Page 112 of Traitor Witch

I'm starting to lose control.

I woke up last night, in front of her door with no memory of getting there and my fangs extended. My sleeping mind still trying to drag me to her.

I'm reverting back to who I was before Kier dragged me back to myself.

My own memories of the madness of the Blood Pits scare me. It was so easy, back then, to lose myself to the animal nature of my life. Fight, kill, feed. Nilsa has the power to send me back to that state in a heartbeat.

The power to make me or break me. And that terrifies me.

The lingering scent of her isn't helping, and I briefly consider diving back into the ocean.

"You can hold out for longer than you think," Nos whispers.

It's a measure of how lost I am that I didn't notice his approach.

"Will she ever...?"

His smile gives me hope but his words are grim. "Sometimes, to love someone, you have to let them go and hope they come back."

My head falls.

But I'm not sure I'm ready to hear if Nilsa will return to us.

What can a crew of broken pirates offer a Solar witch?

"She's ours." Cas's voice is a guttural growl that's more beast than man. "She belongs on this ship, with us."

"Mate," Kier agrees, squeezing my shoulder lightly before letting go.

As one, we all look at Val.

He rolls his eyes. "At least she's not as annoying as the other witch."

Coming from him, that's a huge compliment.

"When we get to Idos, make the offer," I say. "She has to know that we want her to stay... We have to tell her everything."

She has to know who she is to us. I can't watch her leave and not know that I did everything to try and convince her to give us a chance.

I expect Nos to object but he nods. "It's time she knew."

Chapter Twenty-Nine

NILSA

It's three days before I can feel normal again. Though my moon pains are legendary, my periods are also mercifully short.

So, when we're still a few hours away from Idos, I finally have the chance to do some sneaking. I've stolen a shirt from Cas's stash to confuse my scent and the new moon has passed, so I have no trouble drawing magic into my sigils to keep me out of sight. Even my footsteps are silent as I creep down a dark stairwell towards the middle of the ship.

I've not been here before. I've never needed to. These are the gun decks and mostly ignored by the crew since Val can just fire a cannon with a flick of his finger.

The artillery lines each side of the ship, everything tied in place, held perfectly together.

Unlike his office, Val keeps this part of the ship immaculate.

There isn't even any dust lingering in the corners.

It's unlit, but no Lunar witch has trouble seeing in thedark. I pick my way across to a door, only to curse at the padlock.