Page 130 of Liar Witch

His glare is downright hostile. “I thought I was getting better.”

“You almost drowned her.”

“Well, at least I’ll never have to worry about that happening again.”

“Nos said she wants to try again.”

The full-body shudder that runs over him is barely visible, but it’s there. “Not with me. I’m too unstable.”

“Try telling that to her. She’s more stubborn than all of us.”

His smile is a ghost of the expression I’m used to. “I know she is. What happened in Meliad?”

“No dust,” I mutter, because that’s all that really matters. “We’re headed to Cirio’s Cove to find out what’s keeping them. Marianne suggested mutiny, but I don’t believe it. We would have heard something.”

I have to believe that.

“Cirio’s old,” Cas disagrees. “Even for a shifter. It’s possible that he’s slipped up, made too many enemies. And we’re left alone by most of the others, it’s not impossible that we would have been left out of the loop.”

I shake my head, hands fisting. “His fleet’s been strong for two hundred years, probably longer. His seconds are all capable and loyal. I don’t see it happening. It’s more likely he’s just caught up on his honeymoon.”

The look Cas throws me is almost pitying. “Look, I know he’s like an older brother to you—”

“Don’t finish that sentence.”

“The man is just as flawed as any other, and whatever loyalty his seconds have, they’re pirates. Enough gold will turn any one of them against him.”

He’s right. I know he is. That doesn’t make it any easier to listen to him.

“Why don’t you focus on grovelling to your mate, and leave me to worry about what we’ll find when we get to Safor,” I grumble. “She’s down in the galley, probably with your twin.”

Casimir

It’s a shitty, low blow, but Val’s right. I can’t keep finding excuses to hide up here forever. Beast and man are exhausted; we swam hard for hours until all the extra energy we had was gone and he was thoroughly spent. Now I need to go and apologise for my stupid beastagain.

Each step of the way to the galley is haunted by the sounds of her laughter coming from within. When I finally make it into the doorway, she’s dancing around the siren, trying to interfere with his cooking as Rysen, Kier, and Nos watch them from the table. It’s a strangely lighthearted moment, given that the last time I saw her, she was petrified.

The instant she sees me, she abandons Klaus and flings herself into my arms. My whole body folds around her, my exhausted beast purring quietly in his sleep at the contact. I bury my nose into her hair, breathing in the berries-and-sweetness scent of her.

“You’re an idiot,” she mumbles against my chest.

“I know, princess. I know. I’m sorry.”

“What happened?”

That question, so blunt and without judgement, is almost my undoing. It takes me a second to swallow back the emotion that clogs up my throat.

“He wanted to swim with you. You made eye contact and he—I’m not sure how, but he took it to mean you were ready. Then when Nos jumped in, he saw the opportunity to swim with both of you and he went for it like the greedy bastard he is.”

I look over at my twin, then at the siren. “I’m so sorry, all of you.”

“Forgiven.” Klaus waves it away. “All of our other halves can get a little excited around Nilsa.”

Rysen and Keir also give me quiet nods, though the compassion in their eyes stings.

They know too much, and I hate thinking that our mate will one day have to know too.

Nos is quiet, and something in my stomach sinks a little more when he doesn’t answer me. For once, I’m completely unable to tell what my brother is thinking.