Page 60 of Ruthless Scoundrel
Well, that’s not much of an option.
There’s no way I’m going to tell her what I am, or what I need Reina for, but maybe I can mince truths enough to get her to believe me.
“You’re a high-blood magus?” I ask.
She nods. “Second cousin to the royal house Ladron.”
Fucking hells, she’s connected to the Wol monarchy. If this goes belly-up, there will be nowhere on Gaien I can hide from the Wols. Still, her powerful magic will allow us to do what I need if I’m going to be truthful with her.
I set the pistol aside. “Will you make a pact with me?”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “It’s that serious?”
I hold her stare. “It’sthatserious.”
She tucks the coin away in her pocket and puts out her hand. I clasp it. “Should you break this pact of secrecy and speak, write, or otherwise convey this coming knowledge to someone other than myself or my ward, your magus ability will turn against you. You shall forever be deaf.”
My opal magic snakes down my arm and circles around our joined hands.
Alejandra licks her lips, hesitating for a moment before she nods. “I agree.”
Her own fuchsia magic curls down her arm and entwines with mine. The essence transforms into a shimmery light pink thatsettles around our wrists and leaves a soft brand like a braided bracelet.
“She is part of a secret rebellion in Fynren. I had to rescue her from the queen who meant to do something quite terrible—though I don’t know what. She called her ‘vessel’ and wielded dark magic unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
Alejandra nods. “And the manacles? Why did she try to escape you?”
“She doesn’t know who I am, or what I’m trying to do. Secrecy is essential, even from her. If she’s captured and tortured, if she tells anyone who I am or the plan, all could be lost.”
I’m mixing truths hard now, but at least I’m not lying. I hope I made it convincing enough.
“And what about Nol’Ther? That’s not a claim you make lightly, to fight gods.”
I look at Reina. The blood on her face incites my rage, but I already got retribution for that—something I might want to inform the captain about so there are no surprises come morning when some crew is missing.
But my anger quickly cools as I watch her breathe easily. Her dark lashes fan over her tan, freckled cheeks. Her gold hair, though wet, is still brilliantly beautiful. The fire in her, both literally and figuratively, warms the deepest abyss in my soul.
Ohksana’amai.
“She is precious to me,” I whisper.
Alejandra walks across the room and unlocks a chest beside the door. “Clean, dry clothes for her, and boots,” she says, then tosses the things down beside the bed.
“I’ll pay for you both to have a bath—can’t have you reeking like wet dog for days on end.” She smirks at me.
“You haveverygood hearing, I take it?”
“Very good.”
I hiss in a breath. “On that note, I need to report—”
“That some of the crew from the Golden Doubloon attempted to abduct your ward and were lost to the mountain caves in that attempt?”
Why is she suddenly so interested in helping me?
“Yes,” I say slowly.
“I’ll make a note.” She turns for the door. “You’ll have my room. Heal her before the bath or she’ll bleed out in it.”
