Theo folded himself tighter to Lucian’s chest. “It should be all right. I didn’t eat much.”
“Theo gets very seasick,” Lucian answered Yuri’s questioning look.
“I’ll be okay,” Theo promised. “Have you ever been on a boat?”
Yuri shook his head. A sailor led them up onto the ship, Lucian in the lead, Radu bringing up the rear. It was unspoken between all of them that they protected Yuri, but as they entered the ship and Yuri strayed several yards ahead of them, Radu gripped Star’s arm.
“Do I have to remind you again of what secrets do?” Radu asked.
Star flinched. “I’ll tell him.”
“When?”
“Later,” Star hedged.
Radu sighed.
“Do Theo and Lucian know?” Star whispered.
“Lucian. I don’t know about Theo,” Radu said. He shoved Star forward, forcing him to follow the rest. The inside of the boat was lavish despite the smaller size, with cushy seats and windows everywhere. “Lucian also seems to know you’re hiding something else in Auroi. What am I missing?”
“Only the past,” Star said.
Radu’s gaze studied him with firm resolve, as though he could peel back the layers of Star’s projected indifference and discover the truth. “Why do you fear the past?”
“I don’t fear the past,” Star protested, but before Radu could call him on the half-truth, he continued, “I fear the reaction to the past.”
“Because you did things you’re not proud of? We all have endless regrets.”
Star said nothing as he sat down beside Yuri, taking a spot near a window. They would all know soon enough. He gripped Yuri’s hand and stared out at the gleaming water while the others chattered around him.
The city trickled into view with the edges tucked into the mountains and sprinkled with giant trees. Fortification from natural resources helped them protect from aerial or ground attack as guards patrolled the skies around the city. The dock perched on the edge of the water with a dense weave of trees leading the way up toward the city.
“I expected more guards,” Radu said as Lucian hired a carriage.
“We won’t be able to enter the city without going through a checkpoint,” Lucian said. “And we can only take the carriage to the entrance. We’ll have to walk from there.”
“How far is Star’s place?” Yuri asked.
“A twenty-minute walk,” Lucian said as he opened the door of the carriage. “It’s going to be tight with five of us in here, but it’s only a ten-minute ride.”
“No horses?” Yuri asked.
“It’s electric,” Star answered. “There are solar and lunar chargers. They are self-guided.”
“Is that safe?” Yuri climbed in beside Theo. Lucian waved at Star to get in and sit beside Yuri.
“Yes,” Lucian and Star said at the same time. Lucian sat beside Radu; the seats inside too narrow for three full-sized Onari to sit side by side. “It has a magical barrier that comes up once it starts to move that will shut it down if anyone comes within five meters of the carriage, and they don’t travel fast.”
Star curled himself beside Yuri near the window, which looked out at light bright enough to give him a headache.
“I packed sunglasses for you,” Theo said, tugging a backpack off and setting it at his feet.
Star grunted, but Yuri grinned and held out his hand. “I bet you’re super sexy in shades, all horny like you are now.”
“Horny,” Radu snorted.
“The angel’s words, not mine,” Star defended. “You are horny too, by his definition.”
