Page 43 of Stars Above the Never Sea (The Last Faeyte #1)

The ‘obviously’ on the end of that sentence is silent, but implied. He crashes to his knees.

More shouting. One unfamiliar voice raises, shouting louder than the rest as Volatus turns into a hive of activity.

Down on the main deck, Sol crosses to join Rio and Esme as they unwind thick ropes and toss them over the side to the waiting hands below.

Leo darts between them, helping as a makeshift wooden gangway is pushed through the gap in the railings.

The slender male that appears at the top of the gangway is tall.

His skin is the color of parchment, his narrow nose slightly hooked at the end.

A riotous head of dark curls bounces around his head as hooded eyes sweep the deck.

The nine on his cheek catches my attention, the purple of his irises marking him as a peristi.

His gaze settles on Sol.

Matthias.

The emotion that crosses Sol’s face is more than I’ve seen from him throughout the entire journey.

The male flies forward, the tails of his long leather coat flying out behind him, and I lower my eyes as he throws his arms around Sol, loud chatter bursting from him.

This moment does not belong to me, but his almost bellowed words reach me anyway.

“Where in Ellas have you been? You should have been back days ago—I’ve been camping at this gods-damned dock waiting for you, and you know I hate sleeping outside.

Although I haven’t been able to sleep for weeks anyway, thanks to you lot.

I was beginning to think you’d all fallen victim to the wraiths. ”

I fidget and cast about for something—anything—to do, but I have no functional sailing experience and Callan still lies at my feet, pretending to be on his deathbed.

The sight disturbs me more than I care to voice, so I turn back in their direction, giving up on any pretense of privacy since I can hear every word anyway.

Sol says nothing, only grips him tightly, his hand wrapped around the back of Matthias’s neck.

My eyes creep back up, curiosity getting the better of me in time to watch Matthias’s eyes close as he buries his face into Solomon’s throat.

Despite his height, he fits perfectly against Sol.

“You scared me. All of you. Where is our resident troublemaker? Still alive, I assume, since you made it.”

Sol murmurs something I don’t catch. Matthias laughs, bright and surprisingly loud, but his eyes are searching even as he grins at the others, offering a wink for Leo.

“I am not. Although we’ll have to avoid the hearth for a few days.

I didn’t mean to break the pots, but I tripped over a stool. Quentin was furious—,”

His eyes sweep past me, only for him to slowly pull them back. They widen, his mouth dropping open. “Well, now. I knew I should have swapped with Rio.”

Sol pokes him in the back, his mouth moving too quickly for me to hear. Matthias’s lips tilt up into a grin as he stares, his head tipping to listen before he nods.

He almost runs up the steps. I take a step back, but he collides with me, as if his feet move too fast for him to keep up. Arms squeeze me tightly with surprising strength.

“Hello, Selene Amaris.” His voice rings with sincerity. I find myself relaxing into the embrace. “My name is Matthias. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

He steps back, offering me another bright grin before he wheels around. My head is spinning as he darts over to Callan. Sol follows more sedately, a bag in his hands that he drops to the floor as Matthias drops to one knee.

We all watch as his hands fly over Callan’s blood-stained clothing, yanking up his sleeves. “Look at the state of you. How much maegis have you been using, you eejit?”

When Callan’s eyes fly open, Matthias loses his balance and topples backward onto his ass. A yelp echoes from his throat. “Holy gods.”

Sol leans in to explain in quick, muttered breaths. The others join us as Matthias’s eyes grow wider and wider. Sol pushes a finger beneath his chin to close his mouth. “Say nothing .”

“Gods,” Matthias breathes again. His head swings between Callan and I, his expression shifting. “I’m going to need to know how that works. We will be great friends, you and I, Selene.”

“Not now ,” Sol hisses. “We need an explanation. He should be half-dead, and he very obviously is not. They’re going to come looking any moment.”

Matthias sits back on his heels. I can almost see the gears working behind those eyes as they flicker over Callan. His thoughts feel almost as loud as his words.

His lips purse. “He’s wearing more blood on his clothes and body than you’d find inside him, by the looks. We’ll dampen it, make it look fresher.”

Merrick turns. “I’ll get water.”

Callan yawns, his body hidden from the men on the dock. “Take your time, by all means. They’ll be up here any second.”

Matthias flicks him in the forehead. “And you have some explaining to do too.”

A smirk spreads across Callan’s face. “You were missed.”

“Pfft.” Matthias runs a considering hand over his jaw. “We’ll act as if we’ve blooded you already, up here.”

