Island Shifters: Book 01 - An Oath of the Blood by Valerie Zambito Page A

you.”
    Rogan snorted. “He was probably out looking for another form while we are here waiting on him.”
    “Don’t worry, firefly, I’m back safe and sound,” said Airron hugging the Dwarf in jest.
    “Get off me!” said Rogan shrugging out of his embrace.
    “I just went to wash a little of the road dust off me. That’s all.”
    “Did you hear a scream?” asked Beck. “I thought I heard somebody or something scream while you were gone?”
    Airron did not hesitate. “Nope, didn’t hear a thing.” He would not miss the look on Beck’s face when he saw Kiernan for all of the forms in the world.
    Beck ran his hand through his hair and hissed, “Here comes Dismore.”
    “FALEWIR!”

Chapter 8
    W HEN THE L AUGHTER S TOPS
     

     
    S tanding concealed in the shadows of the crate-laden deck with the grunts of hundreds of working men permeating the background, the large figure stood at the rail of the Cyman-built ship and tilted his head back in unadulterated pleasure. He could not help himself from moaning in delight as the wind whipped through his shoulderlength hair and, for the first time in his nineteen years of life, the air did not carry the smell of rancid decay to his nose. After a lifetime of darkness, this new encounter with light and warmth was almost more than he could comprehend.
    He wondered if his father was right and the skies east of Nordik were like this, untouched by the Mage’s foul arts.
    “Three days at sea has done nothing to improve my brother’s temperament,” came a woman’s voice from behind him. “He has already thrown close to thirty soldiers overboard.”
    The boy stiffened but remained silent. He knew better.
    Her pungent musky scent obliterated the clean ocean breeze as soon as she walked over to stand next to him. They remained silent for long moments gazing out at the calm, open sea before she asked, “Were you aware that your father has been bargaining with my brother for the release of your people when the war is over?”
    “Yes, ‘e ‘as told me, Mistress.”
    She turned to face him and put a hand on his arm. “Titus, what will you do if Adrian holds true to his word? Is your desire really to go back to Nordik?”
    Surprisingly, the question made him hesitate. Beholding blue skies for the first time, he was suddenly unsure. Breathing in fresh air and feeling the sun’s warm rays on his face was reviving his spirit in a way he never thought possible. But, what was Avalon Ravener really asking him? Because no matter how beautiful the woman standing next to him, she was the embodiment of darkness.
    “Despite my Da’s ‘ope, I find it doubtful that Master Ravener will set us free,” he replied carefully.
    Her big brown eyes lowered and she sighed dramatically. “I am afraid you are probably right, Titus. Although, I cannot say that I would be disappointed if that were to happen. Curiously, I find I am not yet ready to give you up.”
    Titus swallowed. “You will find a man in the Old World, Mistress.”
    “I do not want a man , Titus, I want you,” she said looking up at him and reaching down between his legs to rub her hand possessively over him. “And, I will have you.”
    To his shame, he felt his body respond. The witch was skilled at exploiting his carnal urges to humiliate him.
    “Look, Titus!” she shouted suddenly, pointing.
    He jerked his head around and peered over the rail into the distance where, barely visible, was the unmistakable outline of land. Hope and optimism flooded through his body, and he began to tremble. What if the Mage kept his word and the Cyman people really were standing at freedom’s doorstep at this very moment? All they had to do was win the war by convincing the Massans to lay down their arms against Adrian Ravener.
    Can it be that simple?
    Avalon gasped, digging her nails into his arm, “Oh, Titus, we are almost home! I have dreamed of this for more years than I care to remember.”
    “I must tell the others,” he said,