Page 23 of Tik-Tok

North adjusted the axe at her back—it was a little heavier and bulkier than she would have liked, yet the weapon had worked well enough for training. She smiled to herself, remembering the look on Tik-Tok’s face when she’d knocked the sword from his hand, then winced when she thought about how she’d hurled the axe and almost sliced off Dax’s malehood.

The sun shone bright in the sky, not a cloud in sight, as she walked down to the dock behind Tik-Tok. He was discussing something with Dax when someone slid up beside her, and she recognized the hum Echo’s body emitted.

The siren ran a hand through her short red hair and grinned widely. “Who knew you’d be so good with an axe? When I saw you knock the sword from the captain’s hand, I almost shit myself.” She laughed, draping an arm around North’s shoulders. “No one has ever done that to him.”

“My father trained me.” North thought about him and how, when she was younger, she’d wanted his axe for her own, even though it had been too heavy. Her father had surprised her one day by having an axe like his made, except in her size. After placing it in her tiny hands, he’d wrapped her fingers around the weapon and shown her how to swing. It hadn’t come easy, but she’d practiced every morning with him. Not because he’d told her to, but because she’d wanted to. Tears pricked at her eyes, thinking about him. Stone. Her family as stone. They wouldn’t be that way any longer, but the image of her father frozen, holding his axe in mid-air to save her lingered in her mind.

“You won’t be with us forever, North. The captain needs you to open the portal and then you can go wherever you want,” Echo said softly. Her tone lightened again. “I’m glad you decided to wear my gifts.”

“I should have known she got them from you,” Respen piped in, wrapping his arm around Echo’s waist and tugging her to his side.

“Joria’s old clothing was still below deck in her sack, practically screaming to be worn by her.” The siren’s grin grew wider.

North smiled, finding that she liked Echo more and more with each conversation. When it came to clothing, North had never worn anything close to revealing until Echo had given her these. Growing up, she’d always chosen loose, pretty gowns, usually adorned with pearl buttons. The night of Brielle’s celebration, when her mother had accessorized North’s gown, had been the only time she’d ever dressed differently.

Perhaps North had worn the dresses that she thought would please everyone else, instead of choosing for herself. The tighter fabric felt more likeher.

As she’d moved with the axe, the slits in the skirt made it easier for her to shift and lunge. When practicing with the sword, she had still perspired, but there’d been better airflow and the material hadn’t clung to her flesh like a wet starfish—much.

“Do you want to come with us? We’re going to pick up some goods at the market. I’m famished.” Echo stepped from the long pier onto a grassy trail leading in two different directions.

“She’s coming with me,” Tik-Tok answered, as if he’d been listening the whole time, which he probably had been.

Dax rolled his eyes and sauntered up beside Echo and Respen. “She’ll be fine with us. I’ll keep her safe.”

Tik-Tok glared at him. “You’ll keep her safe as you fuck a female in the middle of the market? She doesn’t need to witness that horror.”

Northdid notwant to watch Dax take a female while she stood by, whistling to herself, waiting for him to orgasm. And judging by the direction Respen’s hand was venturing on Echo, they would be doing the same thing.

“I’ll go with you,” North said to Tik-Tok, surprising herself. She’d already spent days training with him alone on the ship, and even though he aggravated her at times—or all the time—it wasn’t uncomfortable being around him.

Echo gave her a wave and tugged Respen with her while Dax walked beside them.

“Ah, you can’t deny my company, can you, my star?” Tik-Tok grinned. The smile said she would be in for trouble, but good trouble. Did shewanttrouble?

North flicked her gaze from his to the trees surrounding them.This is the perfect moment to be a little more charming.

“So,” North purred, toeing at the grass. “Where are we going?”

Tik-Tok furrowed his brow. “Something wrong with your throat? We can find a healer.”

North sighed at another failed attempt and shifted closer to him, purposely brushing her arm against his. She palmed her forehead when he didn’t seem to notice, or did he not feel it in his gold arm?

He lifted his hand and waved her to follow him. “We can’t waste time. I’m meeting a friend and getting a real meal while we’re at it.”

“What friend?”

“Aren’t you the inquisitive one?” He fished out a gold pocket watch from his pants, then looked ahead. “The less you know, the less you’ll worry.”

Of course… But that only made her worry more.

They walked side-by-side down the narrow, grassy trail, and North studied the trees. The foliage there wasn’t as lush as the flora across the Land of Oz—it was duller and more muted in coloring. She passed bushes covered with shriveled yellow berries that didn’t appear appetizing. Even the small bugs seemed to avoid them, which probably meant their juice was poisonous.

A rustling stirred, shaking the leaves behind her. She turned around, thinking Echo or one of the others had come back. But as she scanned the trail, the trees, no one was there.

“What is it?” Tik-Tok asked. “You stopped walking.”

Taking a deep swallow, she squinted. “I heard something.”

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