Page 51 of Tik-Tok

“Ididdo it.” She smiled, her voice coming out faint. North’s body drooped to the side and Tik-Tok caught her.

Chapter Nineteen

Tik-Tok

The moment North collapsed in Tik-Tok’s arms, a loudboomechoed in his ears. Not from the newly opened portal, but from behind them. He knelt and curled his body over North’s as the ship jerked sideways. The explosion blocked out the sound of choppy water slapping the ship’s hull, and a rain barrel crashed against the railing, splintering apart.

“Incoming!” Respen yelled from somewhere close by. “Get down!”

Oh, shit.Tik-Tok clutched North harder against him, holding so tight she would likely have bruises. But no fucking way was she going to be knocked overboard and dragged helplessly into the spinning vortex—to be lost through the portal like Celyna warned.No fucking way.He stormed toward his quarters despite the violent rocking ofThe Temptressand threw open the door. Stumbling around the now-crooked desk, he hurried to lay North on the bed. If there was another attack, she probably wouldn’t stay there, but he’d rather she fell to the hard floor than into the sea. Swiping his sword from where it had landed near his desk, Tik-Tok rushed to join his crew. He hated leaving North alone, but he couldn’t hide inside while his crew fought for their lives.

“Who the fuck is attacking us?” he asked, joining Echo at the main mast as the brownies scurried below deck.

Another ship, wholly undetected before the first explosion, with huge white sails, plowed through the water, straight for them. White light flashed, and another boom sounded. Tik-Tok grabbed onto one of the ropes to keep from falling as the bright magic hit the side of the ship.

“Not sure, Captain,” Echo said after the violent swaying of the ship had ceased.

“Dax!”

“Up here, Captain,” he called from the crow’s nest above.

Tik-Tok squinted at the enemy ship. “Send wind to keep them from getting closer.” He scanned his crew. “Echo,” he ordered in an even tone, turning toward her, “steer the ship away from the portal before we’re accidentally knocked through it.” She bolted toward the wheel to do as instructed, and Respen replaced her at Tik-Tok’s side in a flicker of magic. Before he could speak, Tik-Tok commanded, “go see who we’re dealing with.”

Respen was gone and back in less than a minute, eyes wide with worry over whatever he saw on the enemy ship. “It’s Salt. He’s got three elementals with him—two water and one wind.”

Motherfucker.How were they supposed to withstand that kind of power? Dax blowing them in the other direction was like a bird trying to fly against a hurricane. If Rizmaela hadn’t stabbed North, this wouldn’t be happening now. Tik-Tok would’ve gotten his cloaking device in Merryland, and his old captain would never have known thatThe Temptresssailed through his territory.Gods damned dwarf.

“What are we doing?” Respen asked.

What are we doing?They were absolutely fucked. Whatcouldthey do? For all Tik-Tok’s arrogance, he was still a single—albeit powerful—male. He could turn Salt and his crew to stone, but they had to be close enough first. From this distance, there was no stopping the powerful blasts of magic.

“Parlay,” Tik-Tok said with a grimace. After he killed his father, after North was safely home, he and Salt could fight to the death. But now, too much was left undone and unsaid. Not to mention the portal swirling far too close to the ship for his liking. They needed a parlay—a meeting where both parties negotiated under the understanding that neither were harmed. “Tell him we need to parlay. Bring him here.”

Respen vanished again, traveling to Salt’s ship to follow his captain’s orders.

“Dax,” Tik-Tok called. One elemental against another was fair, but not one against three. Dax may need to use his wind to get them out of there if the parlay went poorly. “Save your strength.”

Gnawing on his bottom lip, Tik-Tok watched Salt’s ship inch closer and closer. The blasts of magic had temporarily ceased, but a hum remained in his ears. Each second that ticked by only served to speed his pulse a little more. Respen wasn’t there to chat—only grab Salt and return. Anything more would put him in danger.

Respen reappeared, and, beside him, the male who’d saved Tik-Tok from the King of Ev. It was strange seeing him again after so long. Oddly nostalgic. Bitter. The fae reminded Tik-Tok of too many things: his whippings, his betrayal, and his father. Or, what his fathercould’vebeen if he wasn’t a deranged murderer.

Captain Salt swung a fist toward Respen’s face, but the blue-haired fae dodged the blow, shoving away. Salt’s short white hair showcased a handful of jagged scars along his scalp and the tip of one of his ears was missing. His gray eyes held none of the affection they’d once had for Tik-Tok. Instead, they swirled with the force of a thousand storms.

“Long time, no see,” Tik-Tok drawled. “Bit of a dramatic reunion though, don’t you think?”

“I didn’t agree to parlay,” he snarled.

Tik-Tok shrugged. Respen had undoubtedly made sure Salt’s crew knew that was the reason he took their captain. They wouldn’t attack when Salt was on boardThe Temptress, regardless, because it would put him at risk. “You don’t have to agree.”

“Ungrateful bastard!” Salt stormed forward, hands balled tight. He was nearly as tall as Tik-Tok but broader with a patchy beard. “Out of pity, I snuck you out of the palace in Ev, raised you like my own son, made you my first-mate, and how did you repay me?Mutiny.”

All of it was true. He’d even felt guilty for a while about betraying Salt and stealing his ship to seek revenge. Then the captain had begun hunting Tik-Tok across the Nonestic Ocean. Completely understandable, of course. If anyone understood the need for vengeance, it was Tik-Tok, but he couldn’t feel bad for someone who wanted him dead—the circumstances were irrelevant. If he had wanted Salt dead, he would’ve killed him during the mutiny, but that was never the goal.

Until now.

“Parlay,” Tik-Tok reminded him as Salt lifted his fist.

“Fuck you and your parlay.” Salt bared his teeth, swinging his fist down across Tik-Tok’s face. Knuckles cracked against his cheekbone.

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