Page 97 of The Worst of Them

Their friends raced ahead through the tree-dappled moonlight, their forms appearing and disappearing, their laughter echoing despite the screams behind them. As the distance increased, the sounds faded, swallowed by the forest.

And then the pirates were on the beach, all of them panting.

Cecily straightened, all thoughts of Morgyn fleeing her mind as the trees closed behind them. Quiet descended, as though nothing odd or magical had happened and it was an entirely normal forest.

She spun to her friends, counting them once, twice. The blood drained from her face. “Where’s Fay?” she asked.

Heart in her throat, she turned back to the trees, searching the shadows and praying Fay hadn’t gotten caught or left behind. If that were the case, they’d have to go back⁠—

A pair of glowing eyes appeared in the gloom, followed by a pale, moonlit face and white hair.

Cecily stumbled back as Fay stepped onto the sand.

Blood ran from the woman’s smile. Her lips and teeth were black with it, her hands stained red, and her eyes glowed silver as though there were stars set within.

The Witch of Tortuga.

Maria had been fair in encouraging Fay to take on the name, Cecily realized. The haunted forest, the terrified locals—she had assumed much of it was rumor and jest, as what she’d seen of Fay’s supernatural nature was subdued and useful among friends, but nothing truly threatening.

But for what Fay hadn’t revealed…she absolutely could kill half the island in less than an hour, and the people had plenty of reason to be afraid.

“Who the hell were those two?” Frederick demanded, apparently oblivious or entirely uncaring of Fay’s appearance.

Jack answered, an edge to his voice, “Members of the Fortuna’s crew. I don’t know why they were there.”

Cecily blindly reached for Jack’s arm, grasping at air until she felt muscle beneath her palm. It was enough to bring her back to herself. She peered up at him, hoping for some reassurance that what she saw wasn’t an odd occurrence, but he wasn’t looking at her. She swiveled her gaze to Hester who absently chewed her lip while listening to the conversation.

“They ruined the game,” Maria grumbled. “They burned the damn house to the ground!” She gestured to the forest. “And the guards saw our faces and they’ll know we pulled some ruse and that we’re the robbers⁠—”

“Oh, the forest ate anyone who saw our faces,” Fay said, traipsing her way across the sand, the glow fading from her eyes. Cecily tried not to shrink as she passed. “And there’s no concern that anyone fled. I saw to anyone who tried.” Her bloody lips dipped into a frown. “The two from the Fortuna, though—I didn’t see where they went.”

Maybe Cecily should have been more concerned with Morgyn’s appearance in the governor’s mansion, but she was completely mesmerized by her friend. She had power over an entire forest and had indeed commanded it in their favor.

It wasn’t a haunted forest at all. It was simply Fay.

Jack made a face, unsurprised and unbothered by the bloody sight before him. “A little overkill?”

“No such thing,” Killian said.

Jack held up his hands. “Your soul. Do with it as you please.” Looking at Fay, he gestured to his mouth. “You’re still wearing them, by the way.”

Fay rubbed her thumb across her lips and, casually noting the blood all over herself, chirped an airy, “Oh,” before calmly sashaying to the water.

Killian watched her go, hunger in his gaze. It occurred to Cecily that with his thinning hair, his voice, the often-absent look in his eye—he’d actually given Fay half his soul. And by whatever magic had allowed it, being blonde and knowing things was probably the least of her capabilities.

Hester finally met Cecily’s gaze, expressing the same amount of admiration and alarm as she, too, realized the truth. Then she broke into a quiet bout of cackling. Cecily couldn’t help a small, relieved chuckle.

“You’d think Fiero would know better,” Greyson said, looking at Jack. “Copson’ll be pissed.”

Jack frowned. “It’ll be my problem to clean up if he cares at all.”

Greyson considered. “If word gets out that his crew was part of this, he may care. S’pose they don’t want us to dock here anymore.”

“Then there will be other ports that welcome us.”

Killian shook his head, the movements small and half-formed. “You’ll be welcome here. Copson’s crew can change, but the name will always be respected at port.”

Fay returned then, seawater dripping from her clothes and hair as she nestled into Killian’s side. “Well, I had a wonderful time.”