The Jezebel (Taskill Witches 3)

ightly, Captain,” said the man who had carried the light.

Secure her? Maisie trembled. If she denied them this power—if she used her magic to put a halt to it—it would only confirm her guilt in their eyes. They would descend as one, a fearful and crazed crowd. She had seen it before and never wanted to see it again. She had been educated to avoid it. Maisie willed herself to remember that.

“Aye, I will,” Roderick replied in a growl.

Maisie fought back the urge to cry. He intended to do as they said.

“Are you sure you can manage her?” It was Brady who asked, as if he was uncertain whether he should leave or not.

“I’ve handled her this far, haven’t I? See to the wheel. No doubt we are off course by now, and I want to reach land and hand her over to a magistrate as soon as possible. I will secure her and watch her, lest she spin magic and wreak havoc for us.”

Maisie cursed aloud.

That seemed to convince Brady, though, and he left them alone, albeit reluctantly.

After he’d gone, the door swung on its hinges, creaking violently. Roderick stomped over and slammed it shut. He stood there with his hand on the latch, as if not wanting to turn back and look at her.

She sensed he was not comfortable with this. Hope flared within her. “Roderick?”

He strode back to her side. “Don’t test me, Maisie.” His expression was determined. “I didn’t want any of this. I’m doing it for your own protection.”

His gaze, frantic and angered, swept over her. He shook his head, as if denying what had passed.

“Protection?” She glanced about, drawing his attention to their surroundings.

His jaw set hard; his lips pressed together. “I asked for your trust. If I hadn’t locked you up they might have cast you overboard.”

Her anger was only fueled by that remark, shot through with fear as she was. “Trust you? You had me hauled out there to be judged by your men! Why should I trust you? You won’t even hear my tale.” She couldn’t help herself. Her magic boiled up inside her, heated by the injustice she felt. Blurting a call for chaos, she showed him her fire.

He recoiled, and she knew he could see her power in her eyes.

“Maisie, no.” He swallowed, but did not turn away.

“I would not harm you. Why do you believe that I am a danger to you? I have done no harm to you or any of your men, and I do not intend to.”

She could not let him leave her, not without saying more on the matter. But it was too late, for the words spoken in the midst of her fury had let loose chaos around them. The ship tossed and pitched more violently, and Roderick, who was always steady on his feet, was thrown to one side. Goods shunted and something fell from a shelf. A sack of potatoes pitched and the vegetables spilled across the boards. Somewhere above, a beam creaked. The sound of wood splintering reached them. Roderick stared at her, aghast.

Twisting her wrists within their restraint, she tossed the loose rope out, cursing as the heavy weight of it snaked across the floor. But still it hampered her. She would need a knife to cut it loose. “By nature’s oath I swear I will not be left here to die. My heritage is a curse and always will be, but I will not be lowered to this by a man I gave myself to.”

“You need to calm down and think on this arrangement with a clearer head.” Roderick grasped her by the shoulders, shifting her back to where the room narrowed. He flung the loose end of the rope up and over a beam overhead and hoisted her so that her arms were stretched high and she dangled there, her feet just touching the boards beneath them.

“Don’t do this,” she begged, frightened to her marrow. The way he’d strung her up made her wild, because she was all but standing in her mother’s boots.

“This is for your protection. Stay quiet, and I will find a way to set you free.”

Struggling against him, she battled the urge to fling herself into his arms instead. To bury her face against the comforting warmth of his chest, so solid and real.

“Your eyes,” he said, and backed away from her. He shook his head. “I cannot witness you like this, for it proves them right, and I didn’t want to believe that was your secret. I fought for you up there. They are my men and this ship my responsibility. I vowed no woman would ever alter my path. Yet I kept them from ending you, and it makes me sick to the gut that I am such a fool, for I would still rather die myself than see one hair on your head damaged by another man.”

Staring into his face, she saw he spoke the truth.

His eyes gleamed with withheld emotion.

She went to respond, to query him, but he turned away and headed to the door.

“Roderick?” Struggling against the bands at her wrists, she called after him. Even though she was frantic, her heart swelled in her chest. She hated him for turning away from her, but she loved him, too.

How could he leave her down here?