Page 51 of Liar Witch

“This feels nice,” I murmur, my eyes sliding closed as an exhausted languor settles in my limbs.

“Do you regret it?”

It takes a second to click that we’re talking about two different things, and in that time, his brows have crinkled with concern.

“No. Never.”

“You chose to mate me out of compassion.” He sounds a little broken at the idea. “That was noble. I swear to you, I will earn your love.”

I press a finger to his lips. “When I was growing up, Glenna made no secret of the fact that she’d seen no harem for me in my future. I’d come to terms with it. Braced myself for a lonely life. It was only recently that I discovered she lied.”

Rysen growls. “You’ve always been meant for us and she tried to get in the way.”

I grimace. “I guess I’ll never know her reasons. Either way, I didn’t expect to find you. I wasn’t prepared. But I did want you and I’ll never regret it. Did I mate you earlier than I’d planned? Maybe. And yes, compassion did probably come into it as well.” Lying about that wouldn’t change anything. “In an ideal world, I’d rather you were rational and able to make a fully informed decision, but I would still do it all over again in a heartbeat.”

His arms tighten. “Never think I didn’t consent to mating you. My instinct might have been ruling me at the time, but my heart has been sold on you since you first set foot on this ship.”

“Love at first sight is a myth.” I snort.

He tugs me closer and presses a kiss to the top of my hair. “Not for me.”

Chapter Thirteen

Kieran

Islip out of the room when Rysen starts carrying Nilsa into the bathroom, silent as a ghost.

Was watching them voyeuristic? Yes.

Do I regret it? No.

I let my glamour slip just enough to leave a touch of my scent by the door. I’ll confess my crimes to them both when they’re up and dressed but Rysen will scent me in the room, and he’ll know.

The strong emotions brought on by sex could have easily tipped my friend back over the edge. I know better than most how he can seem perfectly fine then regress just as fast. His miraculous recovery might not last as long as everyone hopes and I won’t let Nilsa get hurt because I was too lax to protect her.

The real test will be when her cycle ends and Rysen’s instinct to mate with her over and over retreats, leaving space for his bloodlust to return.

Being mates doesn’t guarantee her safety. He’ll always be a risk.

Hurting her would slay him. So I’ll protect them both.

The next three days pass with the two of them barely leaving that room. I tell myself that I’m paying attention to every noise that comes from her cabin to make sure she’s okay, but I’d be lying if listening to her beg him to fuck her isn’t one of the hottest things I’ve ever heard. When Nilsa emerges to get food, her neck is covered in tiny puncture wounds but she doesn’t look drained.

No, the witch looks radiant. Between Rysen’s attentions and the fae dust sweets the twins have snuck her, she looks like a pampered queen. There’s a subtle glow to her cheeks and a messiness to her hair that gives her a gorgeous just-fucked look.

I want to give her that look.

I feel the frost coat my hair. The loss of control is one I’m becoming accustomed to in her presence, but it’s not one I enjoy. It’s disconcerting for my power to be so unhinged after centuries of perfect discipline.

She rummages through the cupboard in silence for the longest time before I let my glamour drop.

Nilsa doesn’t react. Doesn’t give any indication that I’ve spooked her. Instead she just grabs the fruit she’s been looking for and starts slicing it into two bowls. She finishes one, then hands it to me in silence while she finishes her own.

“Rysen said you watched us,” she finally says.

I tilt my head to one side. I didn’t expect Rysen to mention it to her, or for her to be the one to bring it up. Then again, Lunar witches aren’t shy about sex like their Solar counterparts. Nilsa in particular doesn’t seem like the type to blush and avoid eye contact.

It takes a second too long for me to realise she’s waiting for a reply, so my nod feels awkward and out of place.