Page 33 of Extraordinary Quests for Amateur Witches

He waved to two of the men, and they ran after him as he marched back toward the main deck, cracking his knuckles as he went. Kieran eyed the two mercenaries who had been left by the door.

Okay—two on one. Not terrible, but not great either. Let’s see if I can get a little help.

“Well?” one of the mercenaries asked, snapping Kieran out of his thoughts. “What are you waiting for? Open it.”

Kieran grunted, not wanting to speak more than he had to in case these men were more familiar with Quinn’s voice than their boss had been. He jammed the key in the lock, turned it, and opened the door.

“Finally!” one of the mercenaries called. He gestured to the other. “Come on, let’s get this done. Boss might give us a raise if we find the Hilt fast.”

The two men sprinted inside, one going for the door to Briar and Delilah’s room while the other went to Sebastian’s. Kieran’s mind swam. How am I supposed to warn Sebastian?

The mercenary at Sebastian’s door said, “There are spell runes inked on this one.”

“Just wipe them off,” said the other mercenary from across the hall. “That’ll unlock it.”

“Really?” The mercenary scoffed. “That’s like locking the door but leaving the key in it. These kids must not know what they’re doing.”

Kieran took a sharp breath as the mercenary rubbed his sleeve across the runes, smearing them. Uh-oh.

At that second, the door to Sebastian’s room flew open the second a mercenary got close.

Two knives soared out at once, so fast Kieran could have blinked and missed it.

One struck a mercenary in the chest. The other embedded itself in his colleague’s shoulder.

The chest-stabbed one immediately choked, blood sputtering from his mouth before he keeled sideways and hit the floor.

The other one screamed, but the sound was immediately cut off as a shadow burst from the door, tackling him to the ground.

Sebastian, fangs out and extra-red eyes glowing, swiped his claws across the man’s neck.

The skin tore like tissue paper, blood pouring out.

The mercenary choked, reaching for his throat with a quaking hand.

He made a horrible gagging sound, bloody spittle leaking from the corner of his mouth as a last breath shook from his lips.

The sight of it made Kieran’s stomach churn.

Sebastian spun, teeth bared. His eyes locked on Kieran, and he tensed to jump.

“Wait, wait!” Kieran tore back the cowl. “Sebastian, it’s me!”

The snarl on Sebastian’s lips faded. All his eyes blinked at once. “ Kieran? What are you wearing?”

“Quinn’s clothes?” When Sebastian shot him a confused look, Kieran waved his hand. “Look, long story—the others are trapped downstairs on the observation deck, and there’s no way I can take all the other mercenaries alone. Will you help me?”

The mercenary under Sebastian let out a final death rattle before he went still.

Sebastian stood up, wiping his claws on the dead man’s clothes.

He pulled the throwing knife from the mercenary’s shoulder.

His eyes traced a droplet of blood that had begun to slide down the blade, glistening in the light.

After a beat, he asked, “Can I get a temporary pass on the animals-only rule?”

Kieran considered it. These men had raided his home and put his family in danger. They were using the people he loved most as hostages to get the Stave and Hilt. They’d been prepared to use their swords and ask questions later.

“You know what? I don’t think the animals-only rule needs to apply to bad guys.”

A smile broke across Sebastian’s face, his white fangs bright in the setting sunlight. “Then lead the way.”

Armed with six throwing knives each, Kieran and Sebastian headed down to the main deck.

Sebastian had stolen the clothes off one of the men he’d stabbed, and they both had their cowls up and faces hidden.

For the moment, Sebastian’s fangs and extra eyes had vanished, leaving just a strip of pale, gold-toned skin and almost-black eyes peering out.

They paused before the bottom of the stairs.

The boss was arguing with one of the men guarding the area, while two others stood by watching.

Kieran didn’t love their odds—especially since he could see magic flickering between one of the mercenaries’ fingertips. He needed to draw some of the men away.

He put a hand on Sebastian’s shoulder to stop him. Holding a finger to his lips, he gestured for Sebastian to follow him back up the stairs. He mouthed, Follow my lead.

Kieran cleared his throat and, in the most nasal voice he could manage, cried down toward the mercenaries, “Help! Monster!”

“Shit,” the boss said. “Must be Sebastian—go, subdue him! Elias wants him alive.”

Kieran gestured for Sebastian to follow him, and they ran the rest of the way up the stairs.

At the top, Kieran pressed his back to one side of the opening, out of sight, and gestured for Sebastian to do the same.

Moments later, three mercenaries darted up the stairs and onto the top deck.

They breezed right past Kieran and Sebastian, coming to a skidding halt.

