Page 65 of Salt in the Seas
The sway of the ship left her dizzy after having briefly returned to solid ground. She stood, holding on to the furniture to make her way out of the cabin and back on deck.
“Are you all right?” Velden asked. He lazily sprayed the deck with water so one of the sailors could swab it.
“I’m not sure,” she said.
He eyed her more closely. “What happened? Should I get Sylmar or Lukai?”
“Durriken just—he requested to remain branded to me. He said it’s as if we’re tethered.”
Velden’s jaw went slack. “Tethered? Dragons haven’t been tethered to people since before the Great Divide.”
She shrugged. “That’s what he said.”
“If he used that term, he meant it. And it’s an honor you should not take lightly.”
“I won’t.” She stood a little straighter, almost offended. “I just—I don’t really understand it. I never expected him to see us as allies.”
She held up her hands, studying the scars on her palms, tracing the dark, bubbled brand mark on her right palm before placing her thumb over the small, tear-shaped mark on her left, hiding it from her view.
“It’s funny how his acceptance of it seems to change it,” she mused. “Perhaps when a brand is wanted, it gives that connection more power.”
Her gaze drifted toward Kendalyhn and Lukai. He had a shell on his knuckles that he kept flipping around to his palm, entertaining herwith his sleight of hand. She smiled and shoved his shoulder, a lightheartedness in her actions that Aeliana rarely saw. Lukai glanced up, his brow furrowed, and he rubbed his palm when he caught Aeliana’s gaze, then stepped nervously away from Kendalyhn.
“Ah,” Velden said. “Something tells me you’re no longer talking about brands.”
“Or maybe I’m realizing bonds and brands are more similar than everyone makes them out to be.”
“Maybe. But don’t ever forget that a bond goes both ways.” He raised his eyebrows, but she still didn’t see much difference.
“Is my bond with Lukai not taking because he and Kendalyhn are in love?”
Velden gave a nervous laugh and shot a glance in the couple’s direction. For that was how Aeliana thought of them now. Now that she was looking, they were always together—always talking, training, assisting each other.
Before, when they’d traveled to the Myndren mountains, she’d thought it was more out of habit from their growing up years, especially after Aeliana had accidentally injured Kendalyhn while training. She thought Lukai had been such a gentleman to offer to be friends with Aeliana instead of more despite their bond, but now she suspected it was because he didn’t want the bond. He never had.
“There’s always been a mutual attraction,” Velden said, “but it was understood that he was bonded to you.”
“Well, that makes me feel worse.”
“Why?” Velden asked
“If he’d never been bonded to me, maybe they would’ve bonded and sealed it with marriage ages ago.”
This time Velden’s laugh was more genuine. “They’re only a few years older than you. I doubt they would have done that ages ago.”
“You know what I mean.”
His smile fell. “I do. Their feelings for each other certainly don’t help your bond.”
His admission and acceptance of her accusation made the revelation raw and fresh once more. Heat bloomed in her chest, a strange sensation that left her unsettled. She didn’t like the idea of a magicmark on her palm stirring up jealousy, and she didn’t need any more reason to feel a growing dislike for Kendalyhn. “It would explain a lot about why Kendalyhn hates me.”
“Bonds are complicated enough when they’re done by two adults who are in love and fully aware of the decision they’re making.” He turned over his palm, revealing a scar running along its edge, nearly hidden by his webs. “I can only imagine the added complication of a loveless childhood bond.”
“You were bonded?”
A wistful smile flitted across his face. “The point is, instead of asking why it’s not taking, maybe you should be asking what would help it take? Or maybe why it was done in the first place? Or maybe whether or not it’s even needed now?”
Her surprise must have shown on her face because he gestured to her hand.
