Page 137 of Liar Witch

My stomach does a tiny flip in shock. “Now?”

He gives me alook.

Sighing, I slip from Rysen’s arms and follow the retreating captain towards the glass doors that lead to his office. Val—of course—walks straight through as if it isn’t there. I reach for the handle, only to find my hand goes straight through.

Is this the bond mage equivalent of him holding the door for me? My inner cynic bristles. What does Valorean want so badly that he’s suddenly being nice to me? I take a deep breath and step through.

Walking through solid wood is mildly terrifying. At any second, Val could decide to end this gesture of goodwill and leave me stuck midway. I make it through to the other side, expecting him to be sitting at his desk like before.

Instead, he’s right there, at the door frame, inspecting the sigils I carved there weeks ago.

“These didn’t stop Rysen punching a hole through me,” he mutters. “I should demand a refund.”

“I told you they’d work best in a room you gave a shit about,” I retort, oddly more comfortable with this aggressive side of him than the one who opens doors for me.

“They work well enough,” he growls, stalking away and towards the window.

“You didn’t drag me in here just so you could complain about those.”

“No.”

He doesn’t elaborate, just stares out of the glass.

“Then what, Valorean? What do you want?”

“A vow before your Goddess.”

I frown, confused. “For what?”

“I need you to swear that you’re my mate. That you’re not lying to me.”

His voice is so strained that it’s almost funny, but his words are anything but. “I shouldn’t have to make a blood vow for you to trust me. I’d rather not have a mate than have one who thinks so little of me.”

“It’s not aboutyou,” he snaps, and the temperature in the room drops.

“Then whatisit about?” I demand. “Because you’ve hated me since I came aboard, and I’d like to know why.”

“I risked my fucking neck to get blood from a feral vampire to heal you when you escaped the Claw. How is that hating you?”

My body is shaking; from rage or shock, I’m not sure. “I repaid you when I got rid of your nightmares, free of charge. We’re even.”

His eyes narrow. “Of course that was you. Can’t leave me alone, can you?”

“Yeah, you’re welcome.” I reach for the handle of the door, twist.

Locked.

“Let me out,” I growl.

“I need you to make the vow.”

“Why? Why does this matter to you? And why now?”

“Because if you are, I can get off my fucking ship and find out what’s happened to Cirio!” he roars.

I stare, open-mouthed, as he runs a hand through his white hair, then pinches the bridge of his nose in a deliberate search for calm.

“The only thing stronger than a bond mage’s tether to their item is their bond to their mate. If you’re real—if you’re not part of some plot to separate me from my ship—then as long as we stay close, I can go ashore. I can find him.”