Page 3 of Pirate Witch

“Witch, get your ass back down those stairs before I spank it!”

I raise my brows, grinning at Kier over my shoulder. “Fuck that, I’m joining in.”

Opal sighs, plodding over to Titan, who ceases his growling just long enough to allow her to climb up his leg and onto his back.“Let me know when dinner is ready,”she grumbles.“I’m going to nap.”

I roll my eyes at her, but don’t comment. Even with her remaining on theDeadwood, I’ll still be close enough to draw power from her when I need it. Kier smiles at my eagerness and produces a set of throwing blades from nowhere, extending them to me with the slightest bow.

“Witch—” Val begins.

I’m not hanging around to listen to his demands. With a critical eye, I judge the distance between theDeadwoodand the other ship and crouch in readiness.

Opal’s power reserves are low—almost gone—but she still has just enough to launch me across the space. My eyes stay fixed on the other ship as I bend my legs and push off, purposefully ignoring the sea below as I soar over it.

Kier flies behind me like my own silent shadow, landing on the splintered deck of the enemy ship by my side with his sword at the ready.

Our enemies waste no time in swarming us, but I’m ready. Shifting my weight to my back foot, I send a blade flying into the throat of the shifter running at me. He falls just before he reaches me, and I yank the blade from his body before hacking at his neck to decapitate him. Blood sprays, but I roll out of the way and bring my blade up again, stabbing the next pirate in the back.

And theyarepirates. That much is obvious from the lack of navy uniforms and the way they fight. There’s no honour here, only dirty tricks and deadly backhanders.

A whoosh of steel behind me forces me to turn or risk being run through by a fierce vampire female. Rysen must have seen it happen, because his dark form blurs past me with a roar seconds later. His fangs are bared as he tackles her to the deck and rips out her throat with his claws.

I don’t waste time watching her die. Instead, I dive back into the fray once more with my lips curved in a savage smile.

“Ugh, my fur is going to smell of smokeagain,”Opal complains from across the water.“Do you have any idea how long it takes to clean my coat?”

I smirk, but I can’t reply. My focus is consumed by the fight, which is quickly devolving into a brawl.

A shifter’s meaty fist flies out of nowhere and slams into my cheek with force. I’m knocked sideways, and my head spins as my whole body falls against the splintered railing. The wood digs into my side painfully as my attacker presses his advantage.

I dodge his next strike and wedge my knee between us, ready to kick him away. My plan is ruined as another body collides with us both. The combined weight is too much for the already damaged rail and the wood gives way with a sickening crack.

All three of us tumble through the air. For a long second, all I can see is the water beneath me.

I close my eyes and gulp in a panicked lungful of air, waiting for the splash.

Something snags my ankle. My whole body jerks to a stop in mid-air, and my breath whooshes out in one long, choked off sound.

I barely have time to become used to being suspended this way before I soar back across the space between the ships and am dropped, unceremoniously, onto the glowing deck of theDeadwoodbeside an angry captain.

“Stay. Put,” Valorean growls. “I have bigger things to worry about than fishing you out of the ocean.”

My cheeks flush with heat as I shove to my feet, ready to argue with him, only to be yanked back against the mast between Nos and Cas by more ropes before I can say anything.

“Oh, fancy seeing you here.” Cas grins. “First time in the time-out zone?”

“Ropes are kind of Val’s thing,” Nos grumbles.

I snarl and tug against my binds, searching for a weakness. My knife doesn’t make a dent, and I don’t have enough power stored with Opal to shift into the spirit realm while the Moon is absent.

“Valorean,” I growl, using his full name. “Let me go.”

He doesn’t even turn around. “You look good like that.”

The ropes shift, catching underneath my breasts and holding them out like an offering. Another slides between my thighs, teasing the sensitive flesh there.

“Fuck you,” I hiss.

“Was that an invitation?”