The Hunter and the Mage (The Raven and the Dove #2) - Kaitlyn Davis Page 0,112

with them?"

"Eh." She shrugged. "I've gotten used to this whole grumpy, forlorn, completely lost aura you give off. I'm not sure I could handle a peppy version of you."

He snorted. "Don't worry. You have nothing to fear. My wings were the least of my problems."

"I meant what I said." She finally glanced at him, a quick there-and-gone before he could read the emotion in her eyes. "We'll always have room on this ship for you, if you need it."

"Brighty—"

He stopped short as Jolt sidled up next to Brighty, a bit of lightning crackling between her folded palms as she also leaned over the rail to stare at the meeting going on below. Leech took the spot next to her, and before long, the entire crew was lined up, eavesdropping unabashedly on what was clearly meant to be a private conversation.

"What do you think they'll do with it?" Pyro asked, a hint of sadness in her tone.

Rafe understood why. A solemn mood had followed them across the sea like a storm they couldn't outrun, leaving a heavy feeling in the air. Killing a dragon was no kindness, but for some reason, this felt worse. High in the sky with flames barreling up its throat, the beast had seemed unstoppable, but bound and broken, it seemed just as vulnerable as any other living thing. Rafe didn’t like to think of what fate they'd doomed it to.

"Tests, I'm sure," Leech finally said, somewhat wistfully. He had the decency to look sorry as they all glared at him, but nothing could dull the intrigue in his eyes. "Probably using magic, first, to see how the dragon interacts with the different elements. I'd imagine they'll take samples of its scales and wings and blood. My guess is, it'll be dead before long, and that's when things will get truly interesting. I'd want to dissect it as soon as possible. They'll probably remove the organs one by one, starting with the heart and the lungs in search of the fire source, but personally, I'd be more interested in cutting along the stomach to release the bowels—"

"I think I'm going to be sick," Spout interrupted, clapping a hand over her mouth.

"Here we go again," Brighty muttered.

"What? Why? All I said was I'd want to release the bowels to search the intestines for evidence of a food source."

"Leech," Jolt cut in, bumping him with her hip. "You're a madman."

"I'm a scientist."

Brighty met Rafe's gaze and whispered, "Is there a difference?"

"I heard the king likes to bathe in dragon blood."

Silence descended as they all spun to gape at Squirrel, who was perched on the net above their heads, eyes wide with the wonder of youth.

"Oh, magic alive," Brighty grumbled. "Where'd you hear that?"

"At the brothels in Ga'bret."

"What were you doing at the brothels in Ga'bret?" Jolt snapped her face to the side. "Archer, he's only twelve."

"Don’t look at me," the ferro'kine said, holding his hands up in defeat. "I didn't take him."

"Who did?" The lightning at Jolt's fingertips crackled.

She played the seductress so often Rafe forgot it was just a ruse to hide her more vulnerable, nurturing side. There was an unwritten rule on this ship not to ask for what people didn’t want to offer, but he had a feeling that if he pried, her history would reveal far more torment than she ever let on. He could see it in the way she sometimes combed her fingers through Squirrel's hair, a hint of longing mixed with the anguish of loss.

"Cook took me."

"Cook!"

"Wow." Brighty nudged him with her elbow. "I didn’t see that one coming. It’s always the silent ones."

"He said I was old enough to see a naked woman if I wanted to, and I used my own money. I'm allowed."

"The boy's got a point."

"Shh!" Pyro interrupted. "Captain's—"

"Here?" The sardonic drawl made them all jump. Captain Rokaro was back on the ship, standing behind them with her hands on her hips and her brows raised. "What did I ever do to deserve such an astute, hard-working crew?" She shook her head with a snort and stared at the boy still dangling in the nets. "Squirrel, you're not old enough to see a naked woman until she'll show you her body for free. If you need to coerce her, you're doing it wrong. I'll have a word with Cook. Now, the rest of you, listen up. Rafe, Brighty, Archer, and Pyro, come with me. The rest of you, stay with Patch and take the ship to her normal