Page 100 of Traitor Witch

Klaus's smile dims. "When was the first time?"

I grimace. "I was six. My mother and fathers were taking me across the sea from Meliad to Sulivad to join a different coven. One with others my age. A storm hit and threw us onto the rocks at Fort Sole. The ship was wrecked and that time there wasn't a shifter around to save me.

"I woke up on a beach in Coveton with Glenna kneeling over me. As a girl, I hated the sea because it took my mother and fathers away. As an adult..."

I trail off. Klaus looks lost.

"I can't imagine... Nilsa, I'm so sorry."

"It wasn't your fault." I wave his apology away. "I didn't mean to be so depressing. I'm not sure why..."

I clam up instantly.

I've not willingly talked about my parent's deaths since I was tiny. Not to anyone.

"Are you doing something? Is your siren?"

Klaus winces. "It's the mating dreams," he admits. "They make both of us... more receptive."

"Receptive?" I glower at him "What do you mean, receptive?"

"The point is to help us form a bond." He shrugs, but his face screams guilt. "They make both of us more likely to listen to positive feelings. You feel more comfortable here than you would in real life. I bet you're not as afraid of the sea here as you would be in the physical world, are you? It's a bit like being...drunk. But not as noticeable."

"And you knew about this, the whole time?"

He doesn't answer. But at least he doesn't bother lying.

"How do I get out of this dream?" I demand. "At least on theDeadwoodthey're not drugging me."

"TheDeadwood?" For the first time, rage suffuses Klaus's face. "You're with thosepirates?"

"They're the only people who seem to want to help me!"

He runs an aggravated hand through his blonde hair. "I want to help you. Goddesses above, woman, I'd walk through fire for you. But do you even know what they're smuggling?"

I shrug. "That has nothing to do with me."

The look on his face says it all. "You... Just trust me, Nilsa. You have to get away from that ship."

"They've been nothing but good to me," I retort.

Klaus runs another hand through his hair. "If you trust them that much, ask them what cargo they're carrying and for whom."

"Why should it matter? They're good men!"

Klaus just looks at me incredulously. "They'repirates."

I turn away from him. "I have no other options and they're treating me a whole lot better than a siren who's using dreams to fuck with my senses."

I have to get out of this place. Even now, the waves are leaching my anger. Making me question myself.

I just want to be able to think clearly.

"End it," I demand. "Wake us up."

The conflict in the set of his jaw makes me think, for a second, that he won't do as I ask.

He steps away, putting distance between us for the first time since all of these dreams began, and the loss of him is enough to convince me that maybe I've made a mistake.