Page 25 of The Searching Songbird

“Can't say for sure, but it almost looked like the trace ripple of an enchantment in use,” Draven murmured. “Larger enchantments tend to leave tell-tale traces, but why would there be one way out – shit! Get down!”

“Wha ̶ ” Lily felt her question fly out of her throat as she was slammed onto her back, the hard floor knocking the wind right out of her. She stared up at Draven's face in shock as he hovered over her. A loud boom sounded from the bow of the ship, but she barely registered it as she looked over Draven's shoulder and spotted the lithe figure perched atop the railing where they'd been standing moments prior, the whites of her eyes glowing brightly against the strip of black that'd been painted across her face like a mask. She grinned as she met Lily's gaze, a wide, toothy grin that hinted of violence.

A curved dagger in the woman's right hand glinted in the moonlight, and Lily bit back a scream as Draven twisted around to face the woman, somehow springing to his feet and turning all in one, graceful movement. If she weren't so scared, she would have been extremely impressed. As it was, she couldn't help but feel comforted by his strong, confident stance.

His hand reached around to his back, slipping beneath the brown vest he wore over his white, linen shirt. When he brought his hand back out, there was a knife in it, held loosely at his side.

“Lily, I need you to get back.” His voice was low and calm, nothing about his manner indicating danger. She stared at his back, uncomprehending as shock froze her in place.

“Right now, sweetheart.”

This time the words managed to make their way in, spurring her into action, and she scooted backwards across the deck before scrambling to her feet. Another loud boom from the front of the bow had her glancing sideways, where she saw several dark figures flying over the railing onto the deck before disappearing into a cloud of smoke that covered the bow, making it impossible to see what was happening there.

“What's going on? Who are these people?”

Draven's stance tensed ever so slightly as the woman from the railing jumped down onto the deck and started moving toward him, and he practically growled his response.

“Sea Snakes.”

Chapter Thirteen

Draven eyed the wiry woman in front of him – dark dreadlocks falling freely around a heart-shaped face, black paint framing a pair of narrowed eyes, skin the color of coffee. Her red, cotton shirt fluttered in the breeze, its sleeves covering the long, beak-nosed sea snake he knew wound its way around her bicep, its deadly fangs sinking into her shoulder.

Frankie “Bets off” Beck.

Second-in-command of the Sea Snakes, a vicious gang of pirates who preyed upon merchant ships. Although, they usually avoided ones as large as the Star Drifter. Then again, they usually didn't have access to cloaking enchantments or smoke bombs, either.

She shot forward, her blade flashing toward Draven's neck, and he barely had time to block it with his knife. He grit his teeth, pressing against her blade and pushing her back a step.

“What the hell are you doing here, Bets,” he hissed, keeping his voice low so Lily wouldn't be able to hear him.

“What? Aren't you happy to see me?” She leaned in closer, their blades sandwiched between them. “Lover.”

Draven's stomach twisted at the reminder, a drunken evening after a particularly dark day. Not his proudest moment.

“Why. Are. You. Here.” Ignoring her taunting smile, he increased the pressure on his blade, causing her to slide back another fraction of an inch. She chuckled, and her gaze flickered over his shoulder.

“She's cute, like a little bunny. All soft and snowy white.” She licked her lips. “I bet she'd look even better with a splash of red down those ivory cheeks, whaddya think?”

A feral growl built in his chest, and he pushed back even harder, until he had her pinned against the railing. “You even think of touching her, and I will end you.”

She pursed her lips, making a tsking noise. “Don't tell me the poor, little errand boy has feelings for the girl? Naughty, naughty Draven.” She smirked. “What would the boss think?”

Dread clawed at his chest, making it hard to breath. “Is that why you're here? Did the boss send you?”

She didn't answer right away, just stared at him with those mocking eyes, until he felt like his heart was going to explode it was pounding so hard. If they'd come for Lily, there wasn't much he could do to stop them. Bets, he could handle. The entire gang was another story.

She smirked. “Of course, the boss sent us. Why else would we be here? But we're not here for your woman, so you can relax.”

“If you're not here for her, then why are you here?”

“Acquiring some much needed funds.” She looked over his shoulder again. “And delivering a message.”

Before he could ask her what that message was, she shoved her weight against him before driving the bottom of her booted foot into his gut. He stumbled backwards, throwing his hands up as she came flying at him. She slammed into him, landing on top of him as they fell to the floor and straddling him between her thighs. Grabbing his wrists, she pinned them above his head with one hand as the other drove her dagger into the decking a hair's breath away from his face. Leaning down, she whispered in his ear.

“The boss says you're taking too long. If he doesn't have the girl within a week, he'll come for her himself. Something he really doesn't have time for.”

He tensed beneath her, easily breaking her hold on his arms. “I've got it handled,” he growled, tamping down the shiver of fear that had crept up his spine at the thought of facing the boss. He started to push her off when a burst of pure, white light flashed from somewhere behind his head. There was a shrill screech followed by painful screams as a huge, red bird flew over his head and scraped its talons across Bets' face.