Page 83 of Traitor Witch

I have to seriously suppress the urge to roll my eyes. I’ve donned my white robe once more, though I feel like more of a fraud than ever, and the heavy cloak is stifling, especially with Opal’s warm weight on my lap.

“I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

“Like you were when those mercenaries turned up?” Cas challenges.

Gah, I could just… “I was weakened by blood loss.” I see Rysen’s fists clench at the word. “Ordinarily, I'd..." I trail offas the vampire starts rowing, unable to finish that sentence. “I’d have my magic, for one thing!”

Rysen just smiles, indulging me. Kier raises a brow and Cas frowns.

The boat goes quiet, just the splashing of the oars breaking up the silence until the noises of the port draw closer.

“Don’t worry,” Cas’s frown morphs into a grin so quickly I get whiplash. “I promise to get us into all sorts of trouble while we’re alone.”

That grin disarms me far too easily. I have to turn away, stroke Opal, and pretend to contemplate the city glistening under the light of the Moon.

In reality, I’m sneaking glances at Rysen’s arms as he rows. Goddess, each flex is reminding me of what it felt like to be surrounded by him as he fed from me.

“I just can’t wait to be back on solid ground again.”

“Just remember we’re in Ilyani now,” Rysen cautions. “It’s got a large mage population, and they don’t revere the Goddesses the way the people of Coveton do.”

“It won’t matter,” I dismiss him with a wave of my hand. “I’m just an exile, remember? It’s not like I’m going to try to stir up trouble.”

No, my one mission is to figure out who this stupid ring belongs to. I touch it, almost subconsciously, checking it’s still there. If I can’t find the owner of the crest in Ilyani, the second largest city in the kingdom, then my quest is doomed.

Rysen’s tiny smile suggests he thinks I’m naïve, but he doesn’t say anything more on the subject.

“I—”

But whatever he was about to say is cut off by Cas, jackknifing into a standing position, eyes fixed on the market just ahead.

“Faster, Ry.”

“What is it?” I ask, but Kier has already pushed off from the boat, his dragonfly wings popping into existence mid-leap and carrying him into the evening sky.

Rysen starts using his vampiric strength, propelling the boat towards the sand beneath the sea wall with a vengeance. We barely manage to reach the shore before Cas leaps out of the boat and over the stone wall in one graceful motion, splashing me with sea water in his haste to get to whatever has caught his attention.

“Nilsa, wait here—”

I’m already gone. Opal digs her claws into my shoulders as I borrow a little of the Mother’s magic to activate the agility sigils on my legs and follow Cas.

We land in the middle of a mob.

In front of me, a huge man drags a Solar witch away from a seizing woman on the ground. His grip in her sunny, blonde hair is cruel, forcing her head at an unnatural angle. She’s young—too young to be wandering alone outside of her temple—and that, more than anything, cements my decision to step in.

“Please! Your wife needs my help!” The Solar’s voice is thin, almost lost under the angry mutterings from the crowd.

“She needs modern medicine; not old-wives’ tales," the man roars, his cheeks turning red with rage.

Cas raises his hands in the air, placatingly. “Let the witch go.”

But I’m not feeling that forgiving.

The Moon is only just chasing away the last light of dusk, but the chill of the Goddess’s magic permeates the area, anyway. It’s eager to respond to my call, lending icy, burning magic to my protection sigils and coating my body in a shield of moonlight. I step straight into his personal space and press my knife against his family jewels.

That gets his attention. The blood drains from his face,and I smile.

“Hands off, asshole.”