Bash let out a curse, which Val echoed, though neither dared to look away from the birds watching us.
“You are supposed to be below deck.” Val bit out.
“Yes, but then I heard Rose say that doors and wood didn’t help, so I figured I might as well watch,” Kit said, wiggling himself between Dilly and me.
“They are Aloja,” Dilly said, unable to resist the opportunity to educate. “They guard the island of Mallorca and the seas around it. They appear like that or beautiful women.”
I rolled my eyes. “You make them sound friendly.”
Dilly shrugged her shoulders.
“They mostly are,” she said. “Ximena just doesn’t like you.”
“Why not?” asked Kit.
Oscar snorted. “Believe it or not, they are fighting over Bash here. Hard to believe I know.”
Kit grinned, looking from me to Bash, and I fought the urge to hit my own brother.
“We are not fighting over him. She is crazy.” I said.
“Said every woman in a feud over a man,” Val said, her own pistol loaded and ready.
I felt her before I heard her. Like a prickling behind my neck. An awareness I didn’t have before.
“She’s near,” I said.
Then came the laughter. The same thing I heard in my dreams for weeks after leaving Mallorca.
“Are you going to let your pet shoot me, Sebastian?”
Her voice was everywhere yet distant, making it difficult to aim my pistol.
“He’s not letting me do anything,” I said, keeping my breath steady. “If you hold still long enough, please know that I am shooting you because I very much want to.”
Blackbeard growled, the hair on his back sticking up as he looked out to the sea. I searched for Koinu, but he was careful to stay in pace with the Wraith as if he too did not want to venture into Ximena’s domain.
“The kitten grew some teeth since the last time we saw each other.” Ximena said, “And gained another guardian, it would seem.”
“Guardians?” Dilly asked before I could shove my arm into her side and tell her to shut up.
Ximena’s laugh was everywhere.
“Come a little closer, and I’ll tell you everything you’ve ever wanted to know, little mysteriologist,” Ximena said.
I glanced at Dilly to see her biting her lower lip.
“Are you serious right now?” I snapped.
She threw me an apologetic smile. “It’s only a little tempting, is all.”
“We mean you no harm, Ximena,” Bash said.
“Ah, but there are now three pistols loaded and pointed towards my island. What would you call the intent behind that, my love?” she said.
“Precautions,” he answered.
“Pretty sure it’s the intent to harm,” I said.
