Page 66 of Salt in the Seas
“You’ve found a purpose for your brand, so you’re keeping it around. Seems the same logic should be used on your bond.”
She ran a finger over the bond mark once more. “I thought my parents bonded us for my protection.”
Velden nodded. “And maybe that will come in handy someday. Maybe Lukai will save your life. I don’t know. But if you decide it’s worth keeping for that, then you need to ask how to make it take. And remember my initial point: a bond goes both ways. You’ll have to be ready to give him your heart just as much as he’s ready to give you his.”
She frowned, well aware that he’d neatly avoided her question about his own scar. “What about Kendalyhn?”
“Kendalyhn isn’t bonded to anyone.” Velden’s words were soft with a gentle warning. “Her heart is free to choose, but even then, the choice isn’t always an easy path. Sometimes it requires stepping back to let someone else take the journey you want.”
“Everyone’s heart should be free to choose.” Her words lacked conviction, her thoughts muddled by their conversation.
Iris and Holm had chosen to be bonded, and it seemed to have made all the difference in the health of their bond and marriage, even if lately she’d caught them fighting more. Perhaps that was expected inany relationship. But had her parents really believed the protection of a bond was worth losing that right to choose? For the first time, she felt a pang of frustration with her parents, a sense that maybe they’d made mistakes just like she had.
“Bonds used to be used between parents and children, not just couples,” Aeliana said, recalling her lessons from Sylmar. “If it can be used solely for protection, can’t Lukai and I be bonded for protection, but each choose someone else to marry? Can’t he choose Kendalyhn?”
Velden winced. “I can’t imagine that would work, but feel free to give them permission to try.” He chuckled and went back to squirting the deck with water. “Then let me know how that goes.”
Aeliana lifted her chin, ignoring Velden’s laughter as she made her way to Lukai. Kendalyhn’s eyes narrowed with Aeliana’s approach, but she didn’t budge from her spot beside Lukai.
“Could I speak with you…alone?” Aeliana asked Lukai.
He glanced nervously between the women, and when he didn’t respond, Kendalyhn let out a huff before mumbling something about Sylmar needing her. As she disappeared below deck, it should have gotten easier to confront Lukai, but instead Aeliana’s tongue felt too dry to form words.
“Are you wanting to train?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I wanted to ask you about the memory I saw. The one with Kendalyhn.”
His face heated, and he dropped his gaze. “I’ve never acted on it, and I never will. I swear on the Sun and Stars.” He flexed his palm, studying his bond mark. “It’s changing things anyway. I don’t—I’m not sure how I feel anymore.”
“If you love her,” Aeliana said softly, “you can’t let me get in the way.”
His gaze shot to hers, surprise flickering across his face before being replaced by confusion. “But you’re my bondmate.”
“Cut it out.” Aeliana pulled her dagger out from her belt and offered it up.
Lukai shuddered and backed away. “I know stealing your blood was wrong. I don’t expect you to forgive that anytime soon. But even if neither of us is ready to let our bond grow, I’m not going to removesomething your parents put in place for your protection. Our parents made a promise to each other when we were young. I made a promise to your parents to uphold the bond to keep you safe. I won’t go back on that.”
Aeliana shoved the dagger back in her belt and pursed her lips. “So we keep this awkward friendship that’s supposed to be more, and I just let Kendalyhn hate me for it?”
He winced. “I guess so.”
She studied the mark on her palm, contemplating cutting it out on her own. It wasn’t like Lukai could single-handedly protect her from Mayvus. How necessary could their bond be?
They stood in an uncomfortable silence for a few more moments until Lukai tugged on the collar of his shirt and made some excuse about helping Thallahan with the sails. A cheerful whistle carried across the ship, and Aeliana turned to find Velden dancing her way with his mop. He winked at her before dipping his imaginary partner.
“How’d all that work out for you?”
CHAPTER 26
Gaeren had never felt soout of place in his own cabin. It had been five days since they’d set sail and experimented with Aeliana’s magic. Apparently Sylmar’s attempts to train her in noetic magic weren’t going well, so he was enlisting Gaeren’s help.
Aeliana sat in his desk chair with Riveran and Cyrus on stools beside her. That left standing room only for Sylmar and Gaeren. When the older man crossed his arms and frowned down at Aeliana, Gaeren uncrossed his own arms and smiled, not wanting association with Sylmar’s anxiety-inducing instructor stance. Then he felt like a child, back with his parents and Enla, doing the opposite of what they wanted and expected just to prove some point.
“Are you sure you have time for this?” Aeliana asked.
Gaeren shrugged. “I may be the captain, but it’s often Larkos who runs this ship.”
Riveran snorted but made no other comment. A wise choice.
