Page 128 of Liar Witch

“It’s a scripture of some sort. I don’t know exactly, but it belongs with the witches,” I insist, the mark on my back tingling in agreement. “Name your price.”

Marianne smiles, the expression savage. “Boys, we need a moment alone.”

Both Klaus and Ry hesitate, their eyes meeting mine. I give them both a slow nod, but even then, I can read the reluctance in their posture as they head for the door.

“Vampire,” Marianne calls, halting Rysen in his tracks. “Don’t forget this.”

His arm blurs as she flicks the ring across the room, snatching it out of the air a foot away from his face. He looks at Marianne, then at me, and offers the former a swift nod before closing the door behind him.

Marianne stands, coming up beside me. “A Seer once told me that the Goddess of Death will one day send her Shadow to answer a call for my death.”

I roll my eyes. She can’t seriously expect me to spare her. “I can’t disobey my Goddess. Not even for this.”

“I’m not asking you to,” Marianne replies. “I just want you to give me a warning before you come for my head. I want you to give me a fair chance.”

I bite my lip, considering it. “If you’re marked, you will die.”

“Yes, but I’ll do it on my terms. Not by some black magic while I’m sleeping, but rather, facing the blade that’s going to fucking end me. Come on, Shadow, surely all the quick, easy deaths must get boring after a while? Don’t you want to make it interesting? I’m only human, after all. Barely a challenge to an immortal.”

I snort. She has no idea how ‘interesting’ my current target is proving. The Eagle of Galmere is human, and somehow I suspect that Marianne will be just as challenging—if not more so—if I’m ever sent to collect her head.

Yet, something in me isn’t willing to leave this strange tablet here. No matter the unconventional cost.

“If I’m the one sent to kill you, I vow to the Goddess to give you fair warning.”

Marianne nods. “And may it be a fitting end.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Valorean

The huge fucking rock is visible the second they get into the longboat and start rowing back to the ship. It’s enormous. Really, it’s too heavy for the smaller boat, making it sit dangerously low in the water. I feel the weight of it settle between my shoulders as Rysen hefts it over one shoulder with his vampiric strength and leaps onto theDeadwood’s deck.

“I sent you to find the cargo and you’ve come back with a fancy boulder?” I grumble. “This is the witch’s fault, isn’t it? Witch, why the hell is there a giant rock on my ship?”

“It’s a sacred artefact which we are going to return to Coveton at our earliest convenience,” she retorts. “It has to be kept safe until then.”

“Coveton isn’t on our list of destinations for the foreseeable future,” I argue. “Besides, weren’t you exiled from there?”

Her face pales, and I feel the slightest twinge of guilt.

Okay, maybe reminding her of that was a dick move.

“It will stay on the ship until we go there again.” Rysen steps in smoothly. “It’s not like we don’t have the space.”

I wish I was a shifter, so I could just growl at them. Rysen doesn’t give me a chance to say any more on the matter, opening the cargo hatch and dropping down with the huge tablet braced on one shoulder.

Still, no one has brought up the more pressing issue. “What about the dust?” They haven’t brought any barrels back with them and I’ve not managed to spot a single one of Cirio’s ships on the horizon.

“Marianne’s people haven’t seen a single one of Cirio’s men since you were last here,” Klaus pipes up. “She said there’s talk of a mutiny on Safor.”

“Anyone trying to mutiny against Cirio is fucking stupid and very, very dead.” I scoff at the idea. “We’ll head to Safor. We’re early enough that they probably just aren’t ready for us. If the dust isn’t there, I guess we’ll have to sail to Faelys.”

With the decision made, theDeadwood’s sails drop. The wheel beside me turns until we’re headed out of the port. For a second, I let myself feel the wind through the sails, seizing the moment of familiarity despite my misgivings.

If Cirio’s men haven’t managed to get the Eagle’s cargo, we’ll be forced to go to the fae directly.

I hate Picosnia. The island which contains the gateway to the fae realm is hidden away at the corner of the world, shrouded in mist and nearly impossible to get to. The fae themselves are bastards to deal with; all their rules and tricks give me a headache on the best of days. Being unable to lie doesn’t make them any more truthful than anyone else, it just makes them better at deception by necessity.