“We can’t return with only the ire of the merfolk as our prize,” Kit reasoned, a distinct note of panic in his voice. His tail lashed, forcing the sailors who had sprung from their stations on the deck to back up several steps. Captain Hin rose from his seat, and Nick, in the chaos, noticed him coolly assessing the scene.
Nick’s heartbeat roared in his head. He waited, helpless, for a man to step forwards and do as ordered. He waited for Kit to bend to Desre’s will and do it himself.
Instead, Kit planted his hands on Nick’s shoulders. His tail lashed dangerously through the air, coming so close to Evie that the girl was forced to duck.
Captain Hin stooped to help Desre to her feet, grimacing when they made skin-to-skin contact and quickly releasing her when she was upright. She swayed, her balance teetering to the side. She kept a hand covering her face, but as she fixed her eyes on Nick, he saw they’d already begun to swell.
“Ten lashes on his back,” Captain Hin suggested. “And no food.”
“I want a hundred!”
“A hundred will kill him.”
“Fifty.”
Captain Hin looked, not at Nick, but at Kit. He seemed to be weighing something up. Nick saw the man note the way Kit’s grip was digging into Nick’s shoulders. The protective way his body curled around him.
“With his disposition—the lad’s been deathly ill most of the journey here—fifteen is the most you’d get away with and not kill him.”
“Fifteen is nothing. Fifteen is for thieves! For impertinence!”
“And no food,” Captain Hin pointed out.
Desre released a furious sound from deep in her throat.
“Bring the whip,” Captain Hin said.
“My man has a whip, and he’ll use it!” Desre snarled.
Kit’s tail froze mid-air. Nick heard his low growl of alarm.
Captain Hin quickly strode forwards into the range of Kit’s tail. Captain Hin put his hand down on the back of the chair, near Kit but without actually touching him. He spoke quietly. “Just because he can resist her, doesn’t mean we can. Satisfy her, or she will kill him for that.”
Captain Hin unlocked Nick’s chains and dragged him to the main mast, looping each wrist into a nearby rope and hitching his arms up with a quick snap. Nick was aware of Kit’s presence at his back from his low, distressed hum.
“Stop before she hears,” Captain Hin warned.
Kit strangled the hum.
When Captain Hin stepped away, the entire world went quiet. The only thing Nick could focus on was the light sound of Kit’s tail moving through the air. His mouth was filled with leather, so he couldn’t even say a word.
Desre finally snapped, “Do it.”
Chapter Sixteen
Nick recognised the bitter taste of medicine on his tongue. Smelled the thick mint and herb scent coming from his blissfully numb back. An ache in his jaw survived the drugs, the muscles wrecked from either being forced open by the leather gag or biting down on it. He twitched his fingers, recognising the feel of Kit’s silk sheets.
Next to him, Anna and Kit were speaking in hushed voices.
“How bad is the nose?” Nick slurred, as if drunk.
“Terrible,” Anna informed him.
“Ugly?”
“Horrendous.”
“So she won’t summon Kit, right?” Nick checked.
