Page 49 of Blood of the Stars

“Oh, love.” Iris shook her head, mistaking the reason for Aeliana’s pained expression. “You should have let me cut your hair.”

CHAPTER 20

The boat rocked, the light sway more natural to Orra than the heaviness of walking on land. A salty breeze left strands of short dark hair blocking her view, but it was too soon to see Bamboo Island against the rising Sun anyway. She closed her eyes to assess its place in the world by feel instead of sight. The sliver of magic needed was an extravagance when it had once been like breathing.

Her body was still weak from her efforts to trace the arrow across the barrier. She couldn’t regret singing the priestess to sleep, but she still paid for that choice. It could take weeks to get her energy stores back to the level they’d been. If they could even be replenished. Every year, she faded a little more.

Out of habit, Orra ran her fingers over the braid at her wrist, the smooth hairs a reassurance even though they represented her greatest loss. She still remembered how it had thrummed even though the sensation had died down to a slight tingle against her skin. She’d only felt that thrum a handful of times in her life. Each time, it had led her to a new piece she’d lost, and each time, she lost it again. Now that the golden arrow had been used, it could be hundreds of miles away, or it could still be on the tiny island that grew closer as the Sun rose higher. Its power was too dim to sense.

She’d have to use the girl. She was grateful she could use her. She’d sensed her connection to the girl’s blood, but she couldn’t let that truth matter. The golden arrow mattered more.

The arrow would always matter more.

CHAPTER 21

Gaeren watched Orra perch on the prow of the boat, eyes closed as she played with the blond braid she wore as a bracelet. Her own dark hair fluttered around her cheeks, the short strands caught by the wind. Even her skin seemed a shade darker, as if being on the water brought renewed health.

There was an unnatural quality to the way she stood, leaning forward as if she might dive over the edge at any moment, and yet her balance never faltered as her skirt tangled around her legs. He was surprised Lenda hadn’t given her a nicer gown to wear, more so Lenda wouldn’t have to bear the out-of-date peasant look. But maybe Lenda was too… preoccupied.

Sometime during the night, she’d given in to her seasickness, refusing to leave her quarters and not letting anyone except her maid, not even Orra, by her side. It was a relief for Gaeren to not have to address their bond, but without Lenda, Orra’s strangeness became more apparent, leaving the men more unsettled.

They eyed her warily as they worked, whispering amongst themselves. Gaeren stepped to the middle of the quarterdeck until the main mast blocked his view of her trance-like state. Perhaps he was as superstitious as the men, but pretending she wasn’t on board made his shoulders loosen and his stance relax.

“Will she come back with us from Bamboo Island?” Larkos asked, his hand on the wheel of the ship.

“Doubtful.” Gaeren glanced at his first mate, whose curiosity was only apparent in the slight narrowing of his eyes. “Depends on what happens when we reach it. I expect she’ll part ways with us there.”

Gaeren ran his thumb over the daisy on his dagger, relishing its solid weight and reminder of his goal.

“You have no idea what you’re doing.” Larkos laughed, the star-shaped tattoos near his eyes crinkling in a dance. “How long has she had you doing her bidding? Was this entire voyage her idea and she roped you into offering your boat?”

“I only met her two nights ago.” The moment the words were out of Gaeren’s mouth, he regretted the admission.

Larkos’ eyebrows nearly reached his hairline. “Two nights ago? Then she must have bewitched you into bringing her.”

Gaeren shrugged off the accusation. Any excuse he gave would only confirm such a theory. Besides, he wasn’t entirely sure that she hadn’t used magic to persuade him. He still questioned the sanity of bringing her on board.

“There’s something I lost,” he finally said. “She knows how to find it. If I hadn’t brought her, she would have hunted it down for herself. She might have beaten me to it.”

“Nothing’s faster than Starspeed,” Larkos scoffed, his grip on the wheel tightening. Gaeren’s mind tuned in to his own memories, honing in on the way Orra had looked dead, hunched over his desk. The way life had suddenly infused her. He was no longer sure of anything, least of all Starspeed’s ability to beat a woman with mysterious magic to Bamboo Island.

He didn’t want to answer any more of Larkos’ prying questions. In fact, he needed to get his own questions answered. As he made his way across the deck and back up to the bow of the ship where Orra still balanced, he debated if he would lose face by speaking to the woman on the ship or gain ground by showing a lack of fear. Either way, it was too late. The men had all watched his approach, and backing down now would make him look like a fool.

“Are you able to sleep standing?” he asked.

She smiled softly, opening her eyes. “Who could sleep with the Sun’s light on them?”

Gaeren paused, squinting toward the rising Sun. Perhaps she was still weak, but he didn’t think so. She must be as devout as their priest for a phrase like that to leave her lips without a hint of a mocking tone.

“When we reach the island, what will you do?” His heart beat faster at the question, unsure what he hoped her answer would be. If she wanted to use the starbridge, he would be willing to give it up for Daisy. But what if she was also looking for the girl?

She leaned forward, eyes on the water where it parted for Starspeed to cut through. “I can sense things better on land.”

He waited for a real answer, but she kept her eyes on the foam, oblivious to his impatience. “Will you use it if we find it?”

She stiffened, then pulled herself away from the boat’s edge to face him. “Use what?”

He hesitated, wondering again if they really were looking for the same thing. She’d said it was a starbridge, maybe something more. “Aren’t you wanting to cross the barrier?”

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