Page 46 of Traitor Witch

RYSEN

“She’s hiding something.”

Val’s words aren’t a surprise; he doesn’t trust anyone. But the certainty behind them makes me pause.

“She’s young, terrified, and on the run,” I grunt, turning to face him.

I’ve taken a seat on the stern with my feet hanging over the edge of the ship to keep an eye out for Cas. The shifter has been gone for hours and now dusk lingers on the horizon, the moon already in the sky. It’s not the first time he’s been gone for so long, but it is the longest he’s spent away from the ship since our mate came aboard.

Only, watching the waves for Cas has somehow turned into listening to the noises Nilsa makes as she moves around her cabin below me. She paces a lot, but beneath the sound of her moving is the sound of her heartbeat. I’m addicted to that soft beat, the twin of the one she unknowingly awoke in me with her first touch.

Val isn’t happy with my response and subsequent silence. He paces the deck like a caged lion in a subconscious echo of Nilsa’s movements below. He’s forgone a shirt, exposing the tiny line of red sigils down his left side.

Part of me is jealous. I want our mate to mark me with her magic. I shake off the feeling before it can develop into something more. Vampires are notoriously territorial—all immortal males are—but Val is Nilsa’s too, even if the grumpy ass doesn’t want to admit it.

Subconsciously, he must know he’s hers now. He wouldn’t be showing off her marks like a preening peacock if he didn’t.

“Not to mention how tiny she is in comparison to the ship full of immortal males. She wouldn’t stand a chance if we decided to turn on her.” The difference is startling, herfragility obvious. “I’d be more surprised if she wasn’t keeping her cards close to her chest,” I finish.

“Terrified,” Val scoffs, shoving a hand through his pearly white locks. “Are we talking about the same woman? She spends her every waking moment tormenting me.”

I turn back to the waves. “So, your only evidence for her deception is the fact that she can stand up to you? Face it. She’s your mate and you’re scared.”

“Why should I be scared of someone who’s not going to be troubling me much longer?” Val raises a brow. “She’s getting off at Port Evert.”

His words are a blow, but I can’t say I didn’t expect them.

“She took the gold. I suspect she plans to use it to get herself a new life away from all of us. We'll go on to Ilyani, then make the drop at Galmere before the Eagle decides to make good on her threat." He grumbles the last part.

I stand, my height dwarfing Val’s. “Where Nilsa goes, I follow.”

His jaw drops almost comically. “Just like that? You barely know the witch.”

I don’t have to. She’s mine and I’m hers. Nothing else matters.

“She’s trouble,” Val insists.

“Mine,” I growl back, fangs lengthening.

“She doesn’t want you! She shuts herself in her cabin and pretends you don’t exist. But you’re all following her around like a bunch of lovesick puppies!”

“She’s scared.” I can hear his heartbeat. Feel the blood rushing through his veins. It’ll be easy to drain him. I’d do worse to defend my mate’s honour.

“Bullshit!” His eyes flash.

“Enough.”

Nos’s quiet word drags me out of the blood-frenzy. Thered haze I hadn’t even noticed fills my vision and I blink it away, stomach sinking with guilt. Somehow, I’ve ended up toe-to-toe with the captain, and I shift backwards, out of his personal space, with a grimace.

I still have to wait for my fangs to recede before I can speak again and it gives me the time I need to cool my head.

“I am… sorry.” I force the words from my mouth. “I’m not myself around her.” The apology doesn’t come easily, but Valorean doesn’t gloat the way he could.

His simple nod contains all the forgiveness necessary. After a hundred and fifty years of fighting side by side, nothing else is needed.

We both know the darkness that lingers in our hearts can make us say things—do things—against our better judgement.

“You’ll be on a quick trigger until she claims you.” Nos steps closer, clinging to the bannister as he aims his words slightly to the left of me. “I’m afraid it won’t be for a while.”