by ML Guida
Lark kept his jaw shut tight.
“How dare you defy me, witch!” Natasa said. “I’ll be able to tell where your brat sister is.” She ran her hand over his chest. “All I’ve got to do is kiss you.”
Lark shuddered. He would rather be cast into a boiling cauldron and have his skin melt off than kiss Natasa.
Natasa pressed her palms on to his cheeks, forcing his lips to pucker, and kissed him. Where sweetness and mint had soothed his mouth, now bitterness burned his tongue. Lark jerked free of her gasp. “I hate you.”
“Ah, good. Your hate is returning. Perhaps your sister’s not as strong as Maketabori believed.”
She patted his cheek. He spat into her eyes and waited for her to hit him again. A slow smile spread across her lips, and she laughed. He wished she would have hit him, this was worse, much worse.
“Yes, your bitch sister is near, and she’s not alone. The dragon is with her. Soon both will be mine.”
“Leave my sister be.” His voice croaked with fear.
“So, she’s your weakness.” She laughed. “Don’t worry, witch. You won’t be alone much longer. Too much loneliness can drive a man mad.” She kissed him hard again and released him.
“Please no. I will do anything, oui?”
“Ah, yes, I know you will. But your sister needs a lesson in what happens when she meddles in my affairs.”
“Natasa, leave her alone. You have me, oui?”
“You don’t understand, slave. I like to punish those who disobey me.” She sauntered out of the brig.
With each click of her shoes on the stairs, dread drummed deeper, deeper and even deeper still into his thumping heart.
He struggled on the wheel. It creaked and spun around slowly, pulling on his limbs. The pain did not matter. He would suffer through it. How could he be so arrogant? Thanks to him, Mariah would be forced to battle magic with a black-hearted demon.
Chapter 12
Mariah stood behind William, her back pressed against the railing. The crew of the Soaring Phoenix closed around them, determination glinting in their eyes.
William unsheathed his sword. “Stay away from her.” The sun peered over the horizon, and the morning rays glistened off William’s sword.
“Don’t make this hard for you and the lass,” Sean said. “The cap’n’s word is law. You’ve got to stop allowing lasses to cloud your judgment.”
“Lasses do not cloud my judgment. When they are threatened, I defend their honor.”
Mariah frowned. Lasses? Who else had he challenged Kane for? Hannah?
She glanced at her athame on the deck and thought about reaching for it, but judging by the men’s sterns faces, she’d never reach it in time.
William swiped his sword at the encroaching pirates. “You will not put us in the brig.”
“What are ye fools doin’?” Ronan rushed toward them. “Why are you terrifyin’ the poor lassie?”
Sean glared. “She’s cast a spell on William, and the cap’n says to put her in the brig.”
Ronan gritted his teeth. “I donna believe you.”
“You’re smitten with her.”
Ronan’s face turned beat-red at Sean’s accusation.
“Aye, we’ve seen how you look at her.” Another pirate aimed his pistol at Mariah.
Cold fear stopped Mariah’s heart.
“Stand with us, Ronan,” said Sean. “Or you’ll suffer the same fate.”
Ronan shoved Sean, but Sean put his hands up. “I have no quarrel with you, Ronan. Cap’n’s orders.”
“What the devil are you men doing?” Kane stared down at each of the men as if he wanted to knock all their heads together. “William, you bloody fool.”
“I won’t allow her to be tossed into the brig. You trusted Hannah with her ability. Why can’t you trust Mariah?”
Kane glowered at Mariah, and she tilted her chin, feeling the weight of his contempt bearing down on her.
“You’ll not do anything aboard my ship without my knowledge.” Kane’s voice was slow and hesitant. “Or next time, there’ll be no argument, and you’ll be thrown in the brig. Savvy?”
Mariah nodded. “I promise.” She masked her face to hide that she did not know if she could keep that promise. She’d do whatever she had to do to save her brother, including casting a spell without le capitaine’s approval.
“William, I want to talk with you.” Kane motioned with his hand. “Men, to your duties.”
“But, Cap’n.” A bald pirate raised his sword. “She’s a witch and is in league with Zuto.”
