Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
I have the strangest urge to wrap my arms around her and pull her close. I’ll settle for painting his blood across the deck of his ship. It will make both me and Maeve feel better. I’m sure of it. “It would be better not to wait until morning to attack.”
“Attack.” She lets out a bitter laugh. “How are we going to attack, Lizzie? I can barely hold my own in a fight against a single person in this form, and you don’t have Nox as backup. It will take us time to row out there, time in which they’ll see us coming. If they don’t shoot us on sight, they’ll be ready for us when we attempt to come aboard. We’ll die.”
I reach out and catch her chin. “Maeve.”
“No. You don’t get your way this time through sheer force of personality,” she grits out. “Sometimes reality has to be taken into account. And the reality is that we are outnumbered. Vastly outnumbered. At least half the crew have some kind of powers that will turn the tide in their favor even if you somehow managed to cut your way through them. More than that, just because Bronagh is a monster doesn’t mean his entire crew is. I’m not going to condone a wholesale slaughter.”
“Pity. A wholesale slaughter makes things simple.”
She glares and wraps her hand around my wrist. “Are you making a joke right now?”
I ignore the question and release her, turning back to face the water. “There’s no reason to throw out a good resource. We need a ship to sail where we’re headed next. The two of us can’t manage a ship of that size. Therefore, we’ll need a crew. The one on board will do nicely.”
She curses under her breath. “They’re his crew and his ship. Beyond that, he’s not even the captain—he’s the quartermaster. Killing him will do nothing.”
“Killing him will make me feel better, and I think you’ll feel better, too.” I hold up a hand before she can sputter out another protest. “I hear what you’re saying. Bronagh is the quartermaster. The crew has some powerful people on it. Now listen to what I’m saying. If your pelt isn’t on that ship, then we need that ship to get it back. If it is on that ship, it’s right there.”
My plan leaves something to be desired, but there’s no help for it. We’re running out of time. I agree with Maeve that Bronagh won’t turn tail and run simply because we came to Khollu. But he’s arrogant enough that he won’t expect an attack tonight, and after my little indiscretion at the inn, he won’t be at full strength. “Does he have any powers beyond teleportation?”
She curses under her breath. “No. Or at least I don’t think so. That’s the only one I’m aware of.”
That doesn’t really mean anything at all. Since he obviously intended to get close to Maeve and steal her pelt, he was hardly going to share all his secrets with her. Or any of them. It’s fine. He didn’t see me coming before. He’s not going to see me coming this time, either.
Teleportation is a fearsome magic and damn near unstoppable—except for one key factor. The person teleporting has to concentrate on their destination during the teleportation process. It’s only a matter of a fraction of a second, but it’s a weakness that can be exploited. I’ve certainly done it in the past. It’s a trick of timing.
“None of this changes the fact that we can’t even get out there. We might have a chance on the boat in the dark of the moon, but there’s too much light right now. They’ll see us coming.”
“Maeve, we’ve talked about your lack of imagination. We’re two beautiful women. They have no reason to think we’re up to no good.” I stand and slip out of my cloak. Maeve watches in what appears to be horror as I unbutton my shirt nearly to my navel.
“Lizzie.” Her voice is choked. “If you’re trying to seduce me, this is hardly the time or place.”
A surprised laugh slips free. “Seeing a partially naked woman is enough to cause most people to hesitate. They don’t immediately assume attack, which gives us the element of surprise.”
“Imagine that.” She clears her throat. “You’re really not going to listen to reason, are you?”
“Maeve.” I take her shoulders. “I’ll protect you. It will be fine. We’re so close to getting your skin back. Trust me.”
“You are the most infuriating, murderous woman I’ve ever met. This really isn’t how I imagined we’d be spending the night together.” She smiles a little. “Okay. I trust you. Let’s go get the boat.”
If that bastard wouldn’t have interrupted our meal, maybe I would be stripping her right now, pulling back the fabric to reveal her soft, lovely body. Trailing each revealed inch of skin with my mouth. Strategically biting her so that she comes apart so many times she loses track.