Page 157 of Blood of the Stars

Gaeren’s mouth went slack. Enla had wanted him to break his bond? The idea was both unthinkable and strangely appealing—absolute freedom that would come with terrible suffering. He doubted it would be as painful for him as it had been for Enla, but the guilt would eat away at him. If that was what Enla had wanted, she could have been more specific with her instructions. He clamped his jaw back down, the memories of her pain flooding his mind. He wasn’t sure he could put Lenda through that anyway. Besides, how would freedom from Lenda change anything?

“Now I don’t—I don’t know.” She placed her hands at her temples, the crease on her brow deepening. “The paths split and…” She buried her face in her hands.

“Did you help Aeliana? Or are you sending soldiers to the pass? I need to know if you sent her to her death.” He couldn’t stop the tremble rising in his voice. “If I just helped you send her to her death.”

She rubbed her palms over her face, smoothing out her features and regaining her queenly serenity. But her eyes remained haunted, focused somewhere past even the Stars. “I already sent soldiers. I had to. If your people don’t know how to wait them out, it’s for the best. The alternatives are far worse.”

Gaeren clenched his jaw. He’d get nothing more from his sister. He rode ahead, as irritated with himself as he was with Enla.

By the time they returned to the palace, the faint glow of the Sun’s morn lit the sky. Felk had likely just been reborn. He smiled at the thought of the tiny silver baby snuggled in Daisy’s arms. While she ran toward Elanesse soldiers.

Gaeren’s smile fell.

He tried not to imagine being aboard Starspeed, sailing out of the harbor with Daisy and Orra and the others as his crew. It had felt so right when he and Larkos made plans. But now he no longer knew what lay ahead.

CHAPTER 63

A smile tugged at the edge of Orra’s lips as they reached the hidden pass. They’d had to hide and wait two days and a night for the soldiers guarding the pass to return to Elanesse. But now the gentle sounds of night life shifted to the morning raucous of a new day, joined by Felk’s childish antics. A large rock in the shape of a wing stretched out from the mountain, obscuring their view of the pass. But once they drew closer, they’d find the chipped feather and the tight opening. Then they’d have to remove packs for the horses to fit, probably blindfold them to convince them the trail led to safety.

“There,” Velden called, his voice more whisper than shout. He ran ahead, peering beneath the rock’s edge for the promised opening. The others followed, weariness replaced by eager anticipation.

It had been smart of Gaeren to suggest the pass. Or maybe smart of Enla. The young queen’s motives still weren’t clear, and Orra hadn’t been close enough to test them. Regardless, the pass would give them a chance. Orra hadn’t used it since its creation. Had forgotten its existence. Funny how things like that could slip someone’s mind over time. It was almost noble how Gaeren had given them directions even while knowing his part of the journey had come to an end.

Not that they’d needed directions. Orra could have found it in the dark of night.

For now, they would be safe thanks to Gaeren’s sacrifice. He was growing into the role he was meant to have, stretching the limits of what he was told to be, who he thought he was. He might not lead Orra to the arrow, but he would be back. He might even use the starbridges to make the world bigger.

Orra twisted the braid on her wrist. Letting him use the starbridges for the good of the people could slow down her plans, but maybe that was for the best, for now. “It might be what you would have wanted,” she murmured. “It might be what the Sun wants.”

At that moment the Sun broke through the trees, shining down on Orra with a beam so brilliant it left her breathless. She dropped to her knees, tilting her face up to its warmth. It had been so long since she’d felt the Sun’s acceptance, its approval. But it had been equally long since she’d truly sought it. Prayers on behalf of others was one thing, but submission to a will that was not her own… that had become harder the longer she’d been grounded.

Orra stood, taking her place at the back of the line to walk Walnut through the pass.

The future was changing faster than she could keep up with, something that was both alarming and refreshing. Aeliana continued to be a surprise, making choices Orra couldn’t have anticipated, hadn’t thought to search. For once, Orra lived in the moment, viewing the people around her as more than stones or ripples in time. They weren’t just the historical figures of the future she sought—they were closer to companions and friends, something she hadn’t allowed herself in ages. Something she hadn’t dared to find since she’d lost her last bondmate.

Horses whinnied their impatience, and the sounds of packs being shuffled around echoed through the wing’s small cave.

Instead of readying for the pass, Aeliana’s gaze shifted back toward the swamps they’d left behind. “What if he comes back and we’re gone?”

He wouldn’t come back, but Orra knew those words would bring the girl no comfort. “He knew we’d come here. He’ll know where to look.”

Aeliana gnawed at her lip.

“He led Enla away to keep you safe.” Orra reached out, smoothing Aeliana’s hair like she was a child. “He’s still protecting you. Don’t let his sacrifice go to waste.”

Aeliana closed her eyes, and Orra imagined the words sinking in, the truth resting deep in Aeliana’s pores. The younger woman joined the others, her brow still furrowed as she chewed her lip.

Orra’s smile returned, her heart filling with a hope she hadn’t had in several generations.

Some bond marks ran far deeper than the skin.

CHAPTER 64

Over the next few weeks, Gaeren didn’t take a single step outside his room without the company of the guards. He recognized them as two of Enla’s, the handsome kind who were meant to make her look good even though they were also trustworthy to their core. Still, they were faithful to Enla, and instead of their presence putting him at ease for his safety, they made him wary of his own sister.

Despite spending most of their time in bed, his parents made time to lecture Gaeren over his impropriety, emphasizing that the safest thing for the people was to foster peace between nations, as if Mayvus’ new nation had always been something to consider during their reign.

The days blended together as Gaeren was forced to attend council meetings and put on a smile for visitors from the south. Any news from the east came with gifts from the new monarch, while Gaeren heard no more mention of Durriken or Islara.

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