Page 30 of Pregnant With Their Babes

Oz chuckled. “That’s usually our dynamic, is it not? You play the heavy.”

Dagr glared at him. “With the crew—or anyone else, for that matter—I care less if that’s how I seem. I’ll play the tyrant. But notwith him. Please, Oz. We need to be of the same mind when it comes to Llyr.”

“You’re right. I’ll do better.”

“You might not have to for much longer.” Dagr eyed Oz’s cabin door. “He offered to leave once the sun rose.”

Oz stood straighter, worry creeping in. “Is he gone?”

“No,” Dagr murmured. “I convinced him to stay until we saw the witch, at the very least.” Dagr frowned. “I assume he’s still here. I’ve yet to check in on him this morning yet.”

“You didn’t check in on him?” Oz frowned. “Wait… you didn’t bed him last night?”

Dagr scoffed. “Of course not. Last night was supposed to be yours. I wouldn’t give that to another.”

Oz took a half step closer and took Dagr’s cheek in his palm. “I never deserved a man like you.”

Dagr’s stare softened a bit more. He leaned in and pressed his lips to Oz’s.

Shock filled him as they parted. “What of our vow?”Not in front of the crewhad been their hard and fast rule.

“We’ll soon be done with this journey,” Dagr said. “And it’s not as if they’re not already aware.”

With that, Oz leaned in and took Dagr’s mouth with his own. He smiled against his lover’s lips, enjoying the freedom of kissing him in the light of day, not caring who saw. When they parted, Oz saw something at the corner of his vision. He spun to see Llyr in his cabin’s doorway, staring. Red tinted his face as he looked to be hiding an embarrassed grin.

“I’m glad the two of you have kissed and made up.”

Oz took a step away from Dagr and twisted to face Llyr. “Seems he forgives my bad behavior last night. I hope you will, as well.”

Llyr’s smile faded. “You have nothing to forgive. I, on the other hand, needyourpardon. I caused this row.”

“Not really,” Oz said. “I think we’re all guilty to some extent here.”

“If we’re done prattling on, we should go find the witch and let her have her say,” Dagr interrupted. “Then we’ll know just how forgiving we need to be to one another.”

* * *

Trailing behind the two humans, Llyr observed everything he passed. The forests spreading out behind the port town were lovely. Things the men called evergreen trees had a rich smell he enjoyed very much. He saw woodland creatures running and darting about, much like the small schools of fish he’d encounter on the few trips he’d had outside the castle walls.

“We’re here,” Oz called over his shoulder.

He cast a gaze forward. His stare had been so focused on the things they’d passed that he’d been blind to the structure ahead. Llyr paused on the edge of the small cottage’s gate, noting how much it appeared like the Enchantress’ underwater cavern. The white witch’s home was round, not square like the other human buildings he’d seen in the small port town. Heavy vines grew up the walls, making it seem more like a living thing. Outside, there was a vast garden, growing what appeared to be food —not too far different than the seaweed beds his people tended. As they sauntered inside the gate, he saw the door wide open. A huge cauldron took up the center of the room—and the walls were bedecked with bottle after bottle of spells and ingredients.

“Hello? Is anyone home?” Oz called out, rapping his knuckles on the edge of the door.

An older woman swept from somewhere inside the depths. As soon as she noticed him, the witch immediately rushed toward Llyr, all wild white hair and wide eyes. The woman grabbed his shoulders with hands that gripped him stronger than they should’ve been able to.

“Let me get a good look at ya, m’boy.”

Llyr’s skin seemed like it vibrated under her intense gaze. Her regard was deep and prevailing… he feared she could see his very thoughts. He took a shuddering breath, her power overwhelming. Llyr glanced at Dagr and Oz, seeing curiosity on their faces. When he returned his stare to the woman, her eyes widened more.

“I ne’er thought I’d see one o’you in tha light o’day.” Her breath smelled of something sweet and cloying. The witch’s smile grew broad, showing even teeth yellowed by age. She reached out and pulled a lock of his hair from the braid trailing down the back of his neck. With a yank, she stole a few hairs and tossed some into her cauldron. The others she tucked into a pocket of the apron worn over her dress.

Llyr winced with pain and lifted a hand to his head. A poof of blue-green smoke rose from her pot, and she reminded him of the Enchantress once more.

“A merman. Inmyhome. Thisisa good day.” She cackled some. “My sisters will ne’er believe me.”

“What did you just call him?” Oz asked, an eyebrow arched high.

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