Page 32 of Tik-Tok

“I’m sorry.” He sighed. “I promise I’ll bring you home as soon as possible after the portal is open.”

“Why do you want it open so badly?”

Tik-Tok hesitated. “Once it’s open, you may understand.”

A low growl escaped her throat but she was too exhausted to fight back. She settled on his chest and closed her eyes.

Tik-Tok ran his hand through her hair, tenderly. “After this is over, you won’t have to see me again, if that’s what you wish.”

But a part of her didn’t wish that at all.

Chapter Thirteen

Tik-Tok

Tik-Tok slid himself out from beneath North’s sleeping form in the middle of the night. The warmth from her head on his shoulder remained, and the feel of her silky hair made him wish that he could twine her locks through his fingers forever. He gazed down at her, rubbing at the strange new ache in his chest. What was happening? North was his key to the portal—maybea decent fuck if things went that way—but she wasn’t someone to get emotionally attached to. She was there for a purpose—a captive who was trying to seduce her way into escaping. If she hadn’t been so completely drunk when she’d shown up at his door, Tik-Tok would’ve assumed it was all part of her grand plan.

Quietly, he lifted a white tunic from where it draped over a chair, and snuck from the room. The salty, cool air bit against his skin as he padded over to the helm. The goblin, Cyrx, stood at the wheel, keeping them on track. Large bottom teeth protruded from his mouth, pressing over his top lip. His deep scars seemed to stand out more prominently against his orange-tinged skin, and his bulging muscles pressed against the tight sleeves of his black shirt.

“Evenin’, Captain,” Cyrx said in a guttural voice.

Tik-Tok nodded a greeting while tapping his middle finger against his golden palm.Click, click, click.“We need to detour to Isa Poso.”

Cyrx’s eyes widened. “Celyna? Already? Did something happen?”

“No.” Just a certain female wedging herself between him and his plan. He didn’t hate it as much as he should. Hopefully after fucking Celyna in exchange for a vision, he would be able to think a little more clearly about North. “I couldn’t get the shield to keep Salt from detecting us when we docked, so wandering aimlessly through his territory is too much of a risk.”

“In that case…” Cyrx turned the wheel, steering them west toward the sea witch.

The crew didn’t want or need to be in the middle of Tik-Tok’s feud with the fae who had saved him from a life of pain—the fae he’d betrayed. Salt was seeking revenge against his former-first-mate-turned-traitor, just as Tik-Tok was seeking revenge for his past. He understood it, but if Salt caught up withThe Temptress, there was no telling what would happen. Only that it wouldn’t be pleasant.

The silver-capped waves slapped against the hull and a spray of water rained down across the deck. Cyrx wiped the droplets from his face. “You think the witch will give you answers?”

The last time he’d tried to visit Celyna before their yearly appointment, she’d hissed in his face before disappearing into the sea. Tik-Tok scowled at the memory. This time, he wouldn’t give her the chance to run off. If she could give him even the smallest of clues, this could all be over soon. All he needed was a clue—something to help him unlock North’s power or tell him where, exactly, the portal was. The portal would open, revenge would be had, and North could return home. Then, he could finally rest.

“I have to try,” Tik-Tok said, shrugging.

He didn’t wait for the goblin to give his opinion on the matter before striding back to his quarters and shutting the door with a soft thud. North was exactly as he’d left her—mouth open, small snores escaping, her hair spread over his pillow. Her sweet vanilla scent would linger once she left his bed. His heart sped at the thought.Damn.What was wrong with him?

Rubbing a hand over his face, he eased onto the mattress and turned on his side to face her. His gold fingers traced the air over the planes of North’s face as she slept, never touching, onlyalmost. When his middle finger grazed the sweep of her lower lip, she snapped her mouth shut. He whipped his hand back as her eyes fluttered open.

“Tik-Tok?” she mumbled.

One side of his mouth lifted in a grin. “Were you expecting someone else?”

“What are you doing here?” She rubbed a fist against her lids.

“In my own bed?” He lifted a brow. “Iwassleeping until you decided to join me.”

North sat up quickly, eyes darting around the room. “I’m inyourroom?” she asked, despite the obvious answer. She shifted to her knees and peered down at herself. “Why did you bring me in here?”

Tik-Tok’s answering laugh was both warm and mocking. “That’s rather presumptuous. You came here,drunk, because you wanted to know what my quarters looked like. So—” He rolled to his back and motioned to the room behind him. “Are you satisfied? Does it look as you thought it would?”

“Oh.” She paused, squinting as if in deep thought. “Oh.Echo gave me a bottle of spirits.”

Tik-Tok smirked. “And you’ll soon regret drinking the entire thing.”

“Fairly certain I already do.” She rubbed at her temples. “I should probably get back to my room.”

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