Ronan unleashed his sword and pointed it at the pirate. “You touch her, and I’ll kill you.”
“Cease. I gave an order. Are you challenging me?”
The pirate’s face paled at Kane’s cold voice, and he lowered his sword. “No, Cap’n.”
Kane flicked his gaze at Ronan. “I suggest you lower yours.”
Ronan glared at the man, but he sheathed his sword. William hesitated. He glanced between Mariah and Ronan.
“William,” Kane said.
Ignoring her thundering heart, Mariah forced a smile on her face. “Go on. I will be fine.”
William bunched his eyebrows, and a muscle twitched in his jaw. He followed Kane. Mariah didn’t know if he was afraid to leave her with the other men or afraid to leave her with Ronan. Did he care about her? Or did he worry she would cast a spell and sink the ship?
The men dispersed except for Ronan. The sun peeked over the horizon and pink, orange and purple colors reflected into the ocean.
Mariah hugged her arms tighter around her waist. She glanced down. William’s shirt stuck to her wet body, and the gown clung to her legs.
The pirates were whispering to each other and staring as if she was a harlot.
“Pardon—” she said.
“’Tis beautiful, isn’t it?” Ronan nodded at the rising sun. “I ne’er realized how grand the sun is until after it was taken from me.”
Mariah gazed at the sunrise, picturing Ronan tortured and battered in the belly of the Fiery Damsel for months. Many men would have been bitter and angry after their imprisonment. But not Ronan. He had not let the Fiery Damsel destroy him. She sighed, wondering when was the last time Lark had felt the warm rays on his cheeks. She’d almost suffered his same imprisonment, but her would-be jailer had a change of heart. Why? Hannah.
“Thinking of Lark?”
She nodded. “I know he is suffering the same fate you did.”
“Aye, he is, lass. Palmer’s a devil. May his soul rot in hell.”
She wiped away a stray tear. He clasped her hand and pulled her into his arms. Mariah did not fight him, wanting to feel strong arms around her, pushing out the nightmare. Besides Hannah, Ronan believed in her, thanks to Lark. William protected her, but did not trust her. At his constant doubt, a swell of hurt wormed into her thumping heart, and she tried to ignore the hollow pain.
She rested her head against Ronan’s chest and listened to his steady heartbeat.
“When I was down in that hellhole, your brother kept me alive by tellin’ me about you.” He clasped her chin and stared down into her eyes. “His description failed to capture you. You’re a bonnie lass, Mariah.”
She shivered, not sure how to answer. Bitterness burned in her stomach at Lark being left to be tortured while Ronan had escaped and now was safe aboard the Phoenix. Maybe he couldn’t help it.
Ronan’s dark eyes brimmed with passion. His black hair caressed her face in the breeze. He was handsome to be sure and her heart quickened at the thought of him kissing her. She should be thinking about Lark.
Stay focused.
He smiled. “Are you cold, lass?”
“A little,” she lied, feeling guilty. This man had been her brother’s constant companion, and together they had been imprisoned in a dungeon worse than anything she could have imagined. He deserved better than her lying. But she should not kiss him, no matter his tantalizing lips. “I need to change.”
/> “You’re so beautiful.” His husky voice turned her skin to gooseflesh. He brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes.
Before she knew what happened, Ronan had wrapped his arms around her waist and seized her lips and kissed her, pinning her to him. She pounded on his chest and struggled.
Ronan groaned, but slowly released her. “You’re testin’ me, lass.”
“You need to ask permission before you kiss someone, Ronan.” She wiped her mouth and stepped away. “Don’t do that again.”
He hung his head. “I’m sorry.”
She fixed her hair and straightened William’s shirt that hid her nightgown. She could smell William’s scent and hoped no one had seen Ronan’s transgression. She’d have to make sure not to be alone with him. What if someone told William? “Can I have some of that coffee?”
“Aye, I’ll fetch your coffee.” He ran his hand down her arm.
She stuck out her chin. “That goes for touching, too.”
