Page 37 of A Storm in Every Heart (Enchanted Legacies #2)

“Calm down, mate,” Connell says. “I’m explaining it. I am immortal because I’m the captain of The Sea Witch .”

A ringing silence follows that statement, which is broken finally by Jett. “The ship that just sank, you mean?”

“Yes, although she hasn’t really sunk. The Sea Witch never truly dies—I’m sure the next time we come across a port she’ll be there waiting for me, just like she always has before.”

Kastian and Jett exchange glances which clearly say they think Connell is insane, but I’m not so sure. “I’ve heard of ships like that,” I say slowly.

“You have?” Kastian asks.

I nod. “When I lived on The Adella, the sailors would tell stories about immortal ships captained by spirits who were trapped on board until they’d fulfilled some prophecy.”

“See?” Connell says, winking at me. “Thank you for your faith in me, darling.”

“Don’t talk to her,” Kastian growls, taking half a step in front of me.

I roll my eyes, but make no move to step away from him.

“So what’s your prophecy?” Jett asks Captain Connell.

The captain shrugs. “I don’t have one—at least, not that I’m aware of. The Sea Witch just needs a captain, and I am it.”

“What about your crew?” I ask.

For the first time, Connell scowls. “You’d have to ask your man about that one, darling. If not for him, they’d be alive and well.”

“They shouldn’t have helped you kidnap her,” Kastian says without a shred of remorse.

“Why did you take me?” I ask.

Connell’s eyes flash with interest. “Ooh, that’s an interesting story. I tell you what? I swear I’ll tell you all who sent me after the beautiful Lady Odessa as long as you don’t leave me here in the swamp.”

“Why do you need us?” Jett asks. “I thought you couldn’t die.”

“I can’t,” Connell says, turning to Jett. “But I don’t fancy being eaten by some monster either. I’ve never tried that before, but I’d imagine it would be unpleasant.”

I snort. “‘Unpleasant’ sounds like an understatement.”

“Exactly, darling.” Connell winks again. “Let me stay with you all as far as the nearest town, and I’ll tell you who hired me to kidnap you. I promise it’s a story you’re going to want to hear.”

“How do we know you won’t stab us while we’re sleeping?” Kastian asks.

Connell gasps in mock indignation. “I would never, it’s against the seaman’s code.”

I roll my eyes. “There’s no such thing as the seaman’s code.”

“Fine, you’re right, but then I’d have to refer you to my earlier point. I’d rather not get swallowed by a swamp rat, and I figure I’ve got a better chance with you three watching my back.”

“Stay right there and don’t move,” Jett says slowly, jerking his head for Kastian and me to follow him.

“Aye aye, Captain,” Connell says sarcastically, sinking back onto the log to wait.

We walk across the cliff until we’re out of earshot—out of earshot for a human at least. We’d probably have to go further if he turned out to be anything else, but the wind helps some.

“What do you think?” Kastian asks in a low voice.

“I think we should question him right here,” Jett says, a more serious note in his voice than I’ve ever heard.

Jett is always the one smiling and cracking jokes even in the most dire of circumstances, but since we escaped the ship, he’s seemed subdued.

Perhaps this is just his reaction to being tired and hungry.

At the thought of food my stomach growls loudly and I press my hands to it. “I think we should do whatever is fastest. I want to find an inn.”

“Is that safe for you?” Jett asks Kastian. “Since we’re in Hydratta.”

Kastian gnaws on his lip. “Probably. This is so far on the outskirts of Hydratta I doubt any of Magnus’s soldiers are posted in the villages, or that they’d immediately recognize me if they were. I’m more worried about whoever wanted to take Dessa and why.”

“Connell said he won’t tell us anything until we reach a town,” I remind him.

Jett’s black eyes flash in the darkness. “He’d tell us. There are lots of ways to convince someone to talk.”

My eyebrows raise so high they reach my hairline. “Torture him, you mean?”

Jett’s silence is answer enough, and a shiver travels down my spine. Part of me wants to ask if he knew how to torture someone before Dyaspora, or if that’s a more recent skill. Is that what he’s been doing as the official spymaster for Alix and Daemon?

I don’t want to know.

“It’s dark as fuck out here,” Kastian says, cutting into my thoughts.

“I can barely see either of you and you’re right in front of me.

I imagine it would be hard to torture someone if you couldn’t see what you’re doing.

I think we should let him stay with us until we reach a town at least, but then we’re not splitting up.

We keep him with us and bring him back to Vernallis. ”

“Fine with me,” Jett says after a long moment. “Dessa?”

“I agree,” I say quickly. “Whatever we do, I’d like to do it quickly. I need a bath, a change of clothes and a bed before I can even think about making a real plan.”

W e leave the cliff and walk for over an hour.

The swamp is disgusting and full of buzzing insects, which sting my face and bare legs.

Every so often we hear something slithering along the ground, or a creature howling in the trees above.

Every time something moves out of the corner of my eye, I’m certain it’s going to be some sort of jungle beast leaping at me, ready to bite my jugular.

No one says anything about it, but I know I’m not the only one who’s afraid because both Kastian and Jett’s wings are out. I keep feeling Kastian’s feathers brush against my arm, and after a while I stop bothering to flinch away on principle.

Connell stumbles over a root on the ground and swears loudly. “You know, when I said I wanted to stay with you, this isn’t quite what I had in mind.”

Jett tugs hard on the belt binding the pirate’s wrists. “You should feel lucky this is all we’ve done. I’m sure I could do a lot of interesting things to a man who can’t die.”

“Really?” Connell asks, sounding interested. “Please, do share.”

“Don’t,” Kastian grumbles. “This walk is hellish enough without listening to graphic descriptions of torture.”

“Suddenly squeamish?” Connell asks, with a smirk in his voice. “I’d have thought you’d be desensitized to violence after murdering my entire crew.”

“There will be a hell of a lot more violence if you don’t shut up,” Kastian grumbles.

I ball my hands into fists and try to tune out their bickering; I’m already barely hanging on to sanity as it is. I’m not used to walking this much and my legs and hips ache. I’m starving, my skin feels dirty and sticky, both from the cell and the humid air.

If I could just fix one of those things—food, a bath, a bed—I think I could pull myself together.

I screw my eyes up and try to think of positive things.

At least I’m alive—at least we’re all alive. At least I’m not stuck in the brig anymore.

As Alix says, it could always get worse…