Page 27 of Blood of the Stars

Velden’s eyes widened. He reached for her hand, pulling her sleeve back to reveal the scars crisscrossing her palm, along with her current wound, which still oozed.

Aeliana surprised herself by being slow to cover the scars, unsure if she was still in shock over the events of the night or if she maybe wanted him to see. Wanted him to understand without her having to explain. But why didn’t he and Sylmar have the same scars as her?

Sylmar swore under his breath. “She’s been trained in blood magic.”

“How often do you draw your blood?” Velden asked.

“They took blood almost daily. Stored what they didn’t use.”

Velden and Sylmar exchanged a glance.

“She’ll need to be weaned,” Sylmar said.

Velden grimaced. “We don’t have time for that.”

“We’ll have to make time.”

“What are you talking about?” Aeliana asked, rising from the moss.

Distant shouts carried on the wind, and they all stiffened.

“We can’t stay here. It’s not safe.” Sylmar stood as well, leaning heavily on his staff, which now appeared solid again. “Come with us. We’ll have Lukai heal your friend. We can teach you about your magic. All the things Arvid and Vera probably left out.”

Velden nodded, then gripped Cyrus’ elbows to pull him to his feet. Something shifted between them, as if the motion brought Cyrus awake and made Velden tired. Like energy had been passed or shared between them. All three turned toward the forest, but Aeliana held her ground.

“Can you teach me how to get rid of my magic?” she asked.

Velden stilled, and Sylmar glanced back, squinting at Aeliana. “Get rid of it? Whatever for?”

“The magic in my blood…” She hesitated. “It’s done unspeakable things.”

Sylmar grunted his disagreement. “Arvid and Vera have done unspeakable things using your blood.”

He turned once more to lead them through the forest.

“I killed an entire family,” Aeliana blurted out.

Cyrus’ mouth dropped open, and she lowered her eyes.

“I ran from Arvid and Vera and hid in a barn, but the pain—I couldn’t take it. I used leeches to drain my blood, but it wasn’t enough. When I finally released my blood”—she shuddered—“the owners and their children…they were all dead.”

The repetitive call of an exotic bird was all Aeliana heard for several long moments.

“You remember killing them?” Sylmar asked.

Aeliana shook her head. “There are gaps in my memory. When the magic builds and finally releases… I’m not always in control.”

“You probably invited in dark spirits.” Sylmar’s voice held a rebuke.

“She didn’t know,” Velden said.

“It still makes the weaning process that much harder.” Sylmar studied her like a wild animal he debated putting down or trying to tame.

“What dark spirits?” Cyrus asked.

Sylmar ignored his question, turning back around. “You couldn’t have killed the farmer’s family without help,” he called over his shoulder as he resumed walking. “Not without a starlock.”

Aeliana pictured the barrel of trinkets she’d seen in the Stargazer, but she still didn’t know what they were. Even so, his words gave her pause. If her blood alone hadn’t killed the family, what had?

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