He jerked his hand away, and hurt flooded his eyes. “I’ll get you that coffee,” he murmured. He turned, his shoulders slumped, and headed for the galley.
She had not meant for her voice to be so harsh, but he’d left her little choice. His infatuation with her was becoming more and more overpowering. For better or worse, Grand-mère had been right—her attraction for William was growing deeper each time she was with him.
She headed for the stairs to change. A sigh grabbed her attention. Capitaine Knight gazed out at sea. Solstice sat at his feet. He glanced down at the spaniel, and the dog waited for him to scratch her ears. He smiled, giving into the dog’s desire. The dog nudged against his thigh, and he focused back on the horizon. He didn’t tell Solstice to leave or push her away. A good sign. A very good sign.
“So, do witches change partners like harlots?”
Mariah sucked in her breath. Someone grabbed her arm and whirled her around. She stared into William’s angry, yellow eyes. Fire burned in his pupils. Grand-mère had warned her. She pushed down on his hand. “Release me.”
He shook her. “What is your game, witch? Are you casting spells on all of the crew?”
“Quoi? No, no, I am not.”
He tilted his head. “Then why were you kissing Ronan? Should I fetch Sean, Amadi, or Doc? You could test your charms on them.”
Tears threatened to fall, but she refused to cry, to let him know how much he was hurting her. “No, ’tis not like that. No one has ever kissed me like you.”
He jolted her toward him. “I doubt that.”
“How dare you!” She slapped at his hand and kicked his shins.
A roar caught their attention. Ronan charged them, murder glazing in his eyes. William shoved Mariah behind him and plowed his shoulder into Ronan, knocking him to the ground.
Mariah pulled on William’s shirt. “No. Stop!”
Ronan and William stalked around each other like two jungle cats, snarling and fighting over a female. Ronan swung and hit William in the jaw. William retaliated and punched Ronan in the gut, doubling him over. Ronan tried to recover, but William struck Ronan’s chin and sent him flying into the air. Ronan landed on his back and slid across the floorboards. William marched over to him as he scrambled to his feet. White smoke puffed out of William’s nostrils, and he screeched a blood-curdling shriek.
Merde, he was changing into a dragon. And he was angry.
William grabbed his head and fell onto his knees. Blood dripping down his chin, Ronan skirted around William and reached for her. “Give me your hand, lass.”
She shook her head. “No, Ronan, he will kill you.”
William’s clothes ripped, muscles bunched. Blue and green scales replaced his skin, and his tail and wings unfurled. He was transforming faster, becoming more powerful, much more powerful.
Air gusted across the deck with the flap of his wings. He wrapped his tail around Mariah’s thighs like a snake and squeezed.
Ronan motioned with hand. “Mariah, come to me.”
William gnashed his teeth and snarled.
She stilled. “Ronan, Please stand down. He’ll kill you.”
“I’m immortal, lass. He can’t kill me.”
“Oui, he can. Nothing can survive his dragon fire. Please. Do not move.”
William shrieked.
Solstice charged William.
Mariah reached for the dog, but her fingers slipped through her fur. “No, Solstice.”
The dog lunged upon William’s neck and bit, drawing blood.
William swiped at Solstice with his claw. She hit the deck and yelped. As she whimpered and struggled to stand, a long bloody scratch marred her side.
Capitaine Knight got out of his chair. “Leave the dog alone, you damn monster.” He wobbled toward William.
Hannah rushed for Knight. “Father, no.”
Her father ignored her plea, and with his cane raised over his head, edged closer to William. Hannah raised her hands, palms facing her father, and wind rushed around him. Capitaine Knight struggled to move, but the wind pushed him farther and farther away. Four crewmen jumped in front of her father and blocked his path. Hannah lowered her hands, and her shoulders drooped. Blood dripped from her nose from the exertion of her powers.
“Christ.” Kane, leading a pack of his men, skidded to a stop and drew his sword. “’Tis not the full moon. Why has he changed?”
Mariah glanced at Kane. “His anger––his anger released the dragon.”
Sean clutched his pistol. “Who the hell made him angry?”
