Page 206 of Blood of the Stars

She shrugged. “We suspected, and then we had it confirmed.”

“Then why did you let me stay? Why did you let my parents bring Breck as a spy into your midst?”

Emeris sighed and glanced over Gaeren’s shoulder. He followed her gaze to see Jasperus holding out his palm while Daisy argued with Sylmar.

“We fed Breck several lies,” she finally said. “First to test him, then to weaken Mayvus. But I kept your identity a secret, even from Iris, especially once I saw how attached you grew to Aeliana. I was determined to protect you as much as her. Eventually Mayvus caught on.” She gestured around the room, her hand trembling. “Which is why it’s all come to this.”

Gaeren finally took in her odd mix of health and suffering. Soiled clothes and dirt under long nails hinted at days, if not weeks, without bathing, but his own battle sweat smelled too much to detect anything on her. Still, beneath the dirt she was well fed, her eyes bright. In all these years, Mayvus hadn’t broken her. Or maybe Mayvus hadn’t been willing to because she needed Emeris strong enough to use her.

Behind them, Jasperus groaned. Emeris took up the same cry, each holding their hand in front of them as they dropped to their knees. Jasperus’ forearm bubbled up black, making Gaeren wince. Emeris’ palm did the same, her mark mirroring Jasperus’.

He glanced at Daisy, who wrung her hands, eyes wide. He could practically see her calculating the amount of time she had left before the same mark started bubbling up on her hand. Only it could be a brand from Mayvus instead of Jasperus. She flinched as Lukai grabbed her hand and leaned in to whisper, stroking her hand with his own.

Gaeren turned away.

“Are you all mad?” Emeris croaked out, holding on to the wall as she tried to stand.

“I can sense her.” Jasperus’ voice came out pained. “It’s so strong. Like I’m having my Awakening all over again.”

Gaeren imagined the sensations he must be feeling, the rush of energy and its constant presence, a sense of insignificance in the midst of a newfound importance.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” Emeris whispered, her eyes unfocused.

“I can sense more than her, too. I can sense Mayvus.” Jasperus stood, wild eyes darting around the room as though looking for the nearest exit. “If I can sense her, she’ll sense me soon. She’ll know what we’ve done.”

“Command Emeris to cut out her old brand,” Sylmar said. “Quickly.”

Emeris stood, eyes narrowing at Jasperus. She rushed at him, bare feet slapping on stone, arms outstretched. Gaeren reached for her arm to hold her back, but she slipped to the side and his fingers only grazed her sleeve. Her hands were on Jasperus’ neck before anyone could stop her, squeezing so hard Gaeren thought the old man’s neck might snap.

Sun’s fire, Mayvus didn’t waste any time.

Gaeren and Lukai each grabbed one of Emeris’ arms, pulling her grip back enough to let Jasperus gasp in breaths.

“Cut out…” He wheezed out the command. “Your old brand.”

She hesitated, and Gaeren and Lukai took the opportunity to wrestle her to the floor, pinning her down as she thrashed against them. Sylmar sat on her back, and Velden kneeled by her face.

“I’m sorry,” Velden said as he pulled out a knife and worked at her palm.

Her screams shifted from anger to pain, and blood pooled beneath her hand. Gaeren tried to imagine himself cutting a brand out of Daisy. It would be far better than killing her, but would it even be possible? It was taking four men to hold Emeris down, and that was with Jasperus already counteracting Mayvus’ brand.

Daisy had been right to ask for her death, but he still didn’t know if he could do it. He doubted he could even cut off her hand.

Before long, Emeris’ screams subsided, and Lukai wrapped his hands around her raw flesh. It felt like a waste to heal her now. They should be saving their magic for whatever was coming. But Daisy kneeled next to him, tears in her eyes as she thanked him.

Emeris’ gaze held fresh clarity, like she hadn’t just been possessed to kill the people around her. “I’m sorry,” she said, over and over, even as Cyrus passed over Emeris’ starlock and Daisy settled it around her mother’s neck.

“I don’t think Emeris can handle us cutting out Jasperus’ brand too,” Sylmar said. “Not tonight.”

Jasperus nodded his understanding. It would have made him less of a target, but it didn’t matter if he planned to brand Daisy anyway. Mayvus would just have two reasons to brand him instead of one. Sylmar would have two reasons to kill him instead of one.

Gaeren didn’t look toward Daisy, afraid his face would give away his doubt in his ability to follow through on his promise.

Gaeren released Emeris’ other arm, awkwardly standing by as she and Daisy hugged once more.

Where was Mayvus? And where was Daisy’s blood?

He peered out the broken wall, examining the fight below. Most of the people he saw were fallen, the fields surrounding the fortress oddly empty. Had Mayvus’ entire army chased the pirates and Recreants into the woods? He squinted at the battlements, wondering if his eyes were tricking him. Was that… Riveran? The man disappeared back inside the building, but Gaeren felt even more certain as he thought about the X he’d seen on the man’s forehead.

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