Page 43 of Liar Witch

Cas drops through the ceiling, takes one look at me and grimaces.

“You’re not going to like this…”

That has my hackles rising. “What? That Rysen’s loose on the ship?”

“He punched through the ceiling to get to you. Val’s got a hole the size of a coin through his abdomen and he can only buy us so much time while his magic tries to fix him.”

“So what do we do?”

Cas gives me a wary once over. “The scent of the sea should cover up the smell of your blood until the others can get him contained.”

The inky sigils on the floor suddenly disappear. The light they brought with them fading.

“Shit.”

Cas’s curse tells me exactly how bad this new development is.

“He must have knocked Val out. Come on, princess. Take my hand. I promise you’ll be safe.”

He stands there like a guardian angel, promising salvation with his hand outstretched. I know I should swallow my fear and get over it but still, I hesitate.

Beyond the windows, the sea is dark and foreboding.

The possibility of drowning is less of a threat right now than being sucked dry by a crazed vampire.

My hand drops into Cas’s just as I hear the splintering of wood behind us.

Val may have gotten rid of my door, but it seems Rysen is more than happy to make his own. Cas starts dragging me towards the window as another cramp hits me and I double over once more.

From my position I see the second a dark hand punctures the wooden boards, then withdraws just to slam through them again.

Rysen is impossibly fast. His every move makes me feel like the rest of the world is going in slow motion.

He’s faster than the shifter dragging me towards the window. Something which becomes painfully clear as we reach the glass and he finally bursts through into the room entirely.

For a blissful second, I think we’ll make it. The glass smashes around us as Cas leaps for the safety of the ocean. I feel the sea air brush against my skin.

Then something snags my nightdress. A huge hand dragging me back through the gap.

I feel like a rag doll caught in a game of immortal tug of war. One of them has to let go, or I’ll be torn in two.

Cas’s eyes widen as he realises it too, his fingers releasing me with an anguished expression.

I glance at him, trying to convince him that I’ll be okay with my eyes, even as I draw more magic from Opal to step into the spirit realm.

Rysen roars as I disappear.

I take my first real breath in what feels like forever as I collapse in the spirit realm, my eyes closing as I hug my knees and beg the pain to stop.

I can’t stay like this.

Even fully charged, Opal won’t be able to provide enough power for me to stay here forever. I have to move.

I start for the hole Rysen’s made, only to stop as he roars again, heading for the red stain in my sheets and holding his face close to it to inhale deeply.

I pause, watching in fascination as he stays there, staring at the red spot on the covers.

He’s not acting like a crazed vampire would. He’s just sniffing it on his knees.