Page 39 of Traitor Witch

I don’t hesitate, storming after her and into a scene from my worst nightmares.

Nilsa’s head has fallen back over the rim of the bath, her dark hair spilling down to the floor as she lounges in a block of solid ice. Her skin has turned from a rich peaches and cream to the pale colour of death, her lips a ghostly blue.

I don’t think she’s breathing.

My beast roars, trying to force his way forward. His only thought getting to his mate.

Scales flash across my skin.

My bones ache from resisting the change, but I force him back with a strength I’ve never possessed before now.

A loud crack rends the air. The ice splinters under Kier’s command and the fae wastes no time, pulling her limp form out of the cold and shoving her frozen body into my arms.

Calm down,I try to placate my beast,she needs us to warm her up. If we shift now, we destroy the ship and she’ll die.

My beast stills, which I take as an encouraging sign. I drag Nilsa’s body as close as I can. Shifters have the highest body heat of any supernatural; our fast metabolisms and uniquebrand of magic bring our ability to stay warm in the coldest depths of the ocean to our human forms.

Her heart is still intact, and her head is still attached; there’s a good chance she’ll survive this.

But her breathing is still shallow. Her eyes are closed, but the lines of strain around them make it clear it’s not a peaceful rest.

My beast growls in my head, bucking against his restraints.

It takes everything I have just to grind my teeth together and stay human.

If you let me stay, I’ll bring her to swim with you,I promise the beast.

My other side will hold me to the bargain. Creatures of the deep have long memories, and he's no exception, but hopefully by then Nilsa will be more comfortable around us, and willing to go for a dip in the open ocean.

His next growl is quieter, and I know I’ve won this round.

“Come on.” Rysen rips open the vein at his wrist with his fangs and lets the blood drip into her mouth.

The cat twirls around our legs, mewling for her witch.

I’m pretty sure none of us breathe as we wait for her to swallow.

The first time her throat moves, I almost disregard it as wishful thinking.

Her next gulp comes with a tiny moan, and I almost drop her in relief.

Ry lets her suck at his vein for a few more seconds before pulling his arm away. Too much of his vampiric blood will mess with her magic for hours, and although vamp blood is a popular high for many, I can’t see our witch being into it.

Now that she’s improving, colour returning as a result of Rysen’s blood, the questions start flooding into my brain.

Chief among them, “What happened?”

“Is she safe?” For a second I think Val’s asking me, but a quick glance in his direction shows he’s addressing the cat. “Will there be any more attacks?”

I squeeze our mate closer as we wait for the cat to answer.

But the feline just rolls its eyes and struts from the room.

Val follows, the rest of us trailing behind him. When the cat pauses at the door frame, butting her nose against the two unfinished sigils Nilsa had started carving the night before, Val glowers at her.

“Fine.” He flicks a glance at Nilsa, then back at the rest of us. “One of you lot make her come and see me when she wakes up.”

He doesn’t wait for a reply before he sinks into the floor, the wooden boards swallowing him.