Page 86 of Traitor Witch
Cas is wild-eyed with worry as he reaches us. He's still checking me over as Kier lands nearby wearing a disgruntled look. The moment my name is called, Rysen blurs into existence beside me. Somehow, the vampire has kept a hold of his parcel, but his free hand half-reaches for me, then stops midway before dropping back to his side.
“You’re unharmed?” His fangs are extended, obscuring his words, but I nod, anyway.
“What the hell were you thinking, running off without us?” Cas pants, eyes flashing between turquoise and brown.
Shit, what was I supposed to say?
“This is Elsie,” I deflect, pulling the Solar in front of me. “I’m going to walk her back to her temple.”
Rysen pinches the bridge of his nose, but nods. “I’m already late for the Captain’s business. I’ll see you back on the ship.” He gives Cas and Kier a look. “If she gets into any more trouble…”
“I’ll keep to the plan.” Cas promises.
“The plan?” I ask. “What plan?”
But Rysen doesn’t answer. He shuffles the box so it’s more secure against his hip, then gives me a tiny smile before blurring away again.
Leaving me with just Cas, Kier, and Elsie.
“You’re sure they’re not your harem? They’re very protective of you, considering who you are.”
I could have hissed at her to stay quiet, but I find my panicked eyes go straight to Cas instead. My tongue turns to lead in my mouth. Everything seems to go into slow motion as the teenager wrecks two weeks of careful non-lies before my eyes.
“Harem?” he asks.
“Lunars have human harems,” Elsie replies. “I just assumed because of how worried you were, you were hers.”
I wait for Cas’s eyes to widen. For him to realise he’s been deceived. But he just throws back his head and laughs.
“The look on your face,” he chortles. “Nilsa, I’ve known you weren’t a Solar since you used compulsion on Val. You’re not a great actress. The news about a harem is new, though.”
He sidles round me and hooks an arm around Elsie, who blushes as any teenager would when confronted by such a gorgeous shifter. “Do tell me more.”
Something rash bubbles up at me at the sight of Cas’s arm around another woman—even if she is just a girl. My eyes narrow and I feel Opal’s fur bristle in response.
Which is completely illogical.
Cas can touch whomever he likes.
The Solar blushes some more, then disentangles herself.
“Solars are celibate, except when the Sun Goddess gives her blessing for us to carry more witch children. Lunars…” she looks at me. “Well, I don’t know how it happens, really. Only that the Goddess usually picks for them when they turn immortal and they’re inseparable from then on.”
They all look at me. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Cas seems genuinely confused. “Are your men dead?”
“No.”
“Imprisoned?”
“No, Cas. Drop it.”
“I just don’t understand why they’d leave you.” His earnest expression doesn’t do anything to soothe my agitation.
“It is unusual,” Elsie agrees.
“Drop. It.” Why are they so interested, anyway?
