“I… I’m not sure,” River said after a minute had passed. “I’ll think about it, though.”
A frown skated across Ryker’s lips. It was gone as quickly as it appeared, but River was certain she’d seen it. River hated that she was hurting him, even though she knew in her heart that this was the right call. She had to think about herself, right? Had tochoose the things that made her happy, that helped the clouds part and let her see the stars.
And right now, that was Nikhail.
She had a growing suspicion that he wouldalwaysbe the one who allowed her to see the stars, if she let him.
River crossed the room, sitting next to her brother. Their knees touched, and she sighed. “I’m sorry, Ryker.”
“You don’t have to apologize.”