Page 40 of Liar Witch

Deities seem to have a good monopoly on working in mysterious, screwed up ways.

“Marisang is on the way to Fior,” Casimir says, after the tense seconds—where we all wait to see if Noster’s vision will be a violent one—have passed. “It’s almost a two week journey, but we could linger there, providing we really do have safe passage.”

Nilsa stiffens. “Empress Athena Sirenae Regis has guaranteed it.”

“Of course she has. Fucking royals.” Valorean shoots a dark glance at me as he says that, but I simply shrug.

I’m only third-born. Royalty barely matters when you’re not the heir or even the spare.

Unless you happen to shame your family by getting cursed.

Then it matters too much.

“Have you got his dowry?” Valorean demands. “I’m not paying for him.”

Nilsa just blinks at him. “Dowry?”

“Sirens are matriarchal,” Casimir explains. “Matings are usually arranged between the matriarch of their clan—in this case, his mother, the Empress—and a prospective match. It’s traditional to offer your future mother a groom price in the form of a dowry or a death to prove your worth. The men aren’t permitted a say in their matings. Most aren’t allowed to become warriors either.”

“They’re vapid ornaments,” Val growls. “Useless. But the women are bloody terrifying.”

Nilsa’s savage grin isn’t what he’s expecting.

“Good. Then maybe my challenger will have a few good hits in her.”

“Mate challenge,” Noster whispers. Though from his vacant expression, he’s still very out of it.

Nilsa blushes, her face saying it all.

“Of course,” Valorean chucks his hands in the air. “Because not only are we sailing into the open arms of a bunch of psychotic sea bitches, but we have to deal with a life or death fight at the end. You do realise a mate challenge is forallof your mates right? The moment you lose, we all end up your opponent’s property.”

“Then I suppose you’d better motivate me to win,” Nilsa snaps. “At the moment, I might just tell the sirens to have at you. Vapid ornament seems like an improvement over an arrogant asshole.”

Valorean starts to smile at that. It’s a terrifying expression on him, one that promises doom to the person receiving it.

“You wouldn’t want me so much if I was an ornament, sweetheart.”

His conceited words seem to stump Nilsa for a moment until she regains her composure. Fury flashes in her eyes. “You arrogant, egotistical—”

“—you’re forgetting powerful, good looking and intelligent.”

Nilsa fumes at our captain, whose smirk couldn’t get any wider. It appears Valorean is determined to get hit in the balls a second time this evening, and I have no intention of stopping it.

Not when our mate’s revenge is so funny to watch.

“To Marisang then,” Casimir announces, cutting through their argument with a grin. “Let’s hope the sirens keep their word.”

Chapter Eleven

Nilsa

After dinner, the pirates let me start unpacking in peace. I put things away as quickly as possible, then do a quick check on the crystal that Acelin gave me to make sure my enchantments on the pocket it was hidden in kept sea water out like they were supposed to. It’s still glowing softly, and I can’t see anything to suggest it got wet. I breathe a sigh of relief before stashing it in a drawer to keep it safe, alongside Petra’s book.

When I finish, Nos still hasn’t come out of his vision and Cas makes himself seem busy in the galley to keep an eye on his twin.

That just makes sneaking away even easier.

If Rysen is suffering to overcome his bloodlust, then I want to help him. I’m not a healer, but perhaps there’s something else that can be done.