Page 74 of Traitor Witch

I let out a long sigh, cast another, wary glance at the water, and then up at the clear sky.

“Look, believe me or not. I’m going back below.” I toss my hair over my shoulder as if I couldn’t give a shit and start my hasty retreat.

“Good riddance,” Val mutters. “Ouch!”

A glance behind me shows Rysen’s just punched him.

I can’t keep the secret smile from my face.

I don’t need protecting, or defending. Especially not from Val. But, for some reason, it still gives me butterflies when Rysen does it, even if it’s only because he believes I’m a fragile Solar.

I head straight for the galley and my studio and settle for tying down everything in sight. The cupboards all have littlelatches on them for just such an occasion, but protecting my precious plants isn’t so easy. In the end, I resort to wedging them against one another in a corner to keep them upright.

The increasing sway of the ship lends urgency to my work, but I’m only halfway through when the gloom hits.

The previously bright room turns a murky grey. Above me, the dark clouds have turned threatening and ominous, and it’s not long before rain starts pelting the skylight in great sheets of water. My weathersense has gone haywire until all I can smell is the metallic scent of a storm. It's so strong, so overpowering, that all of my other senses seem dulled by comparison.

Opal skids through the door and leaps for my shoulders like a cat possessed.

“I’m gonna be sick,”she groans.“Ugh, boats shouldn’t move this much!”

I’m in full agreement as I head towards the sink, beyond ready to puke my guts up. Goddess, whoever invented boats needed to die. Give me a broom any day.

Burning fills my mouth as I empty my breakfast into the drain, followed by Opal.

Halfway through my retching, a gentle hand starts to soothe me with tiny circles on my back.

“Are you alright?” I know it’s Nos before I look up and into his white eyes.

“Ugh, I really hate boats.”

His chuckle makes me want to stab him. “You’ll be fine.”

The ship pitches to one side, making me retch again. But there’s nothing left to come up.

“Ugh, I hate boats,” I mutter again.

“Want me to distract you?”

My mind chooses that moment to come up with some very detailed images of exactly how he could distract me.

“He doesn’t mean it like that, you pervert.”Opal scolds.“Goddess, are you in heat? You’ve just thrown your guts up and you want to screw him?”

My familiar’s words make me blush, and I’m so grateful he can’t see it.

“Yeah, sure.”

He’s silent for a beat, as though he didn’t expect me to say yes and is scrambling to think of something to take my mind off the storm.

The ship chooses that moment to lurch again, sending me flying into him.

Nos’s arms came around me, his hard chest absorbing the impact of my fall like it’s nothing. The warmth of him is soothing, and I can’t help but burrow closer.

“Lady Solar?” His voice hitches and I smile against him.

“Distract me.” I’m not letting go of him. He’s warm and large enough that when I close my eyes, I can pretend it’s just the two of us, no storm.

His hold tightens, losing any hesitance that was there before as his thumb strokes gentle lines across my upper arm.