Page 123 of Liar Witch

Nilsa might be persistent, but she’s not stupid. “All right, keep your secrets.” The fingers tracing my scales drop away and I mourn the loss, only to smile as she presses her lips against mine in a brief, burning kiss. “But I don’t think anyone on this ship would begrudge you the chance to stretch your fins, and I’d love to meet your leviathan.”

I’m surprised no one else reacts to my beast slamming against the inside of my skin. Like her permission is all he needed to wake up and start writhing in my mind.

The next thud of him against the bars is like a physical blow, almost sending me sideways.

“Nos?”

I press my fingers to my temples to try to alleviate the pressure. She has no idea what her words are doing to the beast coiled beneath my skin.

“I’m fine,” I grate. “Just a headache.” She doesn’t need my shit bothering her on top of everything else she’s been through today. “I’m going to find you something dry.”

I flee the bathroom like my ass is on fire, heading for the closet.

Maybe if I find her something with my scent to wear it will calm my beast enough that he can go back to the corner of my mind, where he belongs.

When Nilsa steps out of the bathroom, I shove the shirt at her. The instant it’s over her head, I bundle her up again and carry her to my bunk, for the first time cursing the fact that I share the space with Cas. She deserves a king-sized bed. Bigger, even. Somewhere soft and warm for us to build her a nest and—

I cut off the thought with a curse.

At least the lack of space gives me an excuse to drag her even closer to me as I cover us with the sheet.

I bury my head in her neck and breathe in. Our combined scents help, but not much.

“Nos… you’re acting kind of strange…”

I can’t help the sub-vocal growl, but I can pray that she doesn’t hear it as I stroke my fingers through her wet hair.

Nilsa has suffered enough at the hands of pushy leviathans today. She doesn’t need my beast adding to what Cas has already started.

“I think,” she whispers, after a long moment of silence. “I think I want to try again.”

I pull back in shock. “No.”

“Nos, I need to do this. For me. Next time, I won’t dare Cas’s beast.”

I shake my head, mutely. “Cas’s beast will push. That’s what an alpha does. My brother was stupid enough to promise his leviathan a swim with you, and now his leviathan wants what he’s owed.”

“Sometimes I need a push,” she murmurs, kissing my skin. “I was doing well today. I made more progress than I have in days.”

At what cost?I want to say. “We’ll talk about it later. Cas might not want to risk it again.”

She nods against my chest, relaxing. It’s not long until she falls asleep against me, but I’m not so lucky.

My beast is still too close to the surface. It was once second nature to be like this. To embrace the duality of my own nature. Not anymore. Now it’s uncomfortable; like sharing my body with a stranger.

So I do the only thing I know for certain will send him back into hiding. I open the door to my memories of the circus, and let the sound of Cas’s tortured roars echo through my mind. His begging—and mine—play on a continuous loop in my head, undercut by the hiss of heated metal striking flesh as our handlers punished him for anything we did wrong.

My beast flees after only a few seconds and I lay in the darkness, wondering why his absence leaves me feeling bereft for the first time in years.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Kieran

Meliad is a cesspit. The stench of piss and dishonour is so entrenched that even the humans must be able to smell it.

Watching them crawl over the docks like ants makes me want to roll my eyes.

I’ve been watching the port for hours, waiting for Cirio’s men to appear. Normally they bring the barrels straight out as soon as our sails appear on the horizon, but this time they’re missing. In a place like this, that could mean anything.