Page 59 of Pirate Witch

I rub my temples and glare at him. “How? Even if I do, she won’t give a fuck. What can I do for her that the others don’t? I’m not the type to bend over backwards and fawn over her. I’m not going to start cooking gourmet meals like the siren, or pulling her chair out for her like Kier…”

Cirio shrugs. “Good point.” He dodges the punch I aim at his arm, shoving me away with a laugh. “She’s got a lot of men to support her. Maybe what she needs from you is someone who can challenge her. Have you ever thought of that?”

I roll my eyes. That’s all well and good, but it doesn’t help me. What woman honestly wants a man just because he can ‘challenge’ her?

I must have spoken aloud, because Cirio’s eyes gleam. “You’d be surprised how many strong, confident people need someone to take control out of their hands for a while so they can relax. Someone they trust who can take charge and give them the freedom to let go for a while—”

But Cirio’s lecture is cut off as a panting figure streaks into view.

Cooper Castleman. Great. Exactly the mage I’ve been trying to avoid.

He might be Elsie’s friend, but he’s also a mage. Worse, he’s a Castleman mage, and they have a long history of trying to rip my magic away or kill me.

“Go away, kid,” I growl, taking a long sip of my flask.

Of course, he doesn’t do what I tell him to. Cooper shoves his long hair out of his face in a manner eerily similar to my own and straightens his glasses.

“I know who you are,” he insists, ignoring me. “You’re Valorean Castleman. You’re the heir to the Castleman seat on the mage council. You’re supposed to bedead.”

My power vibrates along my skin before I even realise I’m calling it, responding to the threat. My skin glows, and Cirio stiffens beside me.

“My name,” I begin, voice lethally quiet with the force of my anger. “Is ValoreanDeadwood. I am the heir tonothing. And the only reason you’re still alive—despite your treacherous blood—is because your Solar saved my mate’s life multiple times. Threaten me again and—”

“I’m not threatening you!” The kid gasps like the very idea is absurd. “I’m here to tell you I’m backing your claim on the seat. When my father is dead, I relinquish the Castleman council seat toyou.”

Shock and horror root me to the spot. I’m wound so tightly that I almost cut Cirio’s arm off when he reaches for me.

“The boy doesn’t understand, lad,” the pirate king whispers urgently. “He’s too young to know.”

“I’m too weak to stand for Council,” Cooper continues blithely, unaware of the danger he’s in. “And by rights, it should be your line who takes it, anyway. My father only inherited because—”

“Because his sisters were both dead,” I grind out. “As you will be if you don’t fuckingdrop this.”

Cirio releases me and heads for Cooper, clearly trying to save the young mage before he does any more damage.

“Look, Cooper, is it? Boy, you’ve good intentions, I’m sure, but you have no idea what you’re messing with here.”

“That’s the son of Elaria Castleman, eldest daughter of Fen Castleman, my grandfather. He’s my cousin, and the true heir to one of the oldest seats—”

His words cut off, because I have him pinned against a crate with my hand at his throat. “Our aunt tried to rip my power out of me because she wanted that damned seat so badly,” I snap. “I want nothing to do with it. Or the snakes in charge of the council. I never will. You can have it.”

“Val!”

Nilsa’s voice cuts through my rage.Fuck.

I told her to stay close because of our bond, but she has theworsttiming.

I release the mage twerp with a final blazing glare and step back. Without my hold pinning him up, he falls to the ground, where he stares up at me with wide eyes.

“Get out of my sight,” I snap.

Cooper scrambles backwards with a betrayed look on his face. He looks like a kicked puppy, for fuck’s sake. “You would let our family fall?”

I snort, because he doesn’t know me at all. “In a heartbeat.”

“What is he on about?” Nilsa demands, helping Cooper regain his balance.

“He’s my cousin.” Cooper seems completely oblivious to the death glare I’m sending him. “The heir to the Castleman seat on the mage council.”