by Guida, ML
She pecked his lips. “I know.” She traced her finger over his chest. “Do you not understand I could not bear for you to be with another woman?”
His lips curved up into a smile at her jealousy. Warmth spread through him, cooling his boiling anger. But she deserved better than a cursed pirate. “I’m a monster.”
“No.” She stopped tracing her finger. “You are William. My William. My dragon.”
“I can’t be with you, not with this creature inside me.”
Drakon hissed.
“Oui, you can. We will find a way to free both of you. Let me show you. Will you not trust me?”
She clasped his hand, her thumb caressing his palm. “Come with me.”
William opened his mouth to argue but thought better of it. He followed her across the deck, not sure what she had in mind. Were they going back to her quarters?
Ronan blocked William. “Where are you going?”
“Leave them be, Ronan. That’s an order,” Kane said.
“Damn it,” Ronan growled. “He’s goin’ to defile her again.”
Mariah balled her fist and slammed it into Ronan’s arm. “Comment osez-vous!”
“I didna mean any disrespect, lass.”
“Capt’n,” Amadi called from the crow’s nest. He pointed. “Black sails on the horizon.”
Kane and the other crewmen rushed to the stern. William clasped Mariah’s hand and maneuvered her between rushing crewmen.
Kane raised his spyglass and aimed it at the approaching ship. “’Tis the Fiery Damsel,” he said. “She’s released her sweeps.” He lowered the spyglass. “Mallory?”
“Aye, Cap’n?”
“She’s preparing to attack,” Kane said. “All hands on deck. Ready the guns.”
Men raced to their stations, and William pulled Mariah close to him. “You should get below deck.”
“Why?”
“We are going into battle.”
Amadi called out, “Load the guns.”
Six crewmen armed each of Phoenix’s cannons, and men quickly swabbed the barrels. They added gunpowder, loosely packed in a parchment cartridge, and used a metal pricker to pack it down in the touch hole. Cannonballs were loaded, followed by cloth wads made from canvas and hemp rope and packed down with a rammer.
The guns were rolled to the gun ports and aimed at the Fiery Damsel. Amadi walked down the line, inspecting the lay of the guns and the preparedness of the men, giving out glowing linstocks to each crew as he passed. He waited for Kane’s command to fire.
William didn’t want to argue and gripped Mariah’s arm tight. “Retreat to your cabin.”
She jerked free of him. “No. Hannah’s not retreating.”
“Hannah can—”
“Hannah can what? I’m not defenseless.”
Sharon had uttered those same words. Her father had taught her the sword, and she had fought her brother bravely during lessons. But she hadn’t been prepared to battle her giant of a brother when he wanted her dead. The Fiery Damsel had the wind to her advantage and her sails were trimmed. She pursued the Phoenix like a bloodhound.
Kane lifted his spyglass again. “Bloody hell.”
William didn’t like the sound of that. “What?”
“Palmer’s got a woman on board.” He lowered the spyglass.
William frowned. “Who?”
Mariah stepped closer to William and held his hand, hers trembling. “A red-head, oui?”
“Aye,” Kane said.
Mariah squeezed William’s hand. “’Tis Natasa.”
He stared into her wide eyes. “The demon we saw at your grandmother’s home?”
“Oui.”
William released Mariah’s hand and gripped her shoulder, turning her around. “I want you below deck.”
“I am a witch, William. I am not afraid of her.”
“You should be.” Sharon’s ghostly face flashed in his mind. He couldn’t bear staring into Mariah’s lifeless eyes. He’d not make the same mistake again. Tremors of fear shook his body. He suspected Mariah was in grave danger.
“We can protect her,” Drakon urged. “Free me. Call upon me.”
Not knowing if he truly trusted his dragon, but having little choice, William nodded. He’d protect Mariah with his life. He slid his hands down Mariah’s shoulders. “I will not let her hurt you.”
She scanned his face and her eyes grew wide. “William, no.” Her voice trembled with panic.
William tore off his shirt, and Mariah grabbed his fingers. “You cannot fight her alone.”
He shook free of her. “Kane, get Mariah away from me.”
Kane studied him. “What are you doing? We’re preparing for battle.”