They wheeled around, searching for their comrade.

Kieran nodded to Sebastian. “Now!”

At once, Sebastian pulled a knife from his belt and flicked it at one of the men.

It struck him in the back, sending him toppling forward.

Kieran, meanwhile, copied Sebastian’s movement, flicking a knife forward.

Unfortunately, instead of stabbing, it hit the second mercenary square in the nose handle-first. The shock of it, however, was enough to make him stumble back.

He tripped over his fallen comrade, knocking him backward, so he slammed into a pile of supply crates.

Kieran heard a crack —considering that the mercenary didn’t immediately stand to fight back, Kieran feared it might have been his skull.

Meanwhile, Sebastian pulled his mask down to reveal his fangs. He jumped at the man Kieran had hit with the knife. Glistening white fangs sank deep into the man’s throat. The mercenary began to scream, flailing. Sebastian, however, anchored him in place with both fangs and claws.

Just then, the third mercenary roared, and Kieran spun around as he bore down on him with his sword held aloft. Kieran grabbed a knife from his belt and threw it. The shot went high, whizzing over the mercenary’s shoulder. Kieran stumbled back, grabbing for another one.

Before the sword could swing down on him, he blindly threw the knife.

While it didn’t stick, it did slice across the man’s shoulder.

He dropped his sword with a scream, stumbling and nearly tripping over Kieran.

Kieran jumped back, magic sparking to life between his hands.

Still, it wasn’t enough—as he tried to summon more magic, it was as if something was stuck.

“Come on,” he urged, trying to summon more power. “Just a little more—”

Before he could, though, a bolt of familiar green magic shot up from the stairwell and struck the mercenary in the side.

He yelped. Vines suddenly appeared from the bolt, wrapping around him and pinning his limbs.

As his legs snapped together, he hit the deck with a thump, writhing and screaming for help.

That, however, didn’t last long—not as Sebastian finished drinking from the other mercenary and launched another knife at the bound one’s throat, piercing his voice box.

For a beat, everything went quiet.

Then two familiar figures stumbled up the stairs, gasping for breath. Delilah’s eyes glowed green with her magic, while Santiago appeared to have armed himself with some mercenary’s swords.

“Delilah! Santi!” Kieran cried. “You’re okay! Where are Ariel and Briar?”

“Downstairs,” Santiago said, pointing. “Briar brought down two of those men. Ariel went to the control room to get us off the ground, and Briar’s fighting the last mer—”

“Briar was fighting the boss,” a new voice came from the stairs. A moment later, Briar herself appeared, a cut on her cheek weeping blood. She wiped it away with her fist, eyes glowing with magic and mouth curved into a wicked grin. “Let’s just say I won.”

Sebastian wiped his mouth clean, meeting Kieran’s gaze. “I’m beginning to like your twin more and more.”

“Oh, thank goodness,” Delilah said, going to Briar’s side and wrapping her arms around her. “I was worried about you.”

“Please,” Briar scoffed. “That guy was nothing but dumb muscle. He didn’t stand a chance.”

Suddenly, the ground below them shifted. Kieran looked around and realized that the ship’s wings had begun to beat, slowly at first, then faster and faster. After a second, they began to lift into the air.

“Looks like Ariel got to the control room,” Santiago said. “Good. I was worried they were going to get distracted kicking as many of those mercenaries in the crotch as possible.”

“They got two solid kicks in,” Briar confirmed. “Really helped me stop that witch, honestly. Hard to cast spells when you’re hunched over crying.”

“Wait!” Kieran looked around in panic. “We can’t take off yet! Seaweed is still on the ground—”

“Actually,” Briar cut in, gesturing to the stairs.

The blue-scaled otter appeared at her side, looking quite pleased with herself.

“Seaweed is the one who saved us. She managed to sneak down the steps and chew through our restraints. Once the mercenaries left to deal with you, we were able to take care of the rest.”

“B-but—I told you to keep watch outside!” Kieran said to the otter, hands on his hips.

Her only response was a little wiggle before she chirped and ran for Kieran, jumping to climb up his shirtsleeve and curl around his neck once again.

Kieran sighed, giving her a little scratch under the chin.

“I guess I can’t be too mad, seeing as you saved everyone.

” To Briar, Kieran clarified, “So everyone’s okay? ”

Briar nodded. “Thanks to you and your familiar, yeah. You saved the day.”

Thanks to you.

Kieran exhaled, smiled, then threw his arms around Delilah and his sister. They enveloped him in a hug, squeezing tightly.

For the moment, at least, they were safe.