Page 187 of Blood of the Stars

Wetness clung to the winex’s cheeks, and he leaned forward, pulling Gaeren into a hug. “Sorry,” he mumbled, then pulled back, awkwardly rubbing his arms and staring at the forest floor.

His face turned more serious than Gaeren ever remembered seeing it, his intelligence far more than it had been when Gaeren had known him. It seemed strange considering the winex couldn’t retain their memories, but what if they retained other learned things?

Gaeren glanced over at Marnok, who was possibly the only one not staring at the strange scene before them. The older man’s gaze remained intent on the fire, his brow furrowed. He didn’t have memories, but he had instinctive knowledge along with general facts. What if their memory loss worked the same?

“I think my clan might have already made enemies.” Felk let out a small whine, like a dog on a scent, bringing Gaeren’s attention back to the winex, whose wide eyes glanced around the camp, taking in the frightened faces of those huddled around nearby fires. “And I’m not talking about these people.”

“So you think,” General Nels muttered.

Gaeren glared at the general, then steered Felk and Daisy away from the rest of the camp’s prying eyes. This cycle, Felk even walked more like a man, though his hands still had calloused palms like he spent just as much time using the winex lope. They settled near a copse of trees that was mostly in shadow. An eerie glow came from Felk’s skin—the reflected moonlight like a small light on their path. To Gaeren’s annoyance, the general followed, probably to eavesdrop more than provide protection.

“What happened since you left us?” Daisy asked. “It feels like a lot when it’s only been five days.”

“We met up with a few other clans,” Felk said. “There’s a witch in the east who sends her men out to hunt. They kill for sport but gather our blood for the witch.”

“Your blood?” Daisy’s eyebrows knitted together as she worked her lower lip.

“But you don’t have starblood,” Gaeren said. Then, because nothing would surprise him anymore, he added, “Do you?”

Felk shook his head. “Not that I know of. She mixes our blood with some potion. We heard men talking about how it has regenerative properties. It restores life.”

Daisy’s gaze flicked to Gaeren’s.

“That’s not possible,” Gaeren said, even as he wondered if it could be. What was it about the winex that made them cycle each moon? They were like perennial flowers or, well… the moon. Gaeren couldn’t think of much else that functioned the same way. What if it was something in their blood, something that Mayvus could harness and use to renew a body?

“It heals people?” the general asked. “Or raises them from the dead?”

Felk shrugged. “We only hear the soldiers talk. One claimed it brought him back, but another said the man had just been drunk, not dead.” His eyes closed to slits, and he leaned back for another laugh. Daisy and Gaeren covered their ears, but the general was too slow. His eyes lost their focus, and he stared past the tree surrounding them.

“Do you remember that we were traveling east to find Mayvus?” Daisy asked.

Felk nodded. “I assume she’s the witch.”

“It’s a good description,” Gaeren said with a grin.

Daisy elbowed him before turning back to Felk. “I can’t guarantee we’ll stop her, but?—”

“You can’t tell him anything,” the general said, finally pulling himself from his stupor. He shifted and stood taller, elbowing his way between Daisy and Felk, who growled.

“I’ll tell him anything I please.” Daisy’s voice took on an edge that made Gaeren’s smile widen.

“It’s not your decision. The war effort is being run by the Recreants, and I’ll not have you putting all my soldiers in harm’s way because you assume your pet is loy—” His words cut off with an undignified scream as Felk lifted him by his waist and set him aside with minimal effort. The winex’s sinewy muscles bulged in the moonlight, yet another way in which he’d changed from the last time Gaeren had seen him.

“Our clan has been tracking her soldiers. They take the blood in through a side entrance. Part of an old dungeon system to remove dead bodies. They’ve even taken a few of our winex in there alive.” Felk’s teeth ground together, the noise putting Gaeren on edge. “We suspect she bleeds them, but it’s also possible she plans to breed them.”

“Have you tried going in after them?” Gaeren asked.

“Of course not,” the general said from behind Felk. “Because the information he’s giving you is a setup for a trap.”

Felk turned so fast the general jumped back. “I’m not lying,” the winex ground out.

Daisy grabbed his arm. “Ignore him.”

“We all do,” Gaeren added.

Felk turned back and shook his head again. He blinked several times, and at first Gaeren thought the creature was trying to regain control from his anger, but then the winex wiped a tear from his eye. “We haven’t gone in yet. The risk is too great. But they have Lilik.”

Gaeren glanced at Daisy, who seemed just as lost.

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