Spencer took another sip of his drink, expression unreadable.
“If it comes to that.”
Mark studied him for a moment but he didn’t push. Didn’t need to because they both knew the reality. If shewasas dangerous as the brief suggested and if shewasa risk, then hesitation could get them killed. She was a dragon, after all.
Spencer didn’t make mistakes like that. Didn’tallowhimself to.
“Rooms?” Mark said after a moment, shifting the subject.
Spencer nodded toward the bar. “Already handled.”
Mark blinked. “When?”
“While you were arguing with yourself about the parrot.”
“I stand by my suspicions.”
Spencer ignored him. They finished their drinks in silence, the evening stretching on in that easy, unhurried way the Ferret’s Mott seemed to specialise in and, at some point, a figure drifted through the far wall.
Spencer didn’t react. Mark, however, nearly choked on his drink.
“Is that…”
“Yes.”
The ghost was naked and, judging by the way several locals raised their glasses in greeting, he was familiar and clearly a local.
“That’s Blackbeard,” someone at the next table said, noticing Mark’s expression. “Well, what’s left of him.”
The ghost gave a jaunty wave, completely unbothered by his lack of… anything.
Mark stared.
Spencer took another sip of his drink.
“I hate this place,” Mark whispered.
“You love it,” Spencer replied.
“I really do.”
And that was the problem, wasn’t it?
Spencer let his gaze sweep the room again and allowed himself, even for a moment, to enjoy the laughter, the ease in which they existed, and the absolute lack of fear. Because, here, they knew they were protected and they belonged.
He understood, suddenly, why someone might choose to stay. Why someone might choose to hide in this strange and yet appealing town.
His fingers tapped lightly against his glass, not one but twice before he stilled his fingers on the cool glass.“We move tomorrow,” he said quietly.
Mark nodded. “Yeah.” They stood not long after, heading upstairs to the rooms they’d secured and, unsurprisingly, they were small, but clean and cosy. More than good enough.
Spencer paused briefly at the window, looking out toward the dark stretch of sea beyond the town. He could still feel it… that pull, only it was stronger now.
Behind him, Mark dropped onto one of the beds with a groan. “If this job goes sideways, I’m blaming you.”
Spencer didn’t turn.
“That’s fine.”
