Page 65 of Blood of the Stars

The men shared a rueful smile.

“Speaking of bonds…” Thallahan angled his head toward the stern, and Gaeren turned to follow his gaze.

The cabin door swung wide, revealing Lenda’s silhouette as she stepped onto the deck. Gaeren’s heart picked up its pace as she moved into the lantern’s light. Her eyes brightened, and her hesitant smile deepened when she caught him studying her, but it was more like a winex reeling in its prey.

The rush he’d hoped to feel was gone as quickly as it had come without ever having reached a fraction of the euphoria he’d felt after his Awakening.

“I stand by my initial assessment,” Gaeren muttered to Thallahan. “I envy your freedom.”

CHAPTER 26

Gaeren made his way across the deck, gaze on Lenda. A quick glance at Orra revealed a matronly nod of approval, and he nearly laughed at the sailors’ assumptions about him. Two bonds. What would he do with two bondmates when he couldn’t handle one?

Lenda held out a hand.

He lifted it for a kiss, clenching his jaw at the way it made his heart pound. “You’re looking refreshed.”

Her face wilted slightly at his words, like she’d expected more of a compliment.

He tried again. “There’s a glow to your cheeks that was missing the last several days.”

This time she leaned into him, practically purring. “I think life at sea is finally starting to agree with me.”

“By the time we reach Bamboo Island, you’ll be swinging from the rigging.”

She glanced up, swallowing hard as she took in the full height of the main mast. “How about I conquer the sea on this trip and heights on the next?”

Her dry humor surprised and even enticed him, but there was an assumption of future trips together that left him sober. She was his future, whether he wanted her to be or not. He wasn’t sure why he fought the bond. Lenda was shallow, but she wasn’t cruel or hungry for power—a rare thing in a destructive somatic progeny. He could do far worse in a bondmate. And yet, even before Thallahan shared his experiences, Gaeren had always sensed there was something more to a bond. Something that his would always be missing.

The music stopped, drawing his attention to the men around him, some gawking without shame, others trying to clear their dinner mess to make room for the women. Orra gently pried the fiddle from the slack-jawed sailor’s hands before settling herself on a bench amongst the men like she’d been there all her life.

With a pointed look in Gaeren and Lenda’s direction, the strange woman started in on a complicated tune that immediately got boots tapping.

“Would you like to dance?” Gaeren held out a hand, nearly choking on the words. Enla would be pleased with Orra’s interference.

Lenda took his hand, and together they weaved throughout the deck, spurred on by the men’s shouts whenever they drew near. A second sailor pulled Lenda’s maid out on the deck, swinging her around with little finesse, but her laughter proved she didn’t mind. Even the men started partnering up, tripping over each other’s feet and laughing. Thallahan sat near Orra, his eyes narrowed in concentration as he watched her fiddle.

Orra entertained them with two more songs, during which Lenda allowed herself to be passed from sailor to sailor before settling in Gaeren’s arms once more.

“I think you made Erech’s entire moon by dancing with him tonight.” Gaeren laughed, taking in the flush of Lenda’s cheeks and the wisps of light hair coming loose from her braid.

“He’s sweet,” she said, glancing back at the cabin boy still watching her with stars in his eyes. “A far finer dancer than all the men reeking of ale. It’s a shame he’ll end up just like them.”

She wrinkled her nose, and just like that, all the ways he’d started to find her endearing dissolved. His arms suddenly felt stiff, the space between them too narrow. This was why their bond never fully took.

“I hope he ends up exactly like Larkos,” Gaeren said. “A fine father and sailor. A loyal bondmate with a loving wife. A man free to spend his summers at sea and his winters by her side.” He didn’t bother hiding the hunger lacing his words, and Lenda missed a step to turn sharply his way.

Orra switched to a melancholy tune, and Gaeren and Lenda slowed. Eager to avoid Lenda’s reproachful stare, he watched Orra’s bow slide across the strings.

“I wonder where she learned to play,” Gaeren mused.

“She told me she was raised on the seas. Gave me all sorts of tips on finding my sea legs because she’s seen everything tried and knew what worked. I suppose she learned from a sailor.”

The explanation made sense, and yet it felt off. Like every tidbit he learned about Orra, it only brought out more questions.

“Did you know her great-great-great-grandmother married Captain Moss after the Last War?” For once, Lenda’s interest seemed sincere. “She told me all about how she saved his life.”

“Captain Moss?” Gaeren narrowed his eyes as he studied Orra once more. She did resemble the portraits he’d seen of Lady Redwood. But in the version he’d heard, the ex-pirate had married the famous captain after he’d saved her life at sea, not the other way around. “Everyone knows that story. It’s not very likely the woman was really her great-great-grandmother.”

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