Page 76 of The Lost Child

“Four.”

SSSWACK.

“Five.”

I backed away, watching him breathe heavily. His hands flew to his nose, and I knew it likely held onto his face by only a tiny bit of cartilage.

Now was the time during a punishment where the lecture came, but I found I didn’t have any words. Instead, I took the cutlass and handed it to Canavar and backed away from my father. Kaida put a hand on my shoulder in silent support. Her white scales were stained red in places.

Once, I had certainly regarded him as a father figure, but I had to be honest with myself; he hadn’t held that place in my heart since I was six or so. There had been other men in the company I’d looked up to, and who taught me valuable life lessons. All this man had ever taught me was pain and not to trust others.

Canavar threw the sword to the ground and instead stalked up to my father. He bent down low, getting nose-to-nose with him. Something unspoken must have gone between them, because Canavar punched a hole in my father’s chest and pulled out his still beating heart.

Thus ended the reign of the Pirate Lord Cutthroat Craw.

My father fell over in a lump on the floor, bleeding. Canavar squeezed the heart in his palm until it exploded, then threw it down on top of the body in disgust. An awkward, horrified silence fell over the hut.

I knew I should feel … something. But I didn’t. Well, except relief that he was finally gone, and that he couldn’t hurt me or Canavar anymore.

Nasi stepped forward to cut through the tension, rolling his eyes at Kaida. “Well, if there was any doubt he was related to you …”

Kaida trilled with delight, the sound somehow chasing away the gloom and despair in the room like an instant burst of sunshine. She punched Nasi lightly on the shoulder.

I blinked. “Wait. You’ve punched someone’s heart out as well?”

Kaida had claws and fangs, but it was hard for me to picture her as bloodthirsty as my Canavar. Nasi practically purred at her, wrapping her around him.

“I think we’d best go outside, wash up, and have a long talk.” Alkdama gestured toward the door of the hut, covered in blood from head to toe. The whites of her eyes stood out in stark contrast as she surveyed the death inside the hut.

“I’ll just … go get some soap.”

We followed her outside.

Well, I would after I put my clothes back on.

Twenty-Six

NERISSA

The campfire roared as the sun set, each blood witch welcoming us with open arms to share the flames and their food. The sky blazed red and orange and purple, a kaleidoscope of vivid color. Someone passed me a bit of meat on a stick with a few vegetables, and I accepted it wordlessly. I didn’t feel very hungry after all was said and done.

I was angry at Alkdama for a lot of things, including putting the blood curse on Canavar, lying to us about it, and trying to sell us out to my father. And yet … I understood why she did all of it. My feelings were a jumbled bundle of hate and relief and gratefulness. So when Canavar wrapped his arms around me and asked if I wanted to stay or not, I wasn’t sure.

“We can stay if you like. You must learn about your magick,” he insisted, nuzzling down into my neck. His speech was improving the more he used it. I couldn’t wait to get him alone later to show him exactly how proud of him I was.

Alkdama bowed her head. “I am sorry,” she said solemnly. “I still wish you to remain here and train. I feel very protective of my coven.”

Tears shimmered in her eyes, and I felt the last few strings of my grudge against her slip away. Two children danced near the fire, arm in arm as they swung around in a circle, shrieking with laughter.

She was only trying to protect her family.

“No more deals with pirate lords,” I said to her sharply, pinning her with my eyes.

Alkdama grinned wryly. “No more deals with pirate lords.”

Nasi shifted slightly from his seat on a large log. He and Canavar both looked a bit ridiculous as large as they were, hunched over on the wood and holding the tiny kebabs in their large, clawed hands.

“I imagine my mate wishes to know her brother better,” he began, looking to Kaida for confirmation. She wiped the grease off her hands and stood. “Yes, and if that means staying here with the witches, then we shall as well.” She shot a pleading look to Alkdama.

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