Page 117 of Blood of the Stars

“There are Recreants who would kill you just for being an Elanesse.”

Gaeren nodded slowly, his heart racing. “I’m hoping you’re pointing that out because you’re not one of them.”

They stared at each other for a long moment.

“Kendalyhn also says you have it out for Mayvus almost as much as we do.”

“I’ve been warning Enla about her for years. She’s a threat my family refuses to consider, like she’s too far away to be a concern and too holy to be a fraud. After seeing what she’s done here…” He waved his hand in the direction of Islara, his mind traveling through the hundreds of deaths he’d seen and relived. “And after learning she partakes in blood magic? I’m as committed as you are to removing Mayvus. She’s a threat to Loyalists as well, whether or not she’s a Wyndren.”

At least this much was true. He could say it with confidence. He could fight alongside these people to take down Mayvus, but after that? His stomach twisted like he might throw up. Hopefully he would have a better idea of what he was supposed to do then. Maybe even that was too much. Clearly Daisy didn’t need him. Maybe it was time to just… let her go.

His stomach churned at the thought.

Sylmar slowly nodded. “And what about the starbridges? Kendalyhn says you want those too.”

Gaeren shrugged. “Originally I wanted them to cross the barrier and find Daisy. Once she returned, I knew they’d still be valuable. I figured Enla might want them.” He clenched his jaw. He didn’t want this man to see him as a threat, but he wasn’t about to share his desire to be an ambassador, to potentially unite all the people groups of Rhystahn. It was exactly the kind of thing Sylmar would use to support his opinion of Gaeren as naive.

Sylmar coughed out some sort of laugh. “A treasure hunt?”

Gaeren nodded even though the description wasn’t accurate. At this point, seeing how organized the Recreants were made securing the starbridges less of a treasure hunt and more of a necessity. If they could all go after Mayvus, what would stop them from coming after the Elanesses next? As throne warden, having an escape option might be his only way to protect his family.

“Maybe I don’t need the starbridges anymore,” Gaeren said, “but after hunting them for the better part of a year, they’re still something I want. Orra wants them too, and I’m willing to work with her to find them.”

“Oh, I already know she wants them. She’ll probably use you to get them.” Sylmar’s gaze shot to Orra. “The question is… why?”

CHAPTER 48

Aeliana tried paying attention to Orra and Cyrus as Orra recounted Della’s last moments. She even rubbed Cyrus’ back as he relived his grief. But her attention kept straying to the prince as Kendalyhn invaded his mind the same way she’d invaded Aeliana’s and the dragon’s.

There was something vulnerable about the way he closed his eyes after Kendalyhn left, something disarming about the way he let Sylmar confront him.

Curiosity warred with irritation as she remembered the way he’d spoken of their childhood, the way he’d spoken of her. And then the way he’d so easily condemned the dragon to death. That last one fit more with the image she’d been given of the Elanesses.

“The starbridge isn’t here, is it?” Orra’s voice broke into Aeliana’s thoughts, and she turned her attention back to the other woman. The question had been directed at Cyrus, but his tears had started up again.

“No,” Aeliana said. “Arvid took it to Mayvus.”

Orra’s eyes slid shut, but she nodded her understanding. “She wishes to use them for power. To make the world smaller.”

Aeliana frowned. “I thought it was to keep it away from me. So I couldn’t go back.”

“Perhaps.” Orra shrugged. Beyond the clearing, Sylmar gathered Lukai and Holm, gesturing back toward Islara. Back toward Durriken.

“Thank you,” Cyrus said. “For everything.” He barely got the words out before he rushed away from the camp. Maybe it was worse that Orra had come. Maybe she’d torn his grief wide open again.

“Are you really a Star?” Aeliana had imagined them brighter, more powerful, then immediately worried her thoughts were blasphemous.

Orra’s gaze turned sharp. “I can’t take to the skies. I wouldn’t be a very good Star if I was one.”

It felt like a riddle. A non-answer. But before Aeliana could question her further, Kendalyhn joined them.

“You’re last,” Kendalyhn said, holding out a shaking hand for Orra. The younger woman’s eyes darted around the camp, and Aeliana supposed it might be nerve-wracking to try sifting through the soul of someone who might be a Star.

Gaeren stood nearby, probably within hearing distance. The corner of his lips lifted, more like he found Aeliana amusing than he was actually smiling at her.

“The other two are harmless,” Kendalyhn went on when Orra didn’t take her hand right away. “Turns out the criminal isn’t even very dangerous. He stole bread to feed his family. Not exactly a crime worthy of the traitor’s brand.”

Aeliana still watched Gaeren, and his face slackened with surprise at Kendalyhn’s words. His gaze sought out the man they’d called Riveran, and his brow furrowed. Good. Whatever disagreement those two were having could end his childish staring contest with Aeliana.

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