Page 44 of Traitor Witch
I flutter my lashes and give him my best innocent expression. “Are you concerned about little old me, Captain?”
“No. But you owe me for turning my munitions into furniture.”
“I already said I’d give you your balls back when I leave.”
Cas snorts, earning him Val’s best death glare.
“You’ve also destroyed our storm sails, which is a death sentence at sea. The least you can do is make the ship a bit sturdier so we’re not dead in the water the moment a strong wind comes.”
But I’m already mentally doing the sums in my head. A newbroom is going to cost me a handful of gold, at the very least. More if I need it to be strong enough to cross between islands. If I can get at least half of that from Val, I might be able to take on one or two contracts from Alletta to cover the rest.
“Twenty gold,” I mutter. “And no more insults about my cooking.”
His eyes gleam, but he doesn’t say anything for a long time, sipping thoughtfully at his stew. “Five should be more than enough, since I’m the one who has to endure being carved up.”
“I can make it painful,” I promise. “Ten or I don’t do it at all.”
Val’s eyes narrow. “Ten,” he agrees. “But if you do a hack job on my ship, I’ll end you, witch.”
Cas growls beside me, his eyes glowing as his whole body seems to swell. This time, he doesn’t even get the words out before he springs from his seat and launches himself at the wall.
Val just sighs, the boards springing open to allow the tormented shifter to fly through the gap and into the dark water below.
I barely catch the golden sparks of his transformation before the boards snap shut.
“Val,” Rysen’s tone is light, but the warning is unmistakable.
The Captain just ignores him, his dark eyes still focused on me. “Do we have a deal?”
Do I have a choice?
“We do,” I mutter, still staring after Cas.
Valorean grabs his bowl and raises it to his lips, throwing his whole head back to swallow the last of his stew. His Adam’s apple bobs with each gulp, doing funny things to my insides.
No. Just no. I’d rather fuck a troll than admit to finding the arrogant captain attractive.
As if sensing my traitorous thoughts, the mage slams down his bowl and shoots me the haughtiest look imaginable before standing and kicking his chair back. Val takes one last look around the table before he turns and strides through the wall.
“Let’s get this over with.” His words echo around the room despite his absence.
Chapter Thirteen
NILSA
He doesn’t wait for me, but there’s no mistaking where he wants me to go.
The instant I step out of the galley, the door slams shut behind me and a ladder drops down from the ceiling. The rest of the corridor that had been here before is gone, completely blocked off by walls which didn't exist an hour ago. If not for the ladder, I could almost believe I’d taken the wrong door and wandered into a closet instead.
The quiet snick of the lock engaging on the door behind me serves to drive home Val’s point.
It’s up the ladder or nothing.
Gah, controlling, irritating mage!
I take one deep breath then start to climb. The ladder continues for some time and I can only assume he’s taking me up on deck. The very thought makes my palms sweaty and I hate myself a little more for the weakness as I approach the end and stick my head over the lip of the trapdoor.
It’s not what I expect.