“Aye to battle a demon. Do you think the Phoenix can defeat the powers of hell?”
Mariah grabbed his arm. “William, you are not ready yet. Not to go against Natasa. She will kill you.”
“No. She can’t. Trust me.”
Kane grabbed his arm. “Are you daft, man? Natasa’s powerful, maybe as powerful as Zuto.”
William gestured with his arm. “Do you want to put Hannah at risk? Your crew?”
Kane’s cheek twitched. He stared at the Fiery Damsel. The distance closed between them.
“’Tis black magic, Kane. The darkest kind.”
“We need to work together.” Mariah dug her nails into his arm. “Only our combination—”
“No!” William lowered his voice. “I do not want to make the same mistake with Mariah as I did with Sharon. I’ve a dragon spirit within me. I can protect her.”
“You do not understand all of your powers, oui?”
“I trust Drakon.” Hehalf believed his statement.
“I’ll not let anything happen to her. She’s my mate. I’m sworn to protect her. Call upon me now, before ’tis too late.”
Kane grasped his shoulder and squeezed. “God be with you.”
Tears glistened in Mariah’s eyes. “No! He will die.”
William broke free of her grasp. He ignored her anguished cry and slipped off his trousers and tossed them and his boots onto the deck. Naked, he stared at the pursuing ship. Hoping he was not making the worst mistake of his life, he said, “Drakon, come forth.”
Mariah lunged for him, her eyes filled with panic.
Kane grabbed her shoulders.
She struggled beneath his grasp. “No, let me go.”
William ignored the pain and fear in her voice. Drakon roared inside him. He did not know whether ’twas because of Kane restraining Mariah or the pursuing ship. Anger and revenge shot through his veins, muscles bulged, bones creaked and twisted. His nose contorted into the dragon’s long snout, his ears lengthened. His hair shed, replaced with blue and green scales. He tripled in size in both girth and strength. Wings protruded from his back and flapped. Crewmen staggered away.
Not looking at Mariah, he sat back on his haunches and launched into the air.
“William!” Mariah waved her arms frantically. “No, come back!”
But William ignored her.
“We fight to the death.”
Chapter 19
William spread his wings and soared into the air, refusing to listen to Mariah’s cries to take her with him. He’d vowed to protect her, and she could stomp her pretty little feet all she wanted, but protecting her didn’t include her riding atop his back and fighting a demon with a wand. He’d face Natasa.
Alone.
The wind rushed over his scales, caressing him and supporting him in a way he hadn’t appreciated before. The Fiery Damsel drew closer with men lining the deck, loading and packing the guns. Some of those guns were trained upon him. Retreating was not an option. He hissed out fire, and the men stopped, pointed, and stared. Fear permeated the ship.
Grim satisfaction surged through him. He still didn’t know what he was going to do. Burn the ship to the ground? Turn invisible? Create havoc?
“Trust me. I’ll show you.”
One curvy figure
didn’t race around the Fiery Damsel. Natasa. Her red hair flew behind her back, and the crimson dress she wore rippled in the wind. He could feel her eyes upon him, desire and hate washing over him, and he shuddered. Was he strong enough to fight her?
He exhaled fire and dove toward the Damsel.
“Fire, ye scurvy maggots, fire!” Palmer raised his fist.
Men lit the fuses, and the cannons jerked back, thundering. Smoke swirled around the muzzles. Cannonballs whisked through the air. William dodged them. But one cannonball slammed into his chest, knocking the breath out of him. Sweltering heat singed his scales, and his wings collapsed as he spiraled toward the sea.
“Fly, fool.”
William stretched his wings, ignoring the scorching pain. He was surprised how his wings gracefully glided through the air and halted his fall. And he didn’t have to concentrate. ’Twas like walking.
He narrowed his eyes upon the Damsel. His turn. He exhaled, and flames shot onto the ship’s billowing sail. Men shouted below, and William circled around to unleash more fire on the ship.
Palmer stormed up and down the deck, his large frame slamming men out of the way. His voice boomed, “Fire the guns!”
The Damsel fired another round, and William rolled to the side, avoiding the missiles. He refused to deviate from his path. Palmer needed to pay. The man had grown too bold.
