Page 48 of Pirate Witch

I’m so used tonottalking that remembering to speak is going to take a conscious effort on my part. The irony burns in my gut as I close my eyes and allow myself to drift off with my mate in my arms.

NILSA

When I wake up for the second time, the blurriness has passed. Only to be replaced by a fierce migraine.

Groaning, I push myself up until I’m sitting and try to distract myself by examining the room we’re in.

The light of the crescent moon streams through the enormous wall of windows behind the bed. I’ve only seen this much glass in one other place on the ship: Val’s office, so this cabin must be directly below it. The rest of the space is richly furnished and decorated in jewel tones that add personality and intimacy to the huge cabin.

There are three doors. One of them is partially open, revealing the tiled bathroom beyond, but the other two are closed.

Eventually, I run out of things to look at and I have no choice but to look down and study the giant bed I’ve been avoiding. How does the ship even have a bed this big? When did Val get it?

It’s big enough for me and all of my men. How can I tell? Because all seven of us are currently in it. Kier is still on my left, but Rysen has moved over to the edge and made way for Cas on my right. Nos is between the two of them, having kicked one leg out of the blankets at some point during the day. I suppress a snigger as I realise his face is basically smooshed into Rysen’s armpit and move my gaze over to the other side.

Val seems to have sat down in one corner and drifted off, if the way his legs are hanging over the edge of the bed is any indication. Klaus is on the other side of Kier, and my Siren mate has fallen asleep on his front, arms and legs splayed in a starfish position that gives him his space and keeps the others out of it. If he moves, he’ll kick Val in the head.

It’s a sweet tableau, but I have no idea how I’m going to get out of here without waking one of them up. I take a deep breath, willing the migraine to pass, before lying back down and attempting to wriggle my way down the mattress. I make it halfway before I realise my face is level with Kier’s dick.

That’s tempting. I lick my lips, but force myself to keep wriggling down to the edge of the mattress. I’m all for waking up my men with a blow job, but the return of my sight has brought about the very pressing realisation that I’m a mess. My feet hit the ground and I stand on wobbly legs before heading to the open door. When I get there, I dart a quick look back to check that they’re all still sleeping before shutting myself in.

It takes half an hour in the shower for me to feel like myself again. Longer spent just sitting on the edge of the counter, wrapped in a towel, before I can convince myself that everything is real.

The Eagle’s bargain is no more. Kier’s curse is broken. Right now, we’re as close to freedom as we’ve ever been. A future with my mates rests on the horizon, tantalisingly close.

All that remains is to kill Queen Catherine.

We could just leave now, an insidious voice whispers in the back of my mind.Take our freedom and run to the farthest reaches of the ocean. Ignore the Goddess’s contract and live out our days beyond the Eagle’s reach.

But I’m no fool. Catherine would just hunt us down. She knows she needs to eliminate the threat we represent to consolidate her power.

So when I patter back into the bedroom, I go straight to the satchel that someone has grabbed from my room at Sade’s palace. Open it, and take out the palm-sized, glowing crystal and examine it.

“Mine’s bigger,” Val grumbles, coming up behind me. “What’s a witch doing with a hunk of unrefined crystal?”

I hadn’t even noticed he was awake, and I roll my eyes at him. “This one is special. I’ll explain when the others are up.”

He takes my chin and tilts my face up so I’m looking at him. “No more secrets?”

I shake my head, dislodging his grip. “No more secrets,” I agree, solemnly.

The captain nods, seeming to decide something before offering his hand to help me up. “Let’s grab some food. Rysen looked like he was about to pass out when he saw how much weight you’ve lost.”

I’ve lost weight?I snort and take his hand. “Charming. You know you’re not supposed to mention a lady’s weight to her, right?”

“I’m a pirate, not a gentleman.” He pulls me up. “You want nice words and manners? Ask Kier or Klaus.”

He shoves open the door beside me, revealing a walk-in closet. The only clothes inside right now are mine, and I run a hand along the fabrics before picking out a short, black number. I go to drop the towel and change, only to remember that Val’s standing in the doorway still.

I shoot him a questioning look, and he arcs a brow in response.

A dare.

Game on, captain.I’m not shy, so I don’t even bother to hide my body as I let the fluffy fabric fall from my chest to land in a heap on the floor. Keeping my eyes on him—though his have already wandered down my body, lingering in places—I step into a lacy thong and completely forgo a bra.

When I wrap the straps of the dress around my body to cover my breasts, leaving almost more skin exposed than covered, Val scoffs.

“Mirna might be sunny as fuck, but there’s a bloody cold wind up there tonight.”