Page 110 of A Sea of Fate and Starfire

Toward Calder.

In an instant, we clambered to leave, throwing canteens and provisions into pouches and packs. “You couldn’t feel them in your water?” I asked Aegir, more grit in the words than I’d meant.

He ran a hand roughly through his beard. “No. Not drones. They could have easily come from Juile. Have you ever felt them?”

Kolibri let out a broken bray, ears flat as she watched the crows blacken the sun.

“Follow the drones,” Sindri ordered the Venusians, who leapt back into the sea.

“Wait,” Pheolix warned.

Cebrinne spun on her heel to face him. “For what?”

He scrubbed a hand over his eyes. “This is what he does. Uses his drones to lure his target.”

“We’re a target on this island already,” Aegir retorted, fixing a dark scowl towards the hidden sun. “We need to get into the water.”

Selena glanced between the Videre and the drone. “Could we not wait in Venusia for them to leave?”

“The Naiads can,” Aegir answered. “I can’t let humans into my colony. I won’t betray our safety—and I can’t promise humans would be safe, either. One glimpse in the wrong direction while any of the sirens are transitioned—”

“If he’s rallying forces, he’s planning to take Laurier Palace. He knows we’re on Evenstar.” Kye watched as the sun slipped back into view, the thick blanket of crows crossing toward the distant horizon. “Everyone who would fight him to protect the palace is standing here.”

“Or the King has returned,” Hadrian said quietly. Kye’s gaze flicked to mine and then away. A flicker of frustration carved my nails into my palms.

“Why would Thaan choose to fight under a new moon?” Selena asked, glancing from Aegir to Pheolix. “He’d be at the height of power under a full moon.”

“So would we,” I said, lifting a hand to watch light pop and snap around my fingertips.

“Whatever you all decide, decide it fast,” Cebrinne murmured. “I am heading back to the palace. Ano is there with no protection.” She strode to the edge of the rock. Then stopped to look back at me. “Maybe you should go to Venusia. Just for a day. One of us could come back for you when we know it’s safe.”

She dropped into the waves without another word.

My jaw clicked with frustration. “I won’t hide.”

“She’s right. And you wouldn’t be hiding,” Aegir sighed, watching the waves crest and flatten where my mother had disappeared. “You’re our best weapon against Thaan. You and those stones. It would be foolish to fall into his trap now.”

Our best weapon. My teeth ground together. It must have shown on my face, because no one said anything else. They shifted their weight, crossing and uncrossing their arms, gauging the remaining light in the sky.

“Well,” Hadrian finally said, “those of us who aren’t Naiad should probably leave Evenstar for now. Though I think we’ll need a little help.”

Pheolix nodded, then paused. “You must leave Evenstar now?”

A second moment of fractured silence came and went as everyone seemed to avoid eye contact again.

“Come on, Pheolix.” Selena took his hand with a small sigh. “Humans, follow us. We’ll catch up with Cebrinne and the three of us will take you to the palace.”

Aren, Leal, and Dimas made for the water’s edge. Hadrian waited for Diara, whose gaze cut to me. “You’ll be all right?”

“I’m fine.” Out of habit, or perhaps a need for security, I felt along my hip, ensuring the stones were there. “You should go.”

“I’ll stay with your father. I’m sure everything is fine.” Diara tried to smile, but it was too forced, too tight, like someone had molded clay over her face and reshaped it all wrong. Beside her, Hadrian pulled two blindfolds from his pocket, waiting for her to spin around.

A large, callused hand slipped into mine. Kye fixed his attention on the fading line of crows, but he lifted my hand, bringing my knuckles to his lips. I’ll let you know as soon as I figure out what’s going on.

Be safe, I said, because I couldn’t think of anything else to say. I couldn’t speak out loud, now with my heart in my throat, my fingers unable to still, a knot of dread tangled across the length of my spine. If there’s a fourth one, then dodge.

His mouth twitched. He winked at me before fitting his strip of silk over his eyes, turning so I could tie it. I’ll dodge.