Down on the deck of the Damsel, Natasa spread her arms out in front of her, her face to the sky. Prickles rushed over William’s scales, and his stomach knotted.
“’Tis black magic you feel. Get ready.”
A black cloud swirled around Natasa. Her red hair flew wildly around.
“This is it. She’s coming.”
The mist spun around her like a tornado, consuming her. It shot off the deck and rose high into the sky. Red, malice-filled eyes glared at him through the spinning black squall. The tail dipped into the ocean and sucked up water, forming a growing whirlpool and sucking in the Soaring Phoenix. Clouds thundered overhead and lightning crashed. Rain pelted him in sheets.
The Soaring Phoenix teetered on the edge of the whirlpool as the crew battled to hold down the flapping sails. Kane, himself, held onto the wheel, trying to steer her away.
“Attack,” Drakon ordered.
The dragon was daft. How the hell could he defeat a bunch of angry clouds? “I can’t hurt a squall,” William said. How could he defeat a bunch of angry clouds?
“Aye, you can,” Drakon insisted. “Attack before she sinks the bloody ship.”
Though William thought Drakon a bedlamite, he unleashed his talons and sped toward the black mist. He breathed fire and prayed his powers were too much for the demon. He flew into the tempest and spun out of control, faster and faster, his wings pressed to his body. High pitched laughter hurt his ears. He turned in circles. Something sharp slashed his back, and he hissed.
“Exhale. Now. Before ’tis too late.”
William exhaled, not sure what the black fog could do against the flurry.
An anguished female scream pierced his heart. The roar of the squall lessened, and he managed to flap his wings. He burst out of the spinning furor and into bits of sunlight peering through the dark clouds.
Below him, the Phoenix and Damsel exchanged fire, cannons boomed, and thunder exploded from both ships. To help the Phoenix, he had to defeat Natasa. He circled the squall and exhaled again. The fog snaked into the spinning clouds, and water poured back into the ocean. Natasa rose out of the dissipating cloud—a ghost out of hell.
“You’ll pay for ruining my fun, dragon,” she said. A lightning bolt formed in her hand, and she flung it at William.
He blew fire, consuming the lightning bolt, melting it. She screamed with rage. He smiled. Die bitch.
“Don’t get cocky.”
Natasa waved her hand, and another lightning bolt formed. Before she could throw it, he lunged at her. She moved away, but not fast enough. He scratched her with his talon, drawing blood, and she howled. “You blasted lizard. How dare you.”
He flew above her and circled, his talons unleashed. He’d rip the bitch to pieces.
Natasa flung the lightning bolt at him. He dodged to the right, and it soared past his wing, closer than the last one. The heat and electricity charged his flesh.
In midair, they whirled around one another, sparring with lightning and fire. A bolt narrowly missed his tail. The demon wench laughed. He belched flame after flame, encircling Natasa, and her laughter died.
Malevolence smoldered in her eyes. “You think you’ve won, dragon? Caught me?”
William exhaled, and more fire surrounded her, singeing the edge of her dress.
“So, you want to play rough, dragon? I’ll play rough.” Flares danced in her pupils and horns slowly rose out of her head. Teeth and nails lengthened. She flashed and disappeared.
William scanned the sky, but he couldn’t see her. Something hit him hard on his back. He turned his head. Natasa straddled him and dug her heels into his side.
“Now, dragon, you’ll pay for burning me.”
She dug her long fingernails into his back, cutting through scales and slashing into his flesh. Dizzying pain gripped him, and he arched back. He clamped his jaw and cut his tongue. Blood oozed down his throat. His wings faltered, and air rushed over him.
She leaned over and bit into his neck, ripping out his flesh. Agony ricocheted down his neck to his talons. Fire burst through his mouth. He plummeted toward the ocean, the sky and clouds rushing around him. Grim determination surged through him, and ignoring the pain, he stretched out his wings and lashed his tail.
She bashed her heels into his hide. “You missed, lizard.”