He yanks out a roll of bandages from his bag. “I’ll wrap your arms. It would be helpful if you could try to at least look a little ashen.”

Tugging his bag closer, Matthias rummages through it before he yanks out a small pouch.

Callan groans. “No. Not the lancer root. Take pity on me. The macra tea was bad enough.”

“Yes.” Matthias digs in the pouch, pinching a small, dark-colored shape between his fingers. “Open up. This’ll get rid of whatever glow has you lit up like a beacon, at least long enough to get through the next hour without questions. You need to look as if you have one foot in Ellas.”

His fingers weave exaggeratedly from side to side, clutching the root as he angles it toward Callan’s lips. “Oh, look. Volatus , coming in. Open up.”

After shoving the leaf into Callan’s open mouth, he brushes off his hands and taps Callan’s cheek. “There. It’ll kick in in a few moments.”

A grimace spreads across Callan’s face as he chews. “I’m not a child.”

“And yet you persist in acting like one when it comes to being treated,” Matthias says, almost primly. Merrick passes me to kneel beside Callan, who grimaces again as the water hits him.

Matthias briskly pushes up the sleeves of his shirt further, wrapping linen around his lower arms, below his elbow. “See? It’s already kicking in. We should be good to go now.”

Callan’s face has drained, taking on a faintly greenish hue.

Matthias springs to his feet. His fingers brush with Sol’s, interlinking before he turns back to me. “ Now —,”

“No,” Esme and Sol snap in unison.

“Wait until we can speak where we won’t be overheard.” Sol brushes the back of his hand over Matthias’s cheek. “Gods, I missed you.”

His whole face softens.

I find myself watching them closely. Examining their interactions, and Matthias notices my stare. His head cocks, but we’re interrupted by a shout from below. He whistles. “Time to go. Petyr was impatient two days ago.”

Rio and Sol pull Callan up, pushing their arms beneath him as if holding him upright. I wonder how many times they’ve done this. Carried him from the ship, half-dead from the pretium. Enough times that they exchange no words with their movements, as if the motions are instinctive.

Callan stiffens, dragging his feet to stop them. “Selene stays with me. Not negotiable. Make sure nobody touches her, if we don’t want the charade to fall apart.”

“Fine.” Matthias taps his fingers against his leg. He eyes me consideringly. “They’ve already sent a messenger ahead. Petyr will be waiting. Tobias is on the dock.”

Rio swears, rubbing at his chest. “That’s me done. He’ll have me on shift tonight. I’ll try to get to wherever you’ll be later, if I can get away. Smee, let me know.”

“I will.” Their eyes meet as Merrick pauses in front of me.

He looks at me closely. “We won’t be coming to the temple with you. But I hope you’ll come to the town, Selene. You would be welcome.”

Leo’s skinny body crashes into me, almost knocking me off my feet. “Say you will.”

My throat tightens. “I’ll try, if I can.”

It feels like an ending. They all walk ahead of me, and I follow behind Callan as Rio and Sol drag him down the gangplank. Matthias hovers, his eyes shifting between me and the men who stiffen as I approach. He shifts back, allowing the others ahead of him and casually taking up a place at my side.

Metal men. So many of them, their eyes barely visible beneath the armor they wear, weapons heavy at their waists. They glint as steel is pulled free, blades angled in my direction as I walk slowly down.

I don’t hesitate. One foot in front of the other, until we reach the ground.

My feet step onto the cobbled stone, and my eyes burn. It feels almost like a mirror of the last time I stood here. Nothing but air at my back, weapons pointed at my throat.

Cool, mist-filled air kisses my cheeks. The scent of smoke and charda wood from the town hearth is noticeable even here, and I breathe in deeply.

I keep my head up. Callan’s voice sounds slurred with feigned pretium but unmistakable. “None of you will touch her. Royal business.”

A soldier steps forward. He pushes up his helm, revealing scarlet eyes. “That appears to be a faeyte, Edgeborn.”

Callan makes a show of pushing himself upright. “Well met, Tobias.”

The response is clipped, almost dry. “Your cargo is unexpected. As is your condition. Given the length of time we’ve been waiting, I’d half expected a corpse.”

“She is welcome here,” Callan says softly. He ignores the male’s other words. “Tread carefully, Tobias. Consider her presence here, after so long and at this moment. The gods may be watching.”

The male’s eyes shift to mine. They take in my eyes, my hair, my wings, but I don’t feel the icy touch of animosity from him. He inclines his head, stepping away from Callan and addressing his words to me. “Welcome to Asteria. My name is Tobias. I’m head of the household guard.”

I nod. “Selene Amaris.”