Page 105 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

I sucked in a breath, praying he wouldn’t see my nerves.

“Yes, well, we can discuss that after we are safely on shore.”

He leaned down so that our faces nearly touched. I could smell the smoked salmon on his breath. A piece of unruly ebony hair fell over his good eye.

“If you try to cheat me out of the song, I will gut you like a fish. I don’t care if you are Tharan’s beloved. I will burn that bridge if I have to.”

I swallowed the fear pooling in my stomach. The heat of a dagger burned beneath my chin.

“Have you ever wanted revenge so badly you could feel it in your bones? Every heartbeat was a testament to your survival, and every day was an opportunity to get one step closer to vindication?”

“What?” His brows arched with intrigue.

Conrad was trying to intimidate me, but I wouldn’t allow men to scare me anymore. I had walked through fire, through death and pain, and come out the other side. I would not be frightened by this sea captain. I’d seen real monsters, andConrad was not one of them. Nevertheless, I still had to convince him I was as confident as he was. Strength respected strength.

I moved the dagger closer to my chin so that the tip drew blood.

“I have dreamed of nothing but revenge for five years. I have envisioned killing my enemy in every way, shape, and form. I am fueled by bitterness and hate alone. Do you think I would jeopardize that over something as trivial as a song?”

“You surprise me again, Mind Breaker. There is more to you than meets the eye.” His smile was as handsome as it was twisted.

“If you want to shake on it. I will.”

“I will not risk my life or my magic. I have been burned by a bargain before.” Conrad sighed, rolling up his sleeve to reveal the black veins of a bargain breaker.

“Which party broke their end of the bargain?” I said, touching my arm where my own brand had been.

“Not me. It’s why I need the siren’s song. I, too, have a vendetta to fulfill.”

“How are you not dead?”

Conrad pointed to vials of potions on his nightstand.

“A concoction of tinctures slows the spell. Doesn’t stop it but slows it for a time.”

A whisper of sympathy nudged my heart, but I dared not show it.

“Then we understand one another.”

“Let me gather my crew. Meet me by my ship,The Salty Bitch—the one with the black cherry hull in the harbor and the big-breasted woman on the front.”

“Charming,” I said.

Not daring to turn my back on him, I slowly backed toward the door.

“I hope you brought weapons.”

I stared at him in disbelief, pulling my cloak to the side, revealing a sword and my dagger.

“We’ll need more than that.”

“Do you not have weapons on your ship?”

He arched a brow. “Well, that’ll cost extra.”

My mouth fell agape.

“I already killed the siren queen to get you your song.”

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