Since she sat too far away for him to bite her legs, he flew in circles, trying to dislodge her, but she wrapped her arms around his neck, holding onto him tight. Her hot breath washed over him, and he inhaled decay and filth. Tears stung his eyes, and his lungs burned. He coughed and gagged. ’Twas like he had plunged into London’s sewer, coated with human waste and swallowing deadly fumes.
He wanted to yell and swear at her, but rather than words, a guttural growl emitted from his throat. Fire and black smoked leapt around them, dousing some of her stench, but the faint odor remained.
“Soon, you’ll be mine, dragon, and together we’ll crush those tiny peasants below.”
William bellowed and twisted his body, trying to get her off him.
His efforts were met with another burst of harsh laughter. Natasa twisted her wrist, and another lightning bolt formed in her hand. With one hard thrust, she stabbed him in the back. Blood showered around him. Sizzling heat surged through him, fire burning his insides. This hurt far worse than when he’d been shot with an arrow. He swirled lower and lower until he flew only a few feet above the waves. Water sprayed onto him.
He arched his back and bucked hard, but she hung on tight. He lunged and bit her leg, tearing into her flesh.
She wailed. “Release me, you stupid dragon.” With each word, she pounded on his head.
Demon blood gushed into his mouth, and he gagged on the burning liquid sliding down his throat. Ignoring the pain, he flung her off his back and tossed her into the ocean. She shrieked, promising to kill him, but it failed to stir any fear. As waves washed over her head, he hoped she’d drown.
William glided over the sea to determine if his hopes were coming true. Bubbles spun around in the water where she had sunk, and something red glowed beneath the surface, rushing toward him. Damn.
Natasa rose out of the ocean. Her hair drenched and gown ruined, she pointed a finger at him. “Fool, you thought you could hurt me. I’m a demon. My blood runs in you now, and soon you’ll wish you were dead.”
She transformed into black mist, laughing, and spun toward where the Fiery Damsel sailed out to sea.
William spat out her blood, scalding his mouth and scorching his throbbing lips. His gut burned as if fiery pokers hacked his insides. The blazing heat turned cold, icy cold. Icicle
s formed on the tip of his wings, becoming heavier and heavier. He splashed into the ocean and tried to fly out of the water, but his wings collapsed. He sucked in sea water, and salt burned his wounds. Blackness swarmed in his eyes. He tried to kick his legs, but his limbs were frozen. He sank like an anchor, plunging into the dark depths of the sea.
Natasa’s laughter taunted him. “Don’t worry, lizard. You won’t die. When you wake, you’ll be mine, and I’ll order you to kill your friends, including your little witch.”
“No. William, fight it. Don’t fall asleep. Black magic will consume us. I refuse to be a demon’s slave again.”
William tried to stay awake, but his lungs burned, and he closed his eyes, hoping he’d die. His body shook and contorted. Wings disappeared, scales turned back to skin, shrinking in size. He was a man––a man drowning.
Explosions on the water’s surface failed to block out the laughter. The laughter turned into a screech. William didn’t know why. Water stopped burning his lungs, and he could breathe. He forced his heavy eyelids open.
Mother of Mercy, he was floating on top of the waves. His arms were stretched out, and his head turned to the side. Sprays of water slapped onto his body. He tried to swim, but his muscles refused to move. How the hell had he gotten there?
A shadow fell across him, and he glanced up. The Soaring Phoenix. Her sails wrinkled in the wind. Men grabbed the mooring lines. He heard shouts and cheers, but couldn’t make them out.
“Lower the long boat.” A hard male voice pierced the fog in his brain.
Whose was it? No. Wait. ’Twas Kane. Why was he angry?
Water and sky spun around him in a dizzying array. He closed his eyes. Fire and ice burned inside him, and he groaned.
“Don’t fall asleep. Stay awake.”
Suddenly, the water stopped slapping onto his face. He opened one eye and hung in the air, his limbs flaccid, water dripping down his fingertips into the ocean. Weariness surged through him, and he fought to keep his eyes open. But he was tired. So damn tired.
Sleep. He needed sleep.
“No! Stay awake.”
He hovered over the Phoenix’s deck, and men cheered. Mariah had her arms spread wide, chanting, but he couldn’t make out the chant and didn’t care. Sleep overcame him.