Page 77 of Seas the Reckoning

Ji-hwan just inclines his head.

“It will be no problem. We appreciate your help.” The Were smiles at our captain, and Thomas whistles.

“Malcolm was right about you. Drop dead. You must drive people absolutely wild.”

Ji-hwan blinks, apparently not sure what to do with someone who, while not immune to his charm, is also not swayed into silliness by it.

I chuckle again, and he looks at me.

“I was not trying to seduce anyone. I just had my charm turned up enough for a good impression,” he insists.

“No need to try too hard! Any friend of Malcolm’s is a friend of mine,” the whale shifter says, apparently having overheard us. “He saved me once. I’d gotten myself entangled in some netting. Enchanted stuff, very bothersome. I was too far out and too deep to shift back safely. It was carelessness on my part. I should have seen it. Malcolm spotted me. Didn’t know me from a barnacle, but he swam up and offered his help. Crikey, those sharp leopard seal teeth do come in handy—so long as you’re not a penguin, huh?”

I can’t help smiling at how cheerful he is about his near-death ordeal.

“I would imagine,” I say.

The whale’s good mood appears to be spreading. Everyone is wearing a grin as we clamber aboard.

29

WHALE SONG

Dark water sloshes against the sides of the boat as Thomas takes us farther from shore. At this point, we’re well out of sight of the docks, and there are no other boats.

Starla’s looking a bit green, but I don’t think it’s seasickness. She’s still exhausted from using up so much magic to knock out her father’s men.

I say as much to Jackal.

“You both look exhausted. You should rest some more. Or, would a swim help?”

I perk up.

“Water sounds wonderful. But do you think we have time?”

“Thomas! How far until you’re ready to shift?” Jackal calls out to our captain.

“Whenever you all need it, but I’d like to take us out a bit more at least. I’m on your schedule.” The whale adjusts something, whistling a tune to himself the whole while.

“How about it?” Jackal asks.

Not only would I feel better, but I could probably find something for Starla. Light magic witches create energy and magic through physical exertion, as far as I know. The remainder, including Starla, drain energy from other things. A responsible witch is no deadlier than a shifter searching for breakfast in the woods, and Starla prefers to gather magic at Carolina Beach when she can do it while simultaneously getting herself a seafood lunch.

“You don’t mind? I feel like we’ve been apart so long.”

“I’ll come with,” Jackal volunteers, peeling his shirt off. Shifters are used to undressing in front of one another, but I find myself distracted by his muscles as he finishes piling his clothes onto the deck. He shifts into his fur.

“I’ll swim better like this,” he says, leaping into the relatively calm waters.

Smiling, I peel my own off and leap in after him.

Scales dust across my arms and legs, silky webbing growing between my fingers. I dunk my head under the water, eyes adjusting so I can see far below us.

The water is vast—and freeing. I throw my head back, laughing under the surface. When I see four kicking feet, I pop my head back to the air.

“You look happier already!” Jackal says, flashing his sharp teeth in a hyena smile.

“I am.”