Page 156 of Traitor Witch

If she doesn't survive the week, neither will I. I've spent enough of my immortal life waiting for her. I'd rather join her in the stars than live another day in a world where the promise of her doesn't exist.

But I can't say that. She's not ready for it. Her emotions are everywhere; a potent mix of betrayal, guilt, pain, and soul-deep confusion.

What she needs right now is distraction, not a declaration of love.

"Well I'm not moving until you come and rescue me, so you'd better get a move on."

Her mouth drops open in shock and indignation.

"I'm in a cell."

"So break out." I shrug and cross my arms behind my head with a smirk.

"Youbreak out."

Goddess, taunting her is fun, but it's also not getting us anywhere. "You have to break out because I already told my mother, Empress Athena Sirenae Regis, that my mate was a great warrior and is coming to challenge for my hand in marriage."

The anger in Nilsa's eyes is almost as terrifying as the look my mother gave me when I invoked mate challenge law in front of the whole court.

"And what,exactly, is this mate challenge?"

"Ritual combat, to the first blood."

She storms to her feet, pacing away from me as her hands dig into the hair at her scalp in frustration. "I am an assassin, not a warrior. Any challenge is likely to end up with me skewered on the end of a trident. I'll happily gut the bitch in her sleep—"

"—I'd really rather you didn't. She's notthatbad."

In fact, Adella is one of the more lenient warriors in the sirenae court. She's not prone to forcing her males, nor violent rages like so many other princesses. My mother probably approved her courting of me for that reason.

"The point," Nilsa retorts, "is that I don't fight fair. I don't fight in challenges. I kill, and even then, only when the Goddess asks it of me."

"What about when your mate begs you?" I ask. "Do you want me to beg, little warrior? Because I will." I slide to my knees and prostrate myself before her, head touching the floor in the bow required of all males asking a warrior for something. "Please. Please save yourself and then please come and save me too."

A gentle hand grabs my chin and forces me upwards until we're kneeling, facing each other. "What if I bring the pirates?"

"They're your harem. You're protected by mate challenge law, so they are too. But Marisang is different for males; they might not like accompanying you."

The dream starts to fuzz. "Promise me, Nilsa," I demand. "Promise me you'll come."

Her eyes soften. "I'll try."

I seize her lips with mine, just as the dream fades completely. Reality is crushing, so much so that I jolt upward from my bed, gills flaring in panic.

"You're dream-sharing with her?"

My mother's tail is like mine, dappled and strong; the shape and texture closest to a tiger shark.

It's the only feature we share. The rest of my colouring is all my father, and the resemblance has always been a wedge between us.

"Empress." I sink to the floor and bow.

"Tell me of your mate," she demands, dark hair swirling around her in a mist. "I wish to know everything." She glares behind her at the door where Cassie lingers, eyes unseeing. "As I should have from the beginning. Speak."

"She's a witch," I begin, raising my head only slightly. "And an assassin."

"So no honour then." Her tail flicks as she swims back and forth across the length of my room. "An assassin mating a prince," she scoffs.

"Nilsa has more honour in her little finger than any of the women who've petitioned you for my hand before," I snap before I can stop myself. "Forgive me, Empress."