Page 2 of Pirate Witch

“We’re so different now,” she whispers, echoing my thoughts with an eerie accuracy. “It’s only been two months but…”

“A lot has changed,” I finish.

“I never wanted to exile you,” she confesses. “I hated myself for every word, but I knew if I didn’t, we’d have war in Coveton, and we couldn’t fight the Eagle and each other. It would have broken us.”

I nod. “I know.” I take a deep, steadying breath. “It was for the best. I wasn’t meant to stay with the coven.”

She offers me a sad, apologetic smile. “No, you weren’t.” She pauses. “Your friends are convinced that we need to destroy the mine.”

I’d almost completely forgotten about that before she mentioned it. “Yes.” I glance back at Kier. “I can’t tell you everything, but I need you to trust me. It’s important. Once the Coveton mine is destroyed, there’s only Fort Sole to go…”

Danika frowns. “You risk destroying our access to the crystals.”

Meeting her gaze levelly, I nod. “That’s exactly what I need us to do. You have to trust me. This isimportant.”

Her silver eyes don’t blink as she studies me before nodding. “All right, the mine will fall. What about Fort Sole?”

“We’ll figure that out.” One step at a time.

A knock at her door interrupts us, and Danika sighs. “Duty calls. There are more witches in Coveton than ever nowadays. I can’t catch a break.” She fiddles with the end of one of her braids as she stands. “Let me know how breaking the bargain goes. Our coven stands behind you every step of the way. Lady’s shadows hide you, Nilsa.”

“Lady’s light protect you, Mother Lunar,” I respond automatically.

I let my focus drop, allowing her image to fade from the water before slumping back into my chair.

The last few hours are catching up to me. I ache like I’ve gone ten rounds in the ring with a vampire, and the sun’s rays peeking through the skylight above us tell me I’ve been awake for far too long.

What I really need is a bath, food, and to sleep for the next three days.

I sink further into the chair, only to fall out of it as the entire ship lurches to one side. Water from the scrying bowl lurches up, splashing both Opal and me as it crashes down again.

Kier’s wings flutter, keeping him upright as he reaches down to help me back to my feet.

“What the—?” My words are cut off as another blast shakes the ship.

This time, I’m forced to lean on my fae or risk another fall. The sound of cannon fire booms through the room as we both turn towards the door.

Kier reaches it first, but holds it open for me like I’m a lady, despite the fact that theDeadwoodis clearly under attack. The action draws a snort of disbelief from Opal as she follows the two of us racing towards the upper deck.

We emerge into chaos. Val’s transmutation circles gleam across the deck, protecting the ship from our attackers. His cannons fire a retaliatory volley, filling the air with smoke and fire.

Screams echo across the space between us and our attackers, and the scent of gunpowder and burning fills my nostrils. On the other ship, Rysen and Klaus are slicing through the enemy crew like butter.

I’ve seen Rysen fight before. As always, his brutal strength is contained in efficient movements that carve through his attackers with an effortless, lethal ease. He’s beautiful to watch, like death poetry in motion.

Klaus is on the other side of the enemy ship, wielding his trident as though it’s an extension of himself. The weapon keeps his attackers at a distance, rendering their swords useless. With each lunge, sweep, and arc of the trident, his muscles flex, and I say a silent prayer of thanks to the Goddess for giving me a mate who wears nothing more than that small white kilt into battle.

He’s grinning as he picks them off one by one, his body flowing through them like water. Blasting those who try to sneak up on him with bursts of piercing siren song. His golden skin glistens with sweat, and his eyes sparkle with amusement as he dodges another blow.

Like this, it’s easy to see why he could never fit in among the other sirens. My mate is a born warrior, and it’s hot as hell.

“Get back below deck,” Val bellows, interrupting my daze.

The captain stands behind the wheel, blazing with power. Behind him, Titan is leashed to the rail, muscles stiff as he barks furiously at our attackers. But the giant mastiff isn’t the only one tied up.

Nos and Cas are both bound to the mainmast with so much rope that only their heads and feet are visible. But while Cas is actively cursing out the captain with every word he knows, Nos remains silent. His white eyes are closed and his nostrils flare as he fights an inner battle against the pale scales dancing across his cheekbones.

Val must have decided they were too unstable to join the fight, and for once, I agree with him. The two of them need to work out their differences in Leviathan form, and in the middle of a battle definitely isn’t the right time to do it. The captain pays them no mind as he commands the ship. His white hair reflects the dark purple of his magic, making him appear demonic as he launches another volley of gunfire into the other ship.