Blood Bond (The Stones of Terrene Chronicles Book 4), page 33
He held her hand for a long moment before bowing at the waist and kissing her hand. And then they were moving out in a whirlwind of media, military, and noise. All Raine wanted was a quiet room to herself to sob in.
He was alive. He was alive. He was here.
Did he recognize her? Was he hiding it, because he already guessed at the ramifications of showing up after so long and then acknowledging her as his betrothed? Or had he forgotten her, just like he’d lost his memories the first time he’d crossed the Void from Earth to Terrene?
Sara picked up on her distress easily enough, casting furtive glances over at Raine. Raine trailed behind them, forcing herself to breathe, smile, look like her world wasn’t on the brink of crumbling to ashes.
They got in the car the military had provided, the three of them in the backseat. Ben’s side pressed up against hers, and Raine had to press down the wish to curl into his familiar warmth.
Ben whispered to Sara, and Raine heard her sharp intake of air, then: “Driver, could you drop us off at the Eiffel Tower instead of home, please?”
The driver nodded, and Raine settled against the door, staring out the window blankly. If he didn’t remember her, what would she do? She’d move out of Sara’s apartment, give Sara and Ben the space to recuperate and catch up on the time they’d missed one another. As for herself … she’d have to figure out something else. Quick.
The rumbling motion of the car stopped, and Sara scrambled out of the car, Ben following.
He ducked back into the car, holding out his hand for Raine. “You coming with us?” She hesitated, and a familiar grin stole at his lips. “You trust me?”
The intonation, the lilt to his words …
She sucked in a breath and nodded wordlessly. Did he— he had to remember. There wasn’t any conceivable way he’d ask her that. Not as a stranger. She slid her hand into his, his fingers tightening around hers. He led her, Sara now trailing behind them, through the crowd of tourists and people gathered under the steel tower. He glanced back, his gaze pinpointed somewhere over her shoulder. He caught her eye and grinned.
Her stomach fluttered. That vague look wasn’t there now. Now he looked like himself. Like Ben. Her Ben.
He stopped directly under the center of the lattice worked metal. He didn’t let go of her hand. And this time, when he looked at her, it was with all the warmth and kindness and love that she’d missed.
“Raine.” He knelt, gripping her left hand, touching the diamonds in the ring with his thumb. “I’d dreamt of proposing here, but I didn’t want to wait while in Terrene. I spent the last two weeks wanting nothing more than to know if you were here, if you were safe, if you remembered me.”
“I did. I do,” she whispered, her mouth dry.
He remembered her. He remembered them.
Relief stamped out the brief sprout of irritation at how well he’d pretended to not recognize her. At the dread and fear she’d been reeling through.
A boyish grin stole over his features, as familiar as her own face in the mirror. “Forgive me as I ask again, even with you still wearing the ring. Will you marry me?”
A thousand emotions crashed into Raine, and she melted down into his arms, tears finally released from their dam. She would learn this world. She would adapt and overcome. She would never forget her roots, but here she would start a new life.
For this, she’d forgive. “Yes. A second time, a thousand times, yes.”
Ben leaned forward, his lips a whisper away. “I’m never leaving your side again.”
“I’ll hold you to that.” And she kissed him, finally, after so long, feeling like some little part of the world was right again.
The End
Map
Blood Bond Register
Abigail Hamade – Princess of Antius
Adeline Doldras/Jade Stohner – Princess of Doldra, mechanic on the Sapphire
Andre Catalina – Bodyguard and adviser to Prince Weston
Andrea Saroot – Christopher’s adopted sister, blood-bonded
Artemis Maheras – Tattoo artist and assistant to the doctor of the Hollows, deceased
Avery Kalanask – Coven leader, Elph, Videl’s uncle
Ben Dubray – Skyfarer, Void Born
Brandon Doldras – King of Doldra, former berserker
Briar Sasperil – Chef on the Sapphire
Christopher Saroot – Void Born soldier from Tastow
Elinora Stohner – Head of the Stohner Shipping Yards, grandmother to Adeline/Jade
Esther Monomi – Wife to Zebediah, Zak’s mother
Everett Windsor – Ruler of Aerugo and Proxy Ruler of Doldra, deceased
Finn DoPonce – Family friend of the Stohners, herbalist, and sage, Raine’s grandfather
Francene Whelan – Marchioness, Mistress of Pleasures, Weston’s ally
Fulton Almar - Master Enforcer, Commander, Elph
Garnet Stohner – Chief Liaison/Communications of the Sapphire, Slate’s twin sister
Geist Wolscar – Dragon hunter on the Sapphire
Kerlee Deckin – Dragon hunter on the Sapphire
Krista Cedrus – Mechanic on the Sapphire, Jade’s best friend
Lea Cassner – Coven leader, Elph
Lucio Perone – One of the Seven Sages, deceased
Michael Worthington – Mechanic on the Phoenix, husband to Rebecca Worthington
Niles Herrera – Head bodyguard for Prince Weston
Pamela Volpin – Void Born soldier from Tastow, Christopher’s friend
Pistoia Darst – Master engineer and Weston’s teacher
Raine DoPonce – Finn’s granddaughter, swordswoman, and Void Born
Rebecca Worthington – First mate on the Phoenix, sister to Samantha Stohner
Samantha Stohner – Captain of the Phoenix, wife to Slate, adopted mother to Jade
Sara Dubray – Sister of Ben Dubray
Sapphire Doldras – Wife to Brandon, deceased
Sephirn Kelbalar – Coven leader, Elph
Serena Fenickstale – Dragon hunter on the Phoenix
Slate Stohner – Former captain of the Sapphire, adopted father of Jade, deceased
Titus Dusing – General of the Hollows
Victor (Videl) Kalende – Former first mate on the Sapphire, traitor, Elph
Violet Windsor – Queen of Doldra and Aerugo
Weston Windsor – Lord of Aerugo
Zaborah Monomi – Third eldest of Zak’s siblings, Jade’s bodyguard
Zak Monomi – Combat Medic and Security Officer on the Sapphire, Jade’s husband
Zander Monomi – Zandra’s first born, deceased
Zandra Monomi – Second eldest of Zak’s siblings
Zane Monomi – Eldest of Zak’s siblings, deceased
Zebediah Monomi – Leader of the Monomi clan, Zak’s father
About the Author
During the day, Becky is a stay at home mom of two active little boys. When she has ‘free time’, she enjoys reading, writing, baking and sewing.
After many years of creative writing classes, writing fanfiction drabbles and daydreaming, it was high time to start writing her husband Mike's story. She dove into the world of Terrene and hasn’t looked back—except for when she runs out of dark chocolate.
Any free time not spent in Terrene is typically expended on hosting dinner and game nights, running amok with the two little monkeys or watching nerdy movies with Mike.
For updates,
behind-the-scenes posts,
giveaways, and new releases,
visit RJMetcalf.com
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter Fifty-Four
Chapter Fifty-Five
Chapter Fifty-Six
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Chapter Sixty
Chapter Sixty-One
Chapter Sixty-Two
Chapter Sixty-Three
Chapter Sixty-Four
Chapter Sixty-Five
Chapter Sixty-Six
Chapter Sixty-Seven
Chapter Sixty-Eight
Chapter Sixty-Nine
Chapter Seventy
Chapter Seventy-One
Chapter Seventy-Two
Epilogue
Map
Blood Bond Register
About the Author
RJ Metcalf, Blood Bond (The Stones of Terrene Chronicles Book 4)
