by Guida, ML
Mariah didn’t like the idea of torture, even someone as foul as Palmer. “I need time, Capitaine.”
Kane scowled. “I need a course, Mariah. I will not sail idly around the sea.”
“Give me time.”
Evil laughter filled the cabin. Hannah’s father groaned and thrashed in the hammock. The men whipped out their weapons. William and Ronan wedged Mariah behind them. Cold air rushed through the quarters, hammocks and lanterns swayed, chests skidded across the floor.
Kane whirled around in a circle. “Reveal yourself.”
The lanterns dimmed, and the outline of man formed in the corner of the quarters.
“Damn you, Zuto.” Kane pulled out a pistol. “What have you done with Hannah?”
The man’s features became clearer, and he swaggered out of the corner. Dark brown hair flared over broad shoulders. The lantern light glistened off the gold chains around his neck. A flamboyant red shirt opened to the navel revealed three long scratches on his smooth chest. Trousers hugged his muscular legs. Familiar eyes held her gaze. Not violet. Black. Soulless. Arrogant.
She was too late. Mariah clasped the stone around her neck. “’Tis not a demon.”
“No, it isn’t possible.” Ronan lowered his sword and took a step toward him. “Lark? You’ve escaped?”
“Imbécile! I am not on board this ship, oui?”
Trying to control her fear, she met her brother’s cruel gaze. “He is projecting himself. Stay alert. He is dangerous and not who you remember.”
Lark shrugged. “I do not know any of you.”
Ronan frowned. “Lark, what’s wrong with you? Ye donna remember me? We were prisoners aboard the Fiery Damsel.”
Lark lifted his eyebrows. “Prisoners? Highly doubtful.”
“Lark is not your friend, Ronan. Not anymore.” Mariah’s voice was consumed with grief. “He is under a spell.”
Lark flashed her a chilling smile. “You must be the witch, oui.”
“And your sister.” William’s voice was strong and commanding, willing Lark to remember his past and fight the spell.
“Sister?” Lark studied her, his brows knotted. He waved his hand. “No. Je ne pense pas.”
Mariah bit her lip hard not to argue. She wanted to grab his shoulders and shake him until he remembered. Shout at him to remember their past, their bond.
Lark looked at each one of them curiously. “Which one of you is Capitaine O’Brien?”
Kane stepped forward, pistol trained on him. “I’m Captain O’Brien. Why are you here?”
“I have someone who wants to see you, oui?” He pointed to the opposite wall. The shadows on the wall flickered and swirled—yellow, black and gray. Amongst the colors, an image formed. Black lines became thin bars. Yellow turned into lanterns, casting an eerie glow. A dank cell emerged. Mariah gasped. Someone—a man—hung suspended from the ceiling by an unseen force in the corner. His long brown hair masked his face, and his arms were limp. Manacles studded with what appeared to be diamonds bound his wrists together.
The man raised his head. Not a man. A woman.
Tears pushed against Mariah’s eyes and she put her shaking hand on her chest. “Hannah. Lark, what have you done?”
“’Tis a yari,” he said. “It—”
“We know what it does,” Ronan spat. “Are you afraid of her power?”
Lark glowered and refused to answer, but his scowl grew more sinister, if that was possible. “I am afraid of no one’s power.”
He lied. Mariah could feel the magic recoil inside him. He was afraid. Afraid of who? William? Her?
Kane cocked his pistol. “You’re a dead bastard.”
“You can shoot if you want, Capitaine.” Lark chuckled. “Your bullet cannot touch me. You will waste gunpowder, oui? Not that I care.”
“What have you done to her?” Kane’s voice shook with despair.
Lark strolled around the crew’s quarters with his hands clasped behind his back. “She annoyed me. Lied to me. Do not worry. I do not plan to kill her.” The curves of his lips curled into a tight sneer. “At least not yet.”
Kane’s eyes darkened. “If you hurt her, I promise I’ll kill you.”
Lark laughed. “I would like to see you try.” He bowed slightly. “S’il vous plaît, I dare you to try, oui?”
Mariah couldn’t control her rapidly beating heart. She prayed that neither William nor Kane would attack him. He wanted them to lose control, a chance to discover their weakness.
“Tell me, Capitaine, is your woman passionate? I have not been with une belle femme for some time.”
Kane made a low guttural hiss in his throat and lunged for him.
Mariah put her palms up. “Capitaine, no!”
William seized his arm. “Kane. He’s baiting you.”
Lark circled William and Kane. “Brothers, oui?” He stopped and recognition flared in his gaze. “You are the dragon, no? Soon, you will be worshiping my mistress.”
“Never.” William’s eyes flashed gold.
Ronan tilted his head. “Leave him alone, Lark.”
Lark headed toward Mariah, and William cut him off, smoke exhaling from his nostrils.
Lark studied her. “She is your mate, oui. The witch.” He held Mariah’s gaze. “You will face my mistress soon. Se préparer à mourir.”
She couldn’t believe he would let her die. Lark had to be fighting to defeat the spell. She gripped William’s arm, relishing his strength. “You don’t recognize me, no?”
“Are you daft? I said you were the witch.”
Mariah clasped her stone tighter, drawing on its power. “I am more than a witch. I am your sister.”
Lark grimaced and put his hands on his temples as if he were wounded. He staggered and shook his head. “Lies.” He snapped his gaze to Kane. “If you want to challenge me for your bride, Capitiane, bring your beleaguered crew to Zuto’s island tomorrow at sundown. We fight to the death.”