by ML Guida
“Definitely fits you,” William snorted.
Mariah slapped William’s arm. “Will you stop? You’re not helping.”
“And?” Leif asked.
“They can be very possessive of treasure.”
“I care not for jewels. It’s not me.”
William knelt in front of him, going eye to eye with him. “Not all treasure is coin and jewels. I think you already know this, Leif.”
Leif went over what had happened since Zuto had cursed him again. The feelings he had for a woman he’d never met and only had seen from a distance. He stared into Mariah’s knowing eyes. “’Tis why I care so much for the mermaid. The dragon considers her to be his mate.”
Mariah gave him a small smile. “’Tis not just the dragon’s mate. She is your mate. Red dragons will die protecting their mate. The need is stronger than greed or hate. Love is instant. ’Tis why you keep trying to break free to save her. You and she have become one.”
Leif leaned his head back and groaned. “No. She canna be with me. ’Tis too dangerous.”
“Oui. I fear if you mate, you will bear a child that will destroy our world. Zuto wants the child’s power. You must not let him possess it.”
“Better yet,” William said. “You need to keep your lust in your trousers.”
Dracul formed in his mind. ’Tis too late. She already belongs to us. Tear off that blasted medallion. Zuto has cursed the lass.
Rage rushed through Leif, a flood of anger leaving him shaking. His muscles bulged, and desperation surged through him. Sweat trickled down his body.
“Leif, stop,” Mariah said as her eyes widened.
William grabbed his arm. “You fool, listen to her.”
Don’t listen to them, Dracul said. I have the ability to emit dark fire from my eyes. You have this power. Use it to stop the Damsel.
A dark veil fell over Leif’s eyes, turning everything into different shades of red, but he could still see.
Mariah covered her mouth. “Mon Dieu. William, look at his eyes.”
Squint. Dracul’s voice rang in Leif’s head.
Not questioning him, Leif squinted at a nearby fern. A stream of dark black fire streamed out of his eyes. The fern burst into tiny pieces, bits of burning leaves exploding into the air.
Shock washed over him, and he couldn’t breathe or move. He’d never known dragons possessed such power.
“What the hell happened?” William demanded, his fingers tightening on Leif’s arm. “Mariah, he’s too dangerous. Run into the jungle and hide while you have time.”
Don’t just stand there, idiot, Dracul said. Draw on my strength and escape.
Leif broke out of the daze and pulled on the damn manacles. Searing pain cut into flesh, but he didn’t care. Zuto was going to bloody curse the sweet mermaid. Nothing mattered but saving her. Gritting his teeth, Leif drew on both his vampire and dragon strength. The manacles clinked. He could feel them stretching. He tugged harder—agony intensified. The manacles grew hot, scalding his skin and burning his hair. He roared, and with one final wrench, broke free.
He clenched his fist and punched William in the jaw as hard as he could. William released him, falling flat on his back.
Leif transformed, quicker than last time. His wings and horns spurted out. His arms and legs bulked out to dragon size. William began to change.
Go, now! Dracul roared. Before it’s too late. She’s dying.
Chapter 6
Isabella huddled against the bulkhead. Palmer had chained her to the mast to keep her from jumping into the sea. Her cheek throbbed, and her ears rang with all the cannon fire. The smoky sulfur burned her eyes, sending unwanted tears streaming down her cheeks. Men rushed around her, reloading the guns. Palmer was at the helm, no one was paying attention to her. She had to get loose. Father could break Zuto’s curse if only she could get free.
She pulled on the chains, but ’twas useless. She only managed to cut into her wrists. Her mouth gagged, she couldn’t draw on her song to seduce a pirate to cut her loose. She refused to give in to the demon and mate with a bloody dragon. Not just a dragon, a vampire possessed by a dragon spirit, even if ’twas her handsome, dark pirate.
“Captain!” A man ran to the rails. “The red dragon. He’s back.”
Palmer came up alongside him with his telescope, aiming it up at the smoky sky. “Good. Leif can burn O’Brien’s ship, sending the bastard and his men to a watery grave.”
