Page 101 of Traitor Witch

The formal bow he offers cements the sick feeling in my gut.

Before I can do anything, say something, that might fix it, my stomach lurches. The dream beach falls away beneath my feet.

I jackknife into a sitting position in bed. Rain is poundingagainst the window, but it's so dark outside I can't see anything for several seconds.

There's a figure in the open doorway.

"Klaus?" For a second I'm confused.

"Who's Klaus?"

Nos's voice is a welcome distraction, grounding me in the real world.

"No one," I say, a little too quickly.

I wait, with bated breath, for Kier to call me out on it.

But he doesn't.

For once, the fae isn't stalking me.

"Oh. That's odd." He's still hovering in the doorway.

Don't bite. Don't bite. "Why?"

He smiles as he moves into the room, shutting the door behind him. "Because I've heard that name before." His hands find the edge of the bed. "May I?"

"Yes?" It comes out as a squeak. "How— wait. Why are you in my room?"

His blush is adorable, as are his eyes widening with the start of panic. "I heard you call out, and you sounded... angry. I thought maybe there was someone else in here, or you were getting attacked again. I only opened the door because it was unlocked."

"It's fine." I say, and he visibly relaxes, taking me at my word.

"Was it a dream?"

I suddenly feel a bit too naked for this conversation.

I shift, slipping out of bed and heading for the wardrobe. Nos tracks me as I move, his head moving as he follows me with his ears.

It's only when I've pulled on a long, pale-teal dress that I turn back to him.

"What do you know about sirens?"

He doesn't blink. "They're a matriarchal, warrior empire,but they rarely leave their territorial waters. Their towns and cities aren't mapped, and the only one most people know about is the fortress Marisang, which exists somewhere in the ocean trench between Fior and Safor. They also have the most powerful navy in the world, and their women keep harems, much like witches do." He takes a deep breath, as if wondering if he should say something. "I take it Klaus is a siren?"

I feel the corners of my mouth turn down and grab a comb for something to keep my hands busy.

"How much do you really know, Nos? You see so many things... I'm never quite sure where we stand."

"If I tell you too much, too soon, the outcome won't be good." He swipes a piece of hair out of his face and leans back. "Visions are... complex. So many futures. I mostly see crossroads, places where the future will be shaped one way or the other. Telling anyone what I've seen rarely takes them down a path which ends well."

"Then tell me what else you know about sirens that you're not saying. Tell me why you know who Klaus is, or what type of witch I am. Or better still, tell me what's in the hold."

The instant shut off is visible in his face.

"Klaus mentioned that?"

"He said you aren't trustworthy." I try to keep the challenge out of my tone. "When I said you were good men, he told me to ask what cargo is on this ship."