This Wicked Curse (Realm of Monsters) by Amanda Aggie

Author:Amanda Aggie [Aggie, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-08-30T16:00:00+00:00

23

Hook

Stepping out of my quarters, I find Zephyr waiting for me. He leans to the side, trying to peek past me, but he quickly averts his eyes.

“Tell me you didn’t,” Zephyr says, his tone disapproving.

Ignoring his question, I ask, “What’s the gauge on the crew?”

Zephyr sighs and falls into step with me. “They’re mixed. Most believe a blood witch is a blood witch and Scarlet shouldn’t be treated any differently. Smee, Nelvin, and Lorian are among them. Others, though far and few, say she has never been anything but kind to them, and they’re not sure where to stand.”

“And you?” I ask, my voice tense. “Where do you stand?”

Zephyr purses his lips, clearly struggling with his answer. “I think we need more information before I can truthfully say.”

Hearing what the others have to say about Scarlet makes my chest tighten. I care for her, more than I’d like to admit, but I know if my crew wants her gone, it’s a battle I can’t fight alone. I’m not sure I could fight it at all.

“Did you talk to her about the mark?”

I shake my head. “She won’t answer much, but she swears she’s not a blood witch.”

Zephyr runs a hand through his hair, inflating his cheeks with his exhale. “That’s tough… I think we have some truth tea left. We could give it to her, and force her to answer. She might never forgive you for it, though. But I don’t think you’d ever forgive yourself if you shoved her off the ship, only to find out she was telling the truth.”

As we cross the deck, Smee falls into step beside us, having overheard our conversation. “It’s illegal, even in Solaria, to mark someone as a blood witch without proof,” she adds with a scowl. “She’s lying.”

Pursing my lips, I shake my head. There’s only one way to put my mind at ease. It’s not foolproof, but it’s something. “Brew the tea.”

Smee rolls her eyes and mumbles under her breath before addressing us more firmly. “We need to have a meeting when you’re done with your little interrogation. By then, I’ll know the extent of the damage to the ship and what’s fixable.”

Zephyr nods and sets off to prepare the tea, while Smee and I wait in tense silence. My mind races with possible outcomes, weighing the consequences of each decision.

“Do you love her?” Smee asks, and I narrow my gaze.

“What do you think? Don’t be absurd.”

“I saw the way you looked at her. At least to some extent you cared, but I need to know that you understand and have wrapped your mind around what she is. Don’t let her get in your head.”

I cross my arms over my chest, not daring to look at her. “I’m aware, and I’ll do what needs to be done.”

Zephyr returns, out of breath with a thermos in hand. “Ready?”

We give Scarlet a moment to dress before knocking on the door to my quarters, the sound echoing through the tense silence. “Are you decent?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

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