Page 111 of Traitor Witch

"Unless you're advertising a buffet meal, you might wantto get below deck." Val's words are dry, but the concern in his tone is real.

But I'm frozen.

Caught between the memory of his bite, fear of the ocean, and my own hormone-induced-horniness.

"You need to feed." Goddess, why do I crave his fangs in me again? Have I lost my mind?

Probably.

It wasn't a question, but he shakes his head anyway.

"Go. Please."

I finally unfreeze my legs and head toward the hatch, clutching the little box Nos gave me like a lifeline.

I barely make it below deck before Rysen's roar shakes the ship.

RYSEN

Ever since the smell of her blood started saturating the ship yesterday, it's all I can think of. Boarding the pirate-hunter ship was almost a relief. A way to work out the frustration of that perfect scent on the unsuspecting humans who thought they could best us.

But once it was done, their bodies drained and their treasures taken, Nilsa had been there, on the deck. Waiting for us.

Seeing what we can do.

What we love doing.

We must have scared the living daylights out of her. The death and pillaging we made our living with was the opposite of everything a Solar like herself stood for.

The shock on her face confirms it. So I can barely meet her eyes as we finish tossing our newly acquired cargo on board.

Then, when Noster gave her his loot, she looked at himlike he'd struck her. Like being given a dead person's jewellery was something so anathema that she couldn't process it.

I wanted to rip his head off.

And when I tried to explain... and caught her scent.

Shit.

I'm left with my head in my hands as she, once again, flees from me.

Every predatory instinct in me wants to give chase.

She's not a vampire queen. Nilsa isn't spreading her scent around the nest to lure in her males.

A hand touches my back silently. Kier's solid presence behind me giving me comfort.

"I need her."

I know the confession is broken. Jagged.

But that's what needing her has done to me.

I need Nilsa.

I need her blood. Her affection. Her smiles.

Worse.