Page 53 of Pirate Witch
Fuck this. I’m not who she needs right now. I shove out of my chair and force the siren standing behind me into it. “You’re up, Empath.”
Klaus doesn’t miss a beat, drawing our witch into his arms, leaving me to take her empty chair. Nilsa sinks into him with an ease that makes me jealous.
Does everyone on this ship have the ability to touch our mate as they please except me?
Yes. They do. Because I was an asshole.Fuck.
“They weren’t harmed,” he promises. “And knowing you, you made sure they wouldn’t be before you agreed to the Goddesses’ terms. I have no doubt your friends will forgive you. They knew how important it was to break that bargain.”
Nilsa takes a deep breath, then nods.
“You’ll feel better when you see them,” Nos adds. “They’re probably waiting for us. I imagine Sade will want them on the war council too.”
Slowly, our mate allows the others to lull her back into reassurance. I don’t think she even notices that she’s started eating the soup again until she scrapes at the bowl and finds it empty. Something in me wants to smirk with satisfaction at the sight.
Watching our little Shadow learn to rely on the others is something wonderful to see. The only question which remains is, is there still room for me? Or have I fucked up my chances completely?
ChapterSeventeen
NILSA
The island of Mirna really is beautiful. I couldn’t appreciate it while I was so stressed and worried about my mates. Now, seeing it alive and vibrant with colour in the bright sunlight is like experiencing it for the first time.
It should scare me—having my perception of the world be so contingent on the happiness of others—but it doesn’t. Somewhere between losing them and getting them back again, I’ve realised I truly want this.
For a lot of my life, I’ve been set apart from everyone. The other Lunars treated me differently because they knew I was a Shadow. Glenna actively encouraged my isolation. While I still adore my witch sisters, I’ve never truly felt a part of something until my pirates.
They’re my life now, and I’m never letting them go.
Except for now. Now, I’ve left most of them with Cirio and Sade as I track my way through the bustling marketplace on the hunt for a Solar witch with no timekeeping skills. Only the twins are with me, easily keeping pace as we head toward the Solar temple on the opposite side of the crowded plaza. Unlike most towns, Isablis has the Lunar and Solar temples practically on top of one another. They’re on opposite sides of the market square, dominating the space.
They should both be abandoned—all of the witches having evacuated to Coveton—butapparentlyaMother Solaris currently holding an open healing in the Solar temple. According to Sade, a Mother Lunar is with her offering exorcisms, and has been for the last six hours.
Their ‘guard?’ A mage.
Those teenagers are going to be the death of me. Reva… Reva should know better. She’s only a few months off from reaching her own immortality.
The queue to get in goes around the square and down to the harbour. People grouch and grumble as I slip through the double doors ahead of them, but shut up quickly as they see my sigils and knives. A few even bow, whispering my title.
Elsie and Reva are seeing people in the main hall, directly below the statue of the Sun Goddess. Seeing them for the first time, I understand why the humans think they’re High Priestesses. Their glowing hair and eyes give them an unearthly look. Seeing the two of them together is kind of awe-inspiring. But I shake off the feeling quickly.
Cooper is sitting in a corner, fiddling with a piece of crystal and some wires, completely oblivious to the goings on in the hushed room.
“Stop the next person from coming in,” I say, and Cas stays by the door, nodding.
Elsie’s hands are glowing as she holds them in the air over the toddler’s chest. The blood-filled pustules which cover the infant slowly disappear under her touch and the weeping mother gasps in astonishment as the girl is handed back to her.
“Thank you, Mother Solar. Thank you. Goddess bless,” she stammers, shuffling past me and pushing through the door.
Elsie looks up, and her eyes widen guiltily as she catches sight of me. It doesn’t last for long. She runs forward and wraps me in a huge, crushing hug.
“You’re up!” she exclaims. “How are you feeling? Your energy levels are still going crazy…”
“You can sense that just from hugging me?” I ask, pushing her back.
“I can tell all sorts of stuff now,” she says, grinning. “I knew the second you walked in the door that you’ve been under so much pressure that it’s beginning to affect you physically. I know exactly how much you have to eat to regain the weight you’ve lost,andI can tell you’re going to miss your next period—not because you’re carrying—but because of stress.”
Really? All I have to do to evade the horror of my menstrual cycle is be stressed? Score.
