Page 5 of Pirate Witch

“We can’t ignore her commands, no matter how she chooses to deliver them,” I admit. “It’s only a matter of time. I’ve… I’ve seen it.” I hesitate at the confession, afraid to even voice the rest, but they have to know. I didn’t see much, but if it helps Nilsa stay out of the Eagle’s clutches…“In my vision I saw the orders arrive, but there was no sign of you or Klaus. After that, I’ve got nothing.”

They go silent at the confirmation that our worst fear will happen. It’s only a matter of when.

“TheDeadwoodis fast, but she’s a warship,” Val mutters. “Sloops and other smaller ships will easily cover twice the distance in the same time we do, especially with these attacks. Every fight is going to give the ones racing to get to Cawshome more time to get there. We could lose days of time if they come at us hard enough.”

A tense silence follows, and no one breaks it until Nilsa moves away from Rysen and heads for the lower deck with slow, thoughtful steps.

“Where are you going?” Cas asks, just as confused as I am.

“I’m starving,” she replies. “Do you know anyone who does their best thinking with an empty stomach?”

I snort but follow her, anyway. Perhaps stuffing myself with food will make my beast lazy.

“She has a point,” I say, when the others don’t immediately follow us. “We have some time. Not much, butsome. Might as well eat.”

Cas is the first to move, ignoring the steps in favour of leaping over the bannister and onto the main deck. “Bringing down a whole cavern does leave one feeling rather peckish. May I escort you to your refreshment, my lady?”

Our mate snort-giggles, and the sound is so adorable that my beast sits up in my mind. Following her is no longer a choice. It’s a compulsion.

“I still have a broom,” she mutters as we approach the galley. “We just need to get as close to Mirna as possible. If I have a map, I can fly to Isablis.”

My beast snarls at the thought of our mate, alone, flying over an island full of vampires.

“We’re going as fast as we can,” Val growls as we burst into the warm room. “Even mage-bonded ships can only travel as fast as the wind permits, and every fucking pirate between here and Galmere will be after us.”

My hand makes contact with the table and I slide my way onto the bench. Goddess, I hope Klaus can make something fast. The leviathan in me is seriously considering leaping through the hull of the ship and hunting something it can swallow whole. Like a whale.

“Elsie and Reva are flying from Coveton,” Nilsa murmurs as the subtle clatter of cutlery being passed around fills the room. “They’ll meet me in Isablis.”

I swipe my hand across the top of the table until I meet metal and grab whatever utensils she’s given me.

“Do the three of you stand a chance against this crew?” Cas asks.

“Four,” Klaus corrects. “Wherever she goes, I follow.”

My hands clench on the cutlery, and my beast snarls at the insinuation that the rest of us wouldn’t do the same.

We would, but we’re about to be turned against our own fucking mate by a bargain that’s entirely my fucking fault.

The crinkle of paper confuses me for a second before Val speaks again. “We can hug the coast of Mirna, here, but whether they arrive before or after you depends on how fast those brooms of yours go.”

He must have brought out a map, I realise, trying to picture it in my mind.

I have a map in my quarters, one made of metal, which is raised to show the land and works with my mage-tech earpiece. I can just about imagine what they’re talking about, with enough focus.

Nilsa considers it as bowls start being handed around. Cas and I are served last, probably because none of the crew are in any hurry to forget the chaos we just caused. It’s nothing fancy, just oats with honey and fruit, but the entire crew is starving after the night we’ve had. The sound of cutlery clinking fills the room as we all start to stuff our faces, then Nilsa starts to speak again.

“Brooms are faster than a ship,” she replies. “But, even flying hard, they’ll have to stop along the way, which will slow them down. I’d say they’ll reach Isablis around the same time, or a little later, depending on how quickly that bird arrives.”

There’s a long silence as they all contemplate the map, and I fill the time by shovelling more oats into my mouth. Goddess, I had no idea how hungry I was.

“When I meet up with Elsie and Reva, we’ll be able to break the bargain you made, but it won’t be easy,” Nilsa continues. “There’s a good chance some, or all of you, might die.”

“Worth it,” Rysen’s retort is instant and candid.

“Agreed.” Cas sounds so hopeful that I wither inside.

In my twin’s eyes—and in the eyes of the rest of the crew—death is preferable to the bargain I wrought upon them.