Page 121 of Blood of the Stars

“I want to stop Mayvus,” he said.

Daisy held his gaze as the others around them gathered their weapons, their eyes still glancing toward the sky. Sylmar hobbled between Gaeren and Daisy, taking in their stand-off.

“Do you have armies to help us?” Daisy asked.

“Maybe,” he lied.

She rolled her eyes and turned to the other man, slapping his hand away from her arm. “I’m fine. It’s just a scratch.” Then she turned to Sylmar, effectively dismissing both Gaeren and her guardian. “Will Mayvus know we removed his brand?”

Sylmar nodded, also turning his back on Gaeren, whose mouth swung open. Even in Enla’s meetings, when she held everyone’s attention, he was never ignored.

“So on top of knowing we were headed this way, she now knows we’ve arrived?” Daisy crossed her arms over her chest with a frown. “Is it still safe to use the Pass?”

“It was never safe.” Sylmar’s gravelly words were barely decipherable.

“But is it even realistic?”

Sylmar hesitated, and Gaeren found his in.

“I have a ship,” he blurted out. The others turned his way, the surprise on their faces almost insulting, like they’d already forgotten he was there. “We could take the road to Elanesse and board my ship to sail across the Northern Sea right up to Mayvus’ back door.”

Daisy stepped around Sylmar, her eyes finally alight with interest. If nothing else, he kept talking to see the green gleam he’d been envisioning all these years.

“While we’re there, I might be able to convince my sister to send troops with us. She won’t stand for Mayvus’ attack on an innocent town.”

“You’re offering a potential fleet to go after Mayvus?” Sylmar’s voice rose, his face as angry as ever. Somehow Gaeren suspected he was more interested than irritated.

“I can guarantee safe passage for eight to ten of you. And yes, maybe a small fleet.” He was even starting to convince himself. His parents and Enla couldn’t ignore what had happened. Mayvus had led a direct attack on a city in their kingdom. It couldn’t go unpunished.

“And what about the warrant for Aeliana’s arrest?” Sylmar asked.

Gaeren shrugged. “I’ll find out what it’s for. But my family doesn’t need to know she’s involved. They’ll be responding to an attack on the city of Islara, that’s all.”

“What’s in it for you?” Sylmar asked.

“Protection from Mayvus is what’s best for the people of Elanesse, for all of Vendaras. Our goals align.” Gaeren cocked his head, aware that his motivation sounded too noble for their opinion of him. “I’ll want the starbridges too.”

Daisy let out a huff and muttered something under her breath.

Gaeren smiled and shrugged. Being an ambassador instead of a throne warden still sounded good, but he was starting to wonder if the better plan was to collect them all for Orra. To see why she needed all four. But he was fine letting the others think he was on another silly treasure hunt.

Daisy’s guardian slipped his hand in hers.

Gaeren’s breath hitched as he saw their matching blood red marks slide together like a puzzle, the squeezing motion of their hands directly transferring to his chest. The man was her bondmate, then. It shouldn’t have surprised Gaeren. He’d seen the mark of a bond back when she was a toddler.

His own mark itched again, and he rubbed at it in irritation.

“When you use the golden arrow to go to Lorvandas,” Daisy said, “I want you to take Cyrus with you.”

Gaeren raised his eyebrows, glancing at her bondmate.

“Not me,” the man said. “The human she brought over with her. Long red hair, priest’s garb.”

Gaeren glanced back toward their camp even though he couldn’t see the man they spoke of from this distance. The one who’d practically worshiped Orra. Did humans worship the Stars like witches? “You want me to take him back?”

“Safely.” Daisy’s response came out like a warning, and it stung. It appeared she trusted him as little as he now trusted her.

“You have my word.”

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