Page 40 of Pirate Witch

No pressure or anything.

“Will it harm them?” I ask.

Fate laughs, the sound chilling.“Harm is such a subjective term, child.”

The Sun takes pity on me and shakes her head.“Change is not synonymous with harm, though it can lead to it. I can promise that they will live. Whatever happens beyond that will be the result of their own choices.”

I gnaw at my lip until it bleeds. Can I really break my mates’ bargain, knowing it’s going to change Elsie and Reva’s lives forever? Can I affordnotto if leaving the bargain intact means the Eagle will win?

I’m overwhelmed, but I don’t have the time to be, and the combination of the two quickly creates a toxic cycle of dread.

Until a hand on the top of my head stops my thoughts in their tracks. I look up to find the Moon standing right in front of me—though I never heard her move.

“You are stronger than you think. I have never chosen a weak Shadow. Whatever you decide, you will serve me with honour. I can ask no more of you than this.”

I nod and brace myself as I look past her at the other two, and then back at her.

Because there is no choice, really. Between my men and my friends. Between my men and myself. They always come first.

“Do it. I accept the consequences.” And I pray that the other two will forgive me for it.

“So be it.”Fate’s arms extend, fingers reaching out and contracting, as if she’s plucking at invisible strings in the air.

The Sun and Moon surround her, placing their hands on her shoulders. They’re lending her power, I realise. Breaking a fae bargain requires so much energy that all three goddesses have to work together to do it.

No wonder it’s never been done before.

Finally, I can make out the shadowy forms of my men. The goddesses are shining so brightly that the pearlescent mist blobs of their souls appear like shadows by comparison. The light of the goddesses starts to pulse in time. First silver, then white, then gold and then back to white. The air heats before chilling down to unbearably cold temperatures. The pattern repeats, getting brighter and brighter until I’m forced to fling my arms up in front of my face to protect my eyes.

The final flare of light blinds me, turning my vision black. There’s the sensation of lips being pressed to my forehead before my spine lights up with fire. Cold flames engulf the goddess’s mark on my back before darkness surrounds me. I fall to the floor, my body crumpling under wave after wave of power.

I claw my way back to consciousness only to find that I’ve fallen out of the spirit plane altogether. My head aches like it’s been split open, and I groan as I roll onto my back. My eyes flutter open at the same time that my ears manage to put together the sound of arguing and roaring.

My vision is incredibly blurry. I blink and blink, waiting for it to clear. Only it doesn’t. I ignore the furious yelling that’s taking place over my head as fear takes over. It’s like I’m seeing everything through sunspots, and my heart starts to pound as I scrub furiously at my face.

Is this the price the goddesses were talking about? Am I blind? A scream builds in the back of my throat, but I can’t release it because I can’t seem to get enough air into my lungs.

“I’mfine. Let me look at her.” I’ve never heard Elsie sound so angry before and neither has anyone else.

The yelling stops and her gentle hands tug mine away from my face.

“Nilsa, what’s wrong? Talk to me.”

“I can’t see.” I mean it to come out measured, but the words are a whimper. “Everything is blurry. They took my sight, Elsie. They took—I’m going to be sick.”

I haven’t eaten all night, and I’m suddenly grateful for that as I dry heave over my friend. Elsie holds me—completely unfazed by the whole thing—murmuring comforting words as she waits for me to control myself.

“Give her room,” she barks at someone behind me. “Nilsa, I need you to look at me so I can check for damage, okay? I have to know what I’m working with. Eyes are complicated.”

Hot salty tears spill down my cheeks as I force myself to open my lids and stare in the direction of her voice. I still can’t make out anything beyond a faint, darker blob in the middle of the light blur, but Elsie gives me an approving hum.

“Keep your eyes open,” she instructs, and I feel the soft warmth of Solar magic for a second.

“It’s a pressure buildup,” she mutters. “There’s some swelling, but it should be temporary.”

“How temporary?” Cas demands, and I flinch at how loud his voice is.

The headache is still there, accompanied by a ringing in my ears that’s slowly growing in volume.