Page 46 of Seaborn and the Seven Seas

I gasped. A sharp sting bloomed along my skin. Blue blood dripped onto the white marble floor. Then the pain was gone, and the wound sealed itself closed.

“You hid this from me?” The queen gave Theron an accusing stare.

“He didn’t know,” I said it before I could think better of it. “Nobody knew.”

I had no reason to protect Theron and Fraya, but they had been good to me, and that was reason enough. Whatever I was, whatever this meant, I wasn’t going to drag them down with me.

Theron blinked, confusion flickering across his face at my words.

“Even I don’t know what this is.” My voice came out low, controlled. “I swear it on my life. Do with me as you will. But the rest of them have nothing to do with this.”

Jina’s hand found mine, gripping tight. “Star—” Her voice shook.

The queen shifted to Jina and before Jina could react, she’d crossed to her and drawn the same small silver blade across her cheek.

Jina cried out, more from shock than pain, her hand flying to her face.

Blue liquid dripped between Jina’s fingers, onto the white marble, same as mine. She stared at her hand. “I’m—” She looked at me, eyes wide, terrified. “I never knew. This was the first time I’d bled.”

Though I didn’t know she had blue blood. I wasn’t surprised. She had breathed and floated in the water like I had. So had Minha. She must be a Seaborn too.

“I know.” I squeezed her arm.

The wound on her cheek sealed itself shut, same as mine had, leaving nothing behind but a faint smear of blue already drying. The queen straightened, looking between the two of us, delight crossing her face.

“Two,” she murmured. “I haven’t seen this many Seaborn in decades. And now I have more.”

More?

Could she mean there were other Seaborns imprisoned somewhere in this castle, beneath all that gold and white marble?

The boarox whimpered then sat silent in its crate. Perhaps dreaming in sleep. If a creature like that was in plain sight, what else might be hidden somewhere I couldn’t see?

The queen’s gaze moved from Theron to me, slow and assessing.

A small sound left her, not quite a laugh, more breath than amusement. “Brave words from someone bleeding.”

She crouched, unbothered by the gown pooling around her, and dipped one finger into the small spot of blue liquid. She studied it for a long moment, turning her hand, the light catching the wet smear on her skin.

“Do you know how long it’s been,” she said, “since I’ve seen this color?”

The queen rose again, wiping her finger clean on the edge of her sleeve and looking at me. “You’re not what I expected to walk through my doors today.” Her lips curved, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “But you’ll do.” The queen turned back toward her throne, gown trailing behind her. “Theron.”

“My Queen.”

“Your debt is paid. For now.” She climbed the dais without looking back and settling onto her seat. “Leave the boarox. Leave the Seaborn. Take the others and go.”

Two soldiers stepped forward, flanking me.

“Wait!” Jina’s voice cracked. She lunged toward me and Fraya caught her arm, holding her back.

“Star—” Jina’s eyes were wide, glassy.

“It’s all right.” I forced my voice to stay even, though my pulse was anything but. “Go with Fraya. I’ll be fine.”

I didn’t believe it. But Jina needed to.

“My Queen.” His voice was carefully measured. “If I may—”