Page 117 of Pirate Witch

“Poor ickle shark,” I chuckle.

“Casimir,” my mother’s voice cuts through our conversation. “Can I speak to you for a second?”

My poor, easygoing twin knows what’s coming. I can feel his tension just as keenly as I feel my own resignation.

“Ma, can’t it wait? We’re about to start…”

“No, it cannot.”

Cas’s scent fades, and I’m pretty sure he’s being dragged away. Sure enough, when Ma speaks again, they’re across the deck, voices hushed.

“I cannot believe you’re dragging your brother into a battle. Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?”

“Look, Ma—” Cas sounds pissed already, but he doesn’t get a chance to speak as our mother ploughs over him, in full protective matriarch mode.

“He’s blind! Bringing him into battle is—”

Rage fogs my vision a second before Nilsa pulls out of my arms. My witch’s heels thunder across the deck as she strides away from me.

“You want to discuss your concerns about Nos being in a battle, you do it with Nos,” she snaps. “He’s a grown man, and he’s a fucking good fighter. Cas is not his keeper, and neither is anyone else.”

I can scent Cas’s relief from here. “She’s right, Ma. Nos is perfectly capable of fighting, and if you want to object to that, do it to his face.”

My mother flounders for a second before launching her tried and tested comeback. “A true alpha protects those who need it.”

But this isn’t the same starry-eyed teenage Cas, hanging on our parents’ every word.

“Yes. And my twin is an alpha in his own right. He doesn’t need it.”

I scent Nona before her hand gently pats my shoulder, distracting me. “Things haven’t changed, have they?” she says, tone sad.

“They have,” I retort. “But it appears my parents are the only ones too blind to see that.”

“May I offer a word of advice?”

I bow my head. “Of course.”

My grandmother was always on my side, even as a teenager. She’s the oldest shifter I know, and her words carry weight.

“Challenge your father. A sparring match. End this now, before it poisons the entire war meeting.”

“You think that will help?”

“I think the reason your father isn’t over there arguing with your brother is because he knows Cas only submitted as a formality. He’s smart enough to realise you’re just as powerful.”

“And Ma isn’t?”

Nona chuckles under her breath. “No woman is a hundred percent sane when it comes to protecting her baby. That’s what makes us more terrifying than men.”

The cogs in my mind start whirling. “Surely, if I want to challenge anyone…” I begin, cautiously. “I should challenge the strongest warrior in the pack.”

Which has never been my father. Pa is only alpha because the previous alpha stepped down.

Nona’s hand pats my shoulder. “I knew you were a smart boy. Your brother has his father’s charm, but you have my brains.”

“Human form or leviathan?”

“Human.” Nona moves away, her glee radiating off her in waves. “Less senses, makes it more of a challenge.” She steps away, turning to yell into the crowd. “Clear a space. My grandson has challenged me, and I accept.”