Ronan edged closer to Mariah. William snapped his jaws, barely missing Ronan’s arm.
Kane pointed his sword. “Ronan, get the hell away from him.”
Sweat glistened across Ronan’s forehead. “He’s going to kill her, Cap’n. He’s mad with jealously.”
“Why would…” He glared at Mariah. “Playing games on board my ship, witch? Not throwing you in the brig was a bloody mistake.”
Heat washed over Mariah’s cheeks, and she scolded herself for being tempted by two handsome men. But they were not men. One was a vampire. The other a dragon. Both deadly.
Mariah tilted her head. “You need to retreat. Please help Solstice.”
Doc bent down and scooped up the whimpering dog. “I done got her.”
Confusion flickered in Ronan’s eyes. “Mariah—”
She shook her head, not taking her eyes off William. “Back up slowly. Remember, I am a witch. I can handle him.”
Ronan edged closer to her. “He’ll kill you.”
William growled, smoke swirled out of his nostrils.
Ignoring her thumping heart, she motioned with her hand. “Capitaine, get Ronan out of here before he gets himself killed. Now. Before ’tis too late.”
Kane glared. “Ronan, come back here.”
Ronan met Mariah’s gaze. “I’ll not leave the lass.”
“Then you will die,” Mariah said, softly. “I have to help him control his anger. You are the target, and he will not listen with you here. Please go.”
His pistol trained on William, Kane nodded at Amadi and Sean. “Seize him.”
Amadi and Sean snatched Ronan’s arms. Ronan swore, arched his back and twisted his body, but luckily, he couldn’t break free. They dragged him across the deck. Kane slowly backed up.
Mariah cleared her throat. “We are alone, now.”
William jerked his head around, his golden dragon eyes blazing. He screeched, baring his sharp teeth. He had been wounded once before, and she had healed him. This time, she wounded him, not with an arrow, but something worse. Betrayal.
Blood trickled down William’s neck where Solstice had bitten him, staining the jade stone her grand-mère had given him. She stared into William’s narrowed eyes. “William, I know you are angry, oui?”
William snarled.
“Do you feel the stone against your chest?”
The dragon snorted, and steamy smoke spilled onto her face and neck. Mariah broke out in a sizzling sweat and hoped h
e would not burn her alive. He had hurt Solstice, but only after the dog had bitten him. Maybe she could reason with the man inside the beast. Grand-mère had said she could help him. He needed her now.
“I know you do not trust me.”
The dragon snapped again, his sultry breath rushing over her face. She tasted charcoal on her lips. Refusing to give into her rising fear, she closed her eyes and concentrated on the charged jade stone. “Mother Earth, I call upon you to strengthen the jade. Bring forth the calm of the sea, the calm of the clouds, and the calm of the full moon. Hear me.”
Hot breath brushed her again. She inhaled, taking in the calm and letting the energy flow through her. She wished she had her wand, because it would enhance the spell. But ’twas behind William, next to the bowl. She would have to make do with the power of the words.
The dragon snorted and whined. She kept her eyes closed and concentrated on the words, sending out ripples of calmness.
Cracks of bones and a sharp cry tempted to break her frayed nerves. Strong hands gripped her shoulder.
“Mariah,” a strained voice whispered.
Mariah opened her eyes. Naked, William gazed down at her with his emerald eyes, his face pinched.
“What happened? Why did I change?”
She cupped his face, trying not to lower her gaze and glance at his manhood. “Your anger. I made you mad.”
“I’m sorry I hurt Solstice. She bit me and—”
“I know. She attacked you.”
“Protecting you. Mariah, I’m too dangerous. I could have killed Ronan. I wanted to kill him. He’s my friend.”
“Oui, you could have.” She clasped the jade stone that was now cool and rubbed it, feeling the power within. She pressed her hand on his chest over the blue and green dragon tattoo. “You exercised restraint, and the jade helped you retain that calmness. The beast sleeps now.”
“If I didn’t have the stone…”
“You could have killed Solstice and Ronan.”
He winced. “And you.”
“Oui. You have a great will within you, and the jade enhances this inner strength.”