tie her hopes in knots. She could not wait for good luck here, could not rely on his good favor.
She wanted to know everything he knew about her curse and her magic. She wanted to know why he called her “dragon girl,” and why he wanted this connection so badly. She wanted him to help her to figure out her powers and stop the king. But without knowing what Finnegan wanted from her, it was difficult to predict where their negotiations would go from there.
A cold wind tossed her hair and made her shiver. The ocean and the sky all melted together, the water reflecting blurry images of the stars.
She leaned forward to glimpse the foam that bounced in the wake of the ship. The railing dug into her stomach.
Tristan once told her an elaborate tale about being a pirate. Something about being kidnapped, becoming captain of a crew. All invented, obviously, but she had thought that truth lingered behind his jokes. He was not from Petrichor. He was lighthearted, a joker, with a lively imagination. That had seemed enough to know about a person, enough to trust him. To go out into the dark with him, to hold his hand on slanting roofs and dwell in secrets together.
What a fool she had been.
Nettle emerged from belowdecks, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, her black hair flying loose about her face. “You must be careful,” she said. “The sea can be rough.”
“I will be.”
A shadow moved on the horizon. Another ship, perhaps.
“You are wary of me,” Nettle said. “I understand that.”
“I’m not wary of you,” Aurora said. Nettle had saved her life, bandaged her injuries, walked for days beside her, slept under the same shelter. That created a connection. Aurora respected her. She appreciated her presence. Perhaps she even liked her. But she did not know if she could trust her. “I’m wary of your connection with Finnegan.”
Nettle was quiet for another few moments. “I am not an extension of him, Aurora. I do not act blindly on his behalf. I help him, but only with what I wish. Only when I think it is right.”
“You followed me on his orders.”
“On his request. And it was something I was happy to do. I was concerned about you.”
“Because I needed help.”
“Yes,” Nettle said. “Because I know what that is like.”
Did it make a difference, whether Nettle was forced to watch her or asked to watch her? It had been Finnegan’s scheme either way. Aurora stared at the water, the darkness shifting beneath them. Anything she said to Nettle could potentially be reported to Finnegan. But Nettle was also the best source of information Aurora had.
“What does Finnegan want from me?” Aurora asked. “Why did he send you?”
“I think he is fascinated by your magic.”
“Fascinated? What does that mean?”
“I do not know,” Nettle said. “I would not like to speculate. He must think it useful. But that is obvious, is it not? Magic in a magic-less world. Anyone would want that.”
Aurora nodded. It made sense, and it was something she could use. She could not control her magic yet, but Finnegan seemed to have some knowledge about it, details he had not told her. If he wanted to use her magic himself, then he had to help her develop it. And he did not know about Celestine. He would offer many things in return for what he believed was the only magic left in the world.
“But do not think that is all,” Nettle continued after a moment. “I believe he cares about you.”
“Cares about me?”
“About your well-being, at least. He is selfish, Aurora, but he can be kind too.”
It fitted what Aurora had seen of him before she left. Finnegan had intrigued her, too, for all the ways he irritated her. But something felt slightly off about Nettle’s words. “You’re being very open with me.”
“What do you mean?”
“Telling me about Finnegan’s plans, telling me how he might feel . . . you told me you were his spy, when I doubt that is something that spies are meant to say. I don’t understand it.”
Nettle learned forward too, staring at the water. “I am serious about my work, Aurora,” she said. “But I thought you deserved honesty. I know what it is like to be lost. I would not want to make it any harder for you than it already is.”
Aurora tilted her head to look at her. “Why do you work for Finnegan?” she said. “Why him?”
Nettle was quiet for a long