Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
I’d be a fool to give her the benefit of the doubt. She might be scared, but that’s not the dominant emotion. I doubt this woman has ever walked into a situation and not immediately looked for ways to turn it to her advantage—and steal some shit along the way.
The vow will hold her. It’s held everyone else, and I see no reason for her to be the exception, even if she thinks she can wiggle her way out of it. I focus on my magic binding her and free one of her arms. I swear I see her considering an attack before she smiles sweetly as if she’s not a threat at all. “I’ll need something to cut myself with in order to make this vow.”
Again, my instincts demand I keep anything resembling a weapon out of this woman’s hands. Unfortunately, as a witch, she is a weapon. Especially with those spells inked onto her chest. Most witches I’ve encountered over the years are able to prep only a small number, limited by whatever spell material they carry on their person. With the spells tattooed onto Evelyn, there is no need to prepare. The only limit is her capacity for magic.
I reluctantly move closer and pull a dagger from the sheath on my belt. I don’t pass it over to her. Instead, I catch her wrist and flip her hand palm up. Her skin is startlingly soft. I have no business noticing that. I press the tip of the dagger to the fleshy part of her palm.
Evelyn stares at the tiny dot of blood. “That’s it?”
“The amount of blood matters little. You, of all people, should know that. Even a drop is linked to your life force. Now, the vow.”
She frowns a little, the expression so fleeting it’s gone almost as soon as I register it. “Do you have many witches on your crew?”
“In a moment, they’ll number at one.” I gave her palm a pointed glance. “You’re wasting both of our time. Either make the vow or I toss you back in the ocean.”
“Someone should really petition this Cŵn Annwn Council of yours to let them know that their rules suck.”
I don’t bother to respond to that ridiculous statement. The Council doesn’t make the rules. The originals did before they disappeared into the waves of history. No Cŵn Annwn has seen them in longer than anyone can remember, and some of our people live thousands of years. None among my crew has that kind of life span, but there’s an old hunter who is quartermaster to the Harpy. Once, when we happened to make port at the same time, we shared a drink. The stories he told, passed down from his grandfather who lived just as long as him, were enough to make me grateful that the originals don’t bother with us any longer.
It’s best not to do anything to draw their attention or cause them to stir from wherever they reside now. I’m not sure any of us would survive it if they did. “The vow, witch.”
She huffs out a breath but relents after a moment of pained silence. “I pledge myself to the Cŵn Annwn. To hunt when the moon is full and howl for the death of monsters. I will bathe in their blood and protect the weak.”
Winning this fight should feel more momentous than it does. Instead, all I feel is exhausted. This is only the first battle of many with this woman, and I’m already fighting on several fronts aboard the Hag. One wrong move will be enough to tip the careful balance I’ve fought so hard for … the same balance Miles is constantly striving to undermine.
“It’s done.” As much as I would like to keep this woman restrained until I can assure her good behavior, it’s no longer an option. I reluctantly withdraw my magic and set her carefully on the floor.
Evelyn brushes at her clothing in a way that is obviously designed to distract. “I’ve never been a pirate before. Where are we headed, Captain? Off to steal some rich merchant’s booty?”
“I thank you never to use the word ‘booty’ in my presence again.” I motion for her to precede me. “We’re hunting a sea monster. It’s been terrorizing one of our local villages, so it’s our job to remove the threat.”
“Wow. So you actually do things beyond kidnap helpless civilians? How noble.”
“Yes, we actually do more than that.” I hold the door open for her and follow her back into the sunlight. It’s impossible to avoid noticing how it caresses her light hair almost lovingly. As if her energy draws the sunbeams more than anyone else on the deck.
“Kit!”
“Up here, Captain.” Kit descends one of the ropes so quickly that I wince in sympathy. Ne lands on the deck with a boom that sounds like a cannon going off, and strides toward us. Kit is a tall person with warm dark brown skin and the kind of shoulders that could hold up a mast in a hurricane. Ne is also one of the few crew members who Miles can’t sway. I trust nem to get Evelyn settled in without causing an incident.