Page 22 of Traitor Witch

“Today is my twenty-fifth winter solstice,” I retort, knowing I have to stop this before the questions become too difficult. With no other options, I resort to Danika’s tried and tested advice for getting rid of unwanted men — theemotional female act. “And my High Priestess died in my arms, so if you don’t mind, I’d like some time alone to grieve.”

Kier nods, but Cas is too busy looking down guiltily to notice.

I push my bowl away and stand. “Thank you for the food,” I mutter, storming toward the door.

I almost crash straight into the vampire.

Opal—the traitor—is curled happily in his arms, purring under his attention. I’m not crazy enough to take her away from the promise of food, so I side-step around the two of them and march down the hall to the cabins Cas had pointed out on our way down to the galley.

The crew’s cabins are all on the same level, so it doesn’t take me long to find the one he indicted as mine. It’s the only door that’s unlocked, and I wonder absently if that’s Val’s doing.

The room is empty, except for a pile of crates and a single hammock. Its barrenness is startling. It’s crowned by a single, bare crystal lamp, laced with cobwebs.

I yank on the chain dangling from the old lamp, activating the crystal within. It spills enough light over the room for me to continue my search.

A quick search of the crates reveals they’re full of cannon balls, sailcloth, and ropes.

Now this is definitely Val’s doing.

But even his thoughtlessness can’t erase my awe at the room’s one good feature.

A massive window takes up most of the back wall, letting in the Mother’s light. I can see the Goddess hanging in the sky, and I walk up to the glass and push it open to let Her presence in.

I don’t even realise that I’m kneeling until my knees hit the floorboards beneath me.

“Gracious Goddess, Mistress of Death, Lady of Mercy,Patron of Mischief…” The prayers fall from my lips like water. “Two great witches reached Your dark realm today. Place them among Your stars that they might shine with You each night.”

I sit there for a moment longer, soaking in the Moon Mother’s presence. It’s like a balm after the terror and pain of the last day; a spiritual healing I didn’t know I needed.

Scratching at the door announces Opal’s arrival, and I sigh, rising from my knees with a groan.

But it’s not just my familiar waiting outside.

Kier and Cas stand side by side, Rysen’s huge hands clamped onto their shoulders as he dwarfs them from behind. His braided dreads have fallen over his shoulder, and for the first time I realise just how long they are. On anyone else, they would have softened the lines of his face, but Rysen’s bone structure is so masculine and angular that they only seem to serve to make him more threatening.

“Lady Solar,” he begins, shoving the fae and the shifter forward. “These two have something they would like to say.”

It’s almost comical, watching two immortals blush like scolded schoolboys.

“We’re sorry for upsetting you,” Cas mumbles. “Val just wanted us to make sure you weren’t a danger to the ship.”

Rysen cocks his head at Kier, who just nods.

Apparently that’s enough for the vampire who releases both of them.

It’s odd that the fae is a man of so few words. Usually they love their word games and their tricky bargains. This one is almost too quiet, and I find myself tracing the soft angles of his lips until our eyes meet.

The way he watches me from under those black, side swept bangs makes me take a subconscious step back.

That’s how all three of them get their first sight of my new cabin.

Cas growls, his eyes flashing turquoise and staying that way. Rysen’s long fangs drop.

“Did I pick the wrong room?” I ask, glancing behind me.

Cas barrels past and sprints across the cabin. He dives through my open window like his life depends on it, and I resist the urge to run after him.

His shadow disappears into the night as he shifts mid-leap. The golden sparks of Cas’s transformation from man to beast are only visible for a second before he plummets out of sight.