Page 36 of The Unbound Witch

He ran his fingers over his sharp jaw, his face twisted as though thoughts were moving through his mind as recklessly as throwing a giant ship into a storm on the sea. “I'd never let her jump overboard. I'll lock her below if I have to.”

“She'd never forgive you.”

He tucked his hands into deep pockets with a sigh. “I'm used to being her villain. If she lives, then nothing else matters. I'm asking you now, Kirsi. Leave this with me.”

“And if she figures it out?”

He leaned in, narrowing his silver eyes. “Then you keep her from doing anything stupid.”

I snorted. “Raven is rational about everything except you. But you have my word. I won't say anything to her until you've had your chance.”

I floated up toward the drunk captain, now sober and serious behind the wooden spokes of his ship's wheel. The Dark King followed me, his hands still held behind his back, eyes drawn to the few men below, scurrying about.

“You're sure this is a big enough crew to get us there?”

Crow pulled the leather hat from his head, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. “The last time the sky looked like this, I lost my whole crew. The ship was shredded to pieces, and I woke up marooned on a beach. Sheer luck saved me. See those thunderheads there? I'm not sure a hundred men would be enough to see us through. We'll hope the wind holds steady and do our best. That's all we can do, Your Grace.”

Bastian glanced at me and dipped his chin before answering. “We'll have to get her back today. There's no chance of waiting. I'll pay double whatever fee Eden has promised.”

A pink blush filled the peculiar man's round cheeks as he put his hat back on. “I, uh...” He cleared his throat. “I'm not sure you want to make that bargain.”

The corner of Grey’s lip raised, the smirk devilish on his brooding face when understanding settled there. Another peek of Bastian I'd never seen in Grey until now. Though I supposed when one was looking, it was easier to see. Or maybe he'd drawn a clear distinction of the two characters in his own mind.

“What?” he asked, noticing my stare.

“I'm just trying to decide if you're really Grey in the Dark King's body or the Dark King in Grey's body. Which personality is really you?”

His shoulders raised with the deep breath he took. Before answering, he stepped away from the captain, toward the rail on the ship. “In time, you will see that we are one and the same. As Grey, my walls don't have to be quite so high. I can relax and be myself.”

I moved left and right, unable to hold still, even in serious moments. “You couldn't be yourself with Raven weeks ago?”

“It's not that I couldn't be myself. I was more myself with her, and also you, than you probably realize. Bastian the king? He lets no one in. Keeps no one close. But Raven has been the exception to every rule since the day she challenged me when the Chosen arrived.”

“Fine. But I'm not saying it was okay. I'm not even saying I'm done being pissed at you.”

He switched into Bastian, dark hair pulled back, silver eyes similar to mine staring back. “Does this form help with the anger?”

I rolled my eyes. “Pretty sure the only reason Raven forgave you is because she realized she gets to fuck you both now.”

He chuckled, wiggling his eyebrows, though it seemed forced, the tension still weighing on him. “Think so?”

“I take it all back. You’re such a tool.” I half smiled, but it quickly faded as Torryn approached, his face somber, ready to deliver Atlas’ update.

The shifter shook his head, the silver in his beard catching the faint sunlight threatening to be swallowed by the clouds pushing in. “Without access to magic, we don't heal as quickly. Eden cleaned the wounds, but they are deep, and he hasn't stirred.” He rubbed his hands over his face, reluctant to say the next words. “I'm not sure Atty's going to pull through this one, Bash.”

“He will. I'll accept nothing less.” He pivoted toward the captain. “How long until we hit the barrier?”

The man studied the sky for several moments before crossing the upper deck, leaning way over the railing to look down at the water, doing the weird finger-in-the-air thing before answering. “Half a day if the weather holds. Up to two if it gets out of hand.”

“That's a big variance,” Bastian replied. “You're going to have to make that half-day timeline. Once we hit the barrier, you and your men can turn back. I can get us the rest of the way.”

Crow wiggled his fingers in the air, whispering, “With your magic?”

“No,” Torryn cut in. “With his long swimming arms.”

It took Crow longer than it should have to locate the sarcasm in Torryn's words, before his face showed any sign of understanding. If Atlas and Raven weren't in such compromised states of health, I might have laughed.

The second the ship's monstrous iron anchor was raised, and the large cables released from the dock, the behemoth burst to life, gliding along the top of the water, as eager to get to sea as we were. I left the captain’s ship several times, circling the surface of the water, avoiding the inevitable. I needed to see Raven, needed to know she was okay, but heavy guilt weighed on me at withholding another large truth from her. Bastian had good intentions, but that didn't make the lie any easier. If it was between him and her, though, I would always choose her life. And not in the haunted form I was in. I wouldn't wish this eternal damnation on my worst enemy. Here, but not alive. No pleasure. Nothing satisfying.