Page 153 of Blood of the Stars

She hushed him again, bending forward to reassure him, but a commotion at the edge of camp startled her. She turned and squinted, taking in the welcome sight of Gaeren atop a horse. “Gaeren’s here. He’ll be able to give you memories in the morning.”

Felk let out a sigh, then went so still she thought he might already be gone, but it was too soon, and his chest rose and fell with shallow breaths.

She rose to greet Gaeren, who had dismounted and was already surrounded by Holm, Sylmar, Velden, and Lukai. His concerned frown and weary eyes seemed to spread through the group as she worked her way to his side.

“Sylmar was right.” He wouldn’t hold Aeliana’s gaze, and her stomach tightened. “My parents have a warrant out for Aeliana’s arrest.” The pain in his voice sent a jolt through her.

“They know I’m a Wyndren.” She kept her voice even, but he’d known too. And he didn’t hold it against her.

Gaeren nodded, still looking everywhere but at her. “They’ve also aligned themselves with Mayvus.”

Lukai inhaled sharply, placing a hand on her arm as if to keep her from getting any closer to the bearer of bad news.

“That doesn’t make any sense.” Sylmar’s frown bunched his scars.

Aeliana’s mind raced. This changed things. It would change things for Sylmar’s plans. And it would have to change things for Gaeren, wouldn’t it?

“Did you tell them about Islara?” Velden asked.

The skin around Gaeren’s mouth grew tight. “They already knew.”

Aeliana studied Gaeren. The croak of frogs and chirrup of crickets filled the night air, but she waited for him to look at her. When he finally did, his expression was raw, his shame laid bare between them.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

He scoffed. “What are you sorry for? My parents?—”

“I’m sorry they’ve put you in such a terrible position.”

He swallowed hard and looked away.

“I’m sorry they’ve disappointed you.”

His nod was stiff, and she held back the rest of her words, worried she was misreading the situation—worried she’d read it far too right. He’d have to make a clean break from his family or the Recreants. He couldn’t fight against Mayvus without fighting against his family.

She wanted to reach out and squeeze his hand. To ask him about Enla. To find something he could hold on to after such a deep cut. But Iris’ words about him interfering with her bond still rang in her ears, and Lukai’s hand still held her arm.

“I vowed to protect you long before I knew who you were.” Gaeren said the words like they were an apology. “At first I thought your identity changed things. But it doesn’t. Not really.”

“You can’t have it both ways,” she whispered, but the words felt loud.

“I know.” He stood a little taller, turning to face Sylmar and Velden, even as his eyes flicked back to Aeliana. “I’ve come here to commit treason. I may not have a fleet, but I’m offering to take you all to the Northern Sea, not as the Prince of Elanesse, but as the Captain of Starspeed.”

“Everyone knows they’re one in the same,” Sylmar said, but he stroked his beard thoughtfully.

“True.” Gaeren frowned. “I’ll probably have to change my ship’s name. Maybe paint her. On the plus side, I can grow a beard and get a tattoo. Find a good pirate name. Have any suggestions?”

His lip quirked up in his familiar smirk, and Aeliana couldn’t help smiling back. “Maybe Gaeren the Vain or Braggart Brownbeard?”

He put a hand to his chest in mock pain. “You wound me.” He took in everyone behind her, and something shifted in his eyes. He hesitated before turning to Sylmar. “I understand if you don’t want the added complication of a prince committing treason.”

Sylmar’s shoulders lifted. “Kendalyhn can sift your soul again.” He moved away to find her.

Aeliana stepped closer to Gaeren. “What will you accomplish by going against your family? By joining our cause? What do you want from all this?” She couldn’t help the curious questions, but she hoped he couldn’t sense her eagerness.

“The same thing I’ve always wanted.” This time, his eyes bore into hers with confidence and a strange warmth she hadn’t seen before. She tried remembering what he’d wanted, what Kendalyhn had seen when she’d sifted his soul the first time. Did he want to protect her? To find the starbridge? To go against Mayvus? All those options meant his loyalties lay with them, but for some reason she needed that distinction. For some reason, it mattered.

Sylmar returned with Kendalyhn, who stepped up to Gaeren and held out her open palms. He sighed, then handed his horse’s reins to Aeliana and placed his hands in Kendalyhn’s, screwing up his face as if he were the one needing to sift through her soul instead of the other way around.

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