The Sea Witch (Wicked Villains 5)

There’s no point in denying it. “Yes.”

Aya nods as if it’s nothing more than she expected. “You care about her, don’t you? The Sea Witch.”

“Her name is Ursa.” I take a deep breath. “I love her. I love both of them.”

Aya’s brows rise. “Why didn’t you say something last night? Tell us that you wanted to stay?”

“Would you have listened?”

She opens her mouth but seems to reconsider. “I don’t know. Being in that place…” She gives a delicate shudder. “It feels like another world. Having you stand here and tell me with clear eyes that you’re in love with her—with them—feels more concrete.” She shakes her head. “I’m sorry. We should have paid better attention.”

“Don’t be sorry.” I cross to her and give her a quick hug. “I had to come back or Father would have done something unforgivable. You brought me that news, and that’s important.”

She gives me a trembling smile. “Will you come back to visit?”

No. I don’t think so. At least not anytime soon. “Maybe. But you’re more than welcome to visit whenever you want.” I don’t know how it will work, or if I should be making promises like this, but I won’t take it back.

“Okay.” This time, her smile is far firmer. “I’m happy for you. Truly.”

“Thank you.” I hitch a breath. “I have to go.”

“Be safe.”

“I will. I promise.” So many promises.

I hope I’m not going to make a liar of myself.Chapter 31AlaricI wake up in Ursa’s arms. She’s relaxed in sleep, her body pressed against mine. This soft moment, quiet but for the steady sound of our mingled breathing, is something I’ve wanted for a very long time. To share her bed. To share her life.

I didn’t anticipate having a half-broken heart while doing it.

Pushing away the hurt Zuri’s departure caused doesn’t work. It’s still there, lingering beneath the surface, all teeth and claws that strike every time my mind veers back to her. To the memory of what we all shared. To the future she threw away without a second glance.

And that’s just what I’m feeling. I’m a selfish bastard, but my walls don’t have anything on Ursa’s. It took me years to get close enough to bring her heart into play. It took Zuri three days.

The strongest woman I know, the most dangerous, cried in my arms last night. As much as I am appreciative of the sign of her trust in me, as happy as I am to be a rock to her for once instead of the other way around, I can’t stop the slow ignition of anger in my chest.

Ursa shifts against me, and her breathing changes. “Good morning, Alaric.”

“We should go after her.”

She lifts her head. “What?”

“Zuri. If she wants to leave us, she can damn well tell us like the adult she wants to be instead of running like a coward.” Another thought below that, one more insidious. “And if she didn’t leave by choice like Hercules claimed, then we left her in the hands of her father overnight because we were too hurt to think clearly.”

“Hades wouldn’t lie about something like this. His entire reputation rests on everyone in the Underworld being safe at all times.”

I run my hand down her arm. “Exactly. His entire reputation. Hades would lie to protect that. Zuri is nothing to him, and Hercules is one half of everything.” The more I think about it, the more foolish I feel for not realizing it last night. “Do you know that when Jafar first staged a coup of the territory Jasmine eventually took over, the security of the Underworld was breached? Ali made it into the private rooms and threatened her.”

At that Ursa lifted her head. “You never told me.”

“I heard about it later, and it was downplayed. Similar to how Hades downplayed things last night.” I huff out a breath. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think of it. I—”

“Neither one of us was thinking clearly.” She sits up. “But you’re right. She’s more than capable of telling us she’s finished with us to our faces.”

My pulse kicks up. “So we’ll go after her?”

“Yes, we’ll go after her.” She rises, and it strikes me that I’ve never seen Ursa in the morning light. Not like this. She catches me watching her and raises a brow. “Yes?”

“Nothing. Just that you’re beautiful and I love you.”

Her lips quirk, though it’s obvious her thoughts are on the next steps. “I love you, too. Now get dressed.”

It doesn’t take long to pad to my room and pull on some clothes. I take a few extra minutes to fix my hair, but I don’t bother to shave. Even as quick as I am, she beats me to the door, looking as perfectly put together as if she’s had several hours to get ready instead of fifteen minutes. She’s twisted her locs up into a crown of sorts and is wearing one of my favorite dresses of hers, a black wrap that fades to a deep purple at the hem. She looks me over. “You’ll do.”