His eyes flit to Torin before landing on the floor, and my own cheeks start to heat. That night we shared before we visited the labs—with Torin’s face between my legs while I straddled Aster—is etched into my brain, even though it feels like it happened a lifetime ago. My core clenches, and I shift in position before settling back against the wall.
For someone who had three mates at one point, I’ve been living a remarkably sexless existence recently. And now it seems like we’ll be using sex for power.
I’ll be using them.
“What’s that face for?” Torin asks.
I hesitate for a moment before blurting out just a few of the dozens of thoughts bouncing around in my brain.
“I really hope we find something,” I groan, stretching my aching hip and simultaneously trying to massage my aching head. “I don’t know how long I can carry on like this. Plus, I’m worried about what happens if we have to run at any point and if I’m just going to be a liability to you all.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Torin says. “If I have you toss you over my invisible shoulders and swim for safety, I will. I’ll do whatever I have to in order to keep you safe.” He locks his eyes with mine, and I can practically feel the intensity rolling off him.
He then waves his arms in front of him. “And it’s not just for you, sweetness. Don’t forget that. If anyone’s a liability, it’s the guy so full of magic he’s literally disappearing.”
My gut twists at his words. “It’s getting worse?”
“It’s not getting better,” he replies. Then he rolls up his sleeves to show me it reaches just beyond his wrists.
“Do you think this could give Kit a boost too?” I ask, causing both him and Aster to glance up from their pages.
“To help strengthen the curses, you mean?” Kit asks.
I nod, pushing my hair away from where it’s dangling in front of my face. “Exactly. It seems like what you’ve tried so far hasn’t been working.”
“What’s this about strengthening curses?” Jack asks. “Anything in particular you’re trying to curse?”
I glance at Kit, my eyes widening with horror as it dawns on me that his and Finch’s plan isn’t common knowledge among the rest of the crew. He gives a minute shake of his head.
“Just around the island,” Kit says smoothly. “Trying to make sure the wards are strong enough to hold anyone off.”
There’s a moment where Jack’s eyes dart from me to Kit and back again, like he’s trying to work out if there’s something he’s missing. I flatten my expression, not about to reveal any more than I already have.
“What happens after it works?” Torin asks. “If we have the chance to get out of here and move on. What next? Do you want to go back to your shop?”
Kit leans back against the wall, letting out a soft hum as he ponders the question. “I don’t think so. I managed to skirt by before without anyone knowing too much about me. It’s a small town where everyone knows each other’s business, and they’d never get over the scandal of one of their own being wanted by the king’s men.”
“What about you, Aster?”
My gentle witch shakes his head with a little smile. “I have no clue about the future, not when I’m barely finding my feet as it is.”
“You’re learning a whole new language and have become the crew’s medic all in a few weeks,” Kit replies. “I’d say you’re smashing it.”
Aster’s smile widens. “I’ve got visions of heading home, seeing my family again, at least to let them know I’m still alive if nothing else.” He clears his throat, his gaze flicking away from me as he adds, “I’d like for you to come too. For you to meet them.”
I reach out and squeeze his hand as warmth bubbles over just beneath my ribs. “Of course.”
He gives me a look that’s almost overwhelming in its intense warmth, and I find myself grinning back at him, hoping that we get to make a trip soon. And that we find his family are all right when we get there.”
“What about you, Torin? You want to be a pirate forever?”
He snorts, flipping the page and readjusting his reading glasses. “I don’t think any of us would choose to do it forever. We’re just not welcome doing anything else.”
I think back to that scene we witnessed in the nearby town last week. How the beast-borne were treated, ostracised by their own family even in a place they’d lived their entire lives.
“What would you want to do?” Kit asks me.
I shake my head, pausing to get my thoughts in order before I reply, “Part of me yearns for the picture Aster painted of his childhood. His family farm, growing their own vegetables and going to the market every week.” I wrinkle my nose in a grimace. “Not that part where you had no money and you had to leave, of course. Maybe I’m romanticising it, but it sounds nice to be so settled like that. It sounds like a proper family.” I shrug. “I think I’d like that.”
