Page 119 of Liar Witch

I still have plenty of power, more than I need, and I bite my lip as I debate what to do next.

I’m not a Solar. I can’t do what Elsie does and seal away the worst of what’s bothering him. But I might be able to make sleeping easier.

A Solar would never do such a thing without permission. Fortunately, I’m less concerned with ethics than they are.

“You will never have these night terrors again.” I force as much magic into the words as I can, feeling them sink beneath his skin.

I have no idea if it will last forever. I’ve never tried to use compulsion for anything long-term before. In fact, it’s mostly something I use in contracts to get a target to commit suicide, leaving no loose ends.

Val should be grateful I don’t feel like murdering him today.

Falling back onto my heels, I look back at Kier, wondering if I should leave his cabin now that both of them look like they’ll be fine.

But the fae is awake, his grey eyes fixed on me. There’s something assessing, almost calculating, in them.

I shake my head, pressing my finger to my lips.

“Sleep. Everything’s fine and you need to rest.” I ignore his knowing look and push off the floor. I head for the door, shaking my head again when he tries to get up. “Rest.”

Is it cowardly that I want him to go back to sleep so I don’t have to face what happened last night? Yes. Am I going to let that bother me? No. Because he probably does need to sleep some more after his curse did such a number on him.

Chapter Thirty-One

Nilsa

Rysen’s growling is giving me a headache. While the three of us slept—unaware—in Kier’s cabin, the others eventually discovered the bloodbath we’d left in mine. I suspect the only reason our nap wasn’t interrupted by the four others checking me for injuries was because no one was willing to wake the clearly wounded Kier by dragging me from his bed.

The instant I leave his cabin, there’s nothing to hold them back.

Between Rysen and Klaus, there’s no inch of me left unchecked. I suspect Cas would have joined in, if his beast hadn’t forced a shift, leaving him stuck in his leviathan form. Even Nos is concerned, hovering behind them with tiny lines of tension etched around his eyes.

In the hours that follow, Rysen takes to following me everywhere in case the fae return.

It’s so bad that I accept Klaus’s offer ofanotherswimming lesson to escape the constant feeling of being watched.

Only, this time, Nos and Ry aren’t even pretending not to watch as I sit on Cas’s back and struggle to deal with having my lower legs submerged for what feels like the hundredth time.

Frustration is gnawing at me, battling with the nausea in the pit of my stomach.

“I can’t believe I’m still so useless at this.” I groan, cutting off the low, humming melody that Klaus is using to keep me calm.

He shakes his head, fins waving in the water behind him as he rubs gently at the arches of my feet beneath the water.

“Don’t say that. You’re doing so much better. I’m barely using my power on you at all today.”

I roll my eyes at him and force out a deep, quivering breath. “It’s pathetic. My mates are pirates and I can’t even get my knees wet.”

Cas’s massive head lowers, putting me level with one huge, disapproving eye. I don’t speak leviathan, but I’m pretty sure he’s not happy with me.

“Maybe I should just jump,” I mutter, my heart racing at the thought. “Rip off the bandage.”

Klaus shakes his head, his grip on my ankles turning to steel as if I might actually try it. “That’s exactly the sort of thing which could set you back. No one is rushing you, or judging you. Even if you don’t swim, it won’t matter. Look at Noster and Valorean, do you see them jumping into the water?”

“It’s not about swimming,” I growl. “It’s about this damned phobia.”

“A rational response to a childhood trauma in which you lost your parents. Cut yourself some slack.”

But my siren’s words aren’t helping. Whatever remains of the power he was using to calm me is evaporating. I can feel my throat closing up as my eyes fall back onto the deep, blue waters below us.