Isabella shook her head violently and muffled against her gag, “No.” Angelica was on board that ship. She’d drown, along with her unborn child. Isabella put her foot on the bulkhead and yanked, trying to loosen the chain, but mockingly, it didn’t even clank.
Guns blasted from the Soaring Phoenix. Cannons soared toward the red dragon. The beast’s eyes turned crimson, and a rose-colored beams fired out of its eyes, exploding the mortar into tiny fragments.
The men on the Damsel stopped loading the guns, putting out flames, and working the lines. They gaped as if in a sudden trance.
Isabella sucked in her breath and pulled on her restraints harder. The thing was possessed. She wanted no part of it.
The clam shell around her neck grew warm, and a compulsion came over her to sing. That was the last thing she wanted to do. She wanted to escape into the ocean, not get the dragons’ attention. She clamped her mouth shut, but it opened against her will, and she sang a song to the dragons to rescue her. She shook her head and tried to close her mouth, but ’twas as if a pair of fingers were making her move her lips.
The red dragon seemed to stop and stare at her, turning her blood to ice.
“I’ll be damned.” Palmer put his hands on his hips. “I’ve never seen nothing like that.”
A pirate cupped his hands over his mouth. “Burn the Phoenix to the ground, Leif.”
The rest of the men cheered and raised their fists in victory. But the cheering quickly turned into groans and jeers. Another green and blue dragon raced after the red one, gaining speed.
Palmer paced, his face contorted. “Damn O’Brien.”
Isabella frowned. So, the green and blue dragon was their enemy? She didn’t care, wanting no part of a world of dragons. All she wanted to do was to save her sister.
The red dragon sped past the Phoenix, its wings stretched out wide as it aimed for the Damsel. The creature lifted its talons as if ’twas going to sweep up prey.
“What the hell is he doing?” Palmer stopped walking; his voice was uneasy. He unleashed his sword.
Someone from the Damsel shot at the red dragon, angering him. His eyes turned red, and another stream of fire ignited the mast into a fiery blaze. White smoke billowed out into the sky. Splintering wood and burning canvas crashed around Isabella. She coughed, blinking her stinging eyes.
“Cease, you fools!” Palmer warned. “Or he’s liable to set the ship on fire.”
“Look out!” a man yelled.
The red dragon crashed into the ship, sending men flying out of the way. Some smashed into each other in the deck, others splashed into the sea, screaming for help. Her heart pounding, Isabella ran, only to be yanked back against the mast.
Heat blazed behind her, and she whirled around, her heart nearly leaping out of her. Fire melted her hated chains. Her hands were still bound behind her, but she was free! She darted toward the railing, but she never made it. Sharp talons grabbed her shoulders. Screaming, she squirmed, wishing she could pull on the talons gripping her tight. They were tighter than a crab’s clenched claw.
A crewman in the eagle’s nest pointed. “Captain, he’s got the bloody mermaid!”
Palmer raised his fist. “Damn you, Black!” He jumped into the air and changed into a bat.
Isabella didn’t know which was worse—being held captive by a dragon or being dragged back to the Fiery Damsel.
The dragon turned its large, horned head, and his golden eyes changed to black. He narrowed his eyes, full of hate, and black fire streamed out. Isabella cringed, fe
ar piecing her thundering heart. Smoldering heat spread over her, making tears swell in her eyes. Sweat drenched her, and she gasped for breath. A black and gray fireball engulfed Palmer, and he screeched, spiraling down toward the ocean. Isabella had never seen black fire, and it was hotter than any lava bursting from a volcano underneath the sea. Palmer was a powerful vampire and immortal, and if he could not withstand it, what chance did she have? She shuddered, blind terror pulsing through her veins.
The Soaring Phoenix and the Fiery Damsel became tiny boats, as if a little boy had put his wooden ships in the water. If the dragon dropped her, she’d fall to her death. Misty clouds dampened her clothes, which stuck to her hot skin, and she could no longer see the ships below. She had no idea where the beast was taking her. Not willing to die just yet, she struggled to pull through the damn manacles, but ’twas useless. If she did manage to get free, she was ready to fight for her life.
Through all of this terror, she kept singing, even though she wanted to stop. When the dragon had clasped her shoulders, it triggered a memory. Zuto had given her the damn clam shell necklace. Her hand trembling, she ripped the necklace off, the chain cutting into her flesh, then flung it. She watched the necklace circle down to the sea. Pain cut into her flesh, but she didn’t care. She was free.
The beast shrieked.
Isabella quivered. “Please, don’t kill me.”
Her voice was stronger than she anticipated, but she couldn’t disguise the fear. She gripped his legs firmer, determined to live.
It turned his head, and Isabella froze, afraid she’d share Palmer’s fate. His eyes were no longer black, but gold and soft. He looked at her as if filled with compassion.
She frowned, not sure what to say.
The dragon glided out of the clouds, and Isabella hoped he wouldn’t drop her. There was an island ahead of them, and she bit her lip, praying for it not to be Zuto’s. She scanned the pristine white beach, looking for the tall, intimidating demon dressed only in a beaded white loin cloth, but the beach was empty. A small cove cut into the ocean, and she couldn’t remember that being on Zuto’s island, but she’d only been there when her sister and her vampire lover and the crew of the Soaring Phoenix was battling Zuto and the swabs of the Fiery Damsel.
They flew past the beach and over the thick, lush jungle toward a looming mountain. The dragon loosened its talons, which was a mistake. Her feet dangled and brushed over a tentacle mangrove. Her ankle got tangled in a vine, and it yanked hard, jerking her out of the beast’s sharp talons. Unbearable pain stole her breath, and she screamed as she plummeted toward the ground, kicking her legs as if she could run.
Leaves and branches cut into her flesh, and the vine sliced into her ankle. Her vision blurred. Suddenly, the vine swept away, and heat flashed over her again. Smoke filled her lungs, and she coughed. The tree was in flames. The dragon swooped underneath her, and she landed on its broad back as she gasped for air. It flew away from the crackling tree and headed toward the mountain. Isabella had no choice but to press her legs against his back to keep from falling into the dense jungle. She choked and blinked back tears. Throbbing pain in her shoulder and her ankle made her stomach nauseous. Air whipped over her, and she took a deep breath, this time without hacking up her lungs.
The dragon slowed and landed softly on a rocky ledge that led to a dark cave. She slid off the creature’s back. Her legs gave away, and she fell onto her arse, glad to be on solid ground. “Why are we here?”
She didn’t know why she asked. It was not as if the dragon could speak. It was a beast.
It sank onto its haunches and flattened its wings against its sides. The dragon was enormous, the size of an orca, and just as deadly. It looked at her curiously. “Because if the pirates turn into bats, this will be a better defense. They’ll have to get through me to get to you.”
She blinked in awe. “You can talk?”
“Of course, I’m a dragon. My name is Dracul.” It frowned. “Actually, I’m a dragon spirit. I possess Leif Black. Turn around, so I can free those manacles that are still around your wrists.”
“You’ll burn me.”
“No, I won’t. Trust me.”
Isabella was tired of the tight manacles making her hands go numb, so taking a deep breath, she turned around. Heat sizzled next to her hands, then suddenly, the manacles slipped off. She rubbed her hands, trying to get the blood flowing. He’d spoken true—her flesh wasn’t even singed.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He bowed his head. “If you’ll excuse me, he wants to speak with you, my lady.”
Bones and muscles cracked and strained. The dragon slowly diminished in size, and the red scales faded to bronze skin. Horns subsided, and the skull changed from dragon to human. Long black hair grew, and golden eyes changed to deep green, reminding her of how the Caribbean Sea changed from blue to green. Wings and the long tail shortened and turned into arms and legs. It happened so fast she didn’t even blush when she stared at a naked, ruggedly beautiful man. He had a strong, chiseled chin and a stubble beard. Like the dragon, he emitted strength with his heroic bulk of solid muscle that glistened in the hot sun. Her gaze traveled down to his powerful arms that were solid and splendid, and she couldn’t help but admire his manhood between his sculpted thighs.
“I’m Leif Black.”
She jerked her head up, and heat flushed over her cheeks. He must have caught her looking. “So, you are,” she said, trying not to run screaming deep into the unknown cave. “I’m Isabella.” She looked around the ledge. There was no way down, not unless she wanted to climb the rocky face of a mountain. “Is this Zuto’s island?”
He sat next to her. “No.”
She scowled. “Now, I’m your prisoner?”
He shook his head. “Bloody hell, no.” He looked at her shoulder and her bleeding ankle. “You’re hurt.”
“I’ve noticed.” She wiped the blood off her throbbing ankle with her shredded dress. Her hands shook, and she wished she’d stop trembling, but ’twas hard with a dragon-shifter watching her every move. ’Tis not like she could yell for help. She was trapped on a ledge and the only escape route was to jump, which wasn’t an option. She couldn’t fly, and ’twas a hundred feet drop down a rocky cliff.
“He says I can heal you.”
His voice was thick with a Scottish accent. He had faded scars on his chest, as if he’d been shot or stabbed in battle.
“Excuse me?”
He sighed. “Supposedly, I can spit on your wounds and it will heal them.”
Before she could respond, he spat on her ankle and spittle dripped down her flesh, but it didn’t feel different, only wet and sticky as the spit mixed with the blood. She jerked her ankle away.
“Ew, don’t ever spit on me again.” She wiped her muddy wound again with her tattered hem.
“I’m sorry, lass. He said it would work.”
“Obviously, not. You have scars on your chest, so if what he said is true, then why haven’t they healed?”
“I’ve only just become a dragon.” He glanced at his large chest. “I had these even before I was a vampire—fightin’ the bloody Sassenach in Scotland.”
“But you’re on a British ship.”
“Not by bloody choice.”
His eyes darkened, and his lips turned up into a fierce scowl. Isabella wanted to ask him more about why he stayed with the foulest ship in the Caribbean, but his face went in and out of focus. Every time she took a breath, the pain in her gut became more intense. She grew hot, and she wiped the sweat from her brow, but the slight movement sent waves of agony through her.
“Isabella?”
His voice was far away as if he was down a tunnel.
“I’m tired.” But the words croaked in her throat.
The blue sky, white clouds, and his handsome face spun around and around. She closed her eyes, and her stomach lurched.
Someone grabbed her arm. “Isabella!”
Thankful blacknes
s overtook her, and the pain vanished as she passed out.
Chapter 7
Zuto sat on a rock, waiting for Charybdis. The last bit of night had faded, and Natasa had finally left him, but not before she flogged him. His back throbbed, and blood trickled down his neck. Before she left, Natasa had bitten him, tearing out flesh. He’d cried out, giving her the horrible satisfaction that she found a way to hurt him. Her jealousy over Charybdis grated on his very last nerve. He had no intention of bedding the wench. Having two wicked women manipulating his body was the last thing he wanted.
Long tentacles flipped out of a whirling whirlpool and crashed into the ocean. The raging whirlpool slowed and disappeared into the sea. A huge wave rushed toward the beach, and Charybdis walked out of the sea, transformed from the hideous, scaly creature. In comparison to Natasa, she was petite, and her large breasts strained to remain in a black gown that matched her black hair shimmering in the morning sun. She emitted the smell of seaweed that had been out in the sun too long, and his stomach clenched as she approached. Charybdis was intently beautiful, but deadly. A lesson that Eldric, king of the Merpeople, found out too late.
She watched him intently with her blue eyes, and her lips curved into a smirk. Her black dress sparkled as she approached. “Good morning, Zuto. I see Natasa is still using you as her favorite chew toy.”
“I am no one’s toy.” Zuto refused to touch the fresh bite marks on his neck. Natasa thought biting him would warn Charybdis that Zuto was hers. As if.
She moved her hands down her curvy body. “I like this new form, and my power is growing. Soon, I’ll be able to challenge Eldric.”
“Perhaps. You will still need the power of the baby conceived between Isabella and Leif.”
She laughed, tossing her head back. “Thanks to you, the chit has forgotten that I’m behind this. I like your devious ways, demon. It will make my revenge so much sweeter when she learns the truth.” She opened her mouth, revealing a set of razor-sharp teeth. “I’ll enjoy devouring Eldric’s grandchild. I’ll even make the bastard watch as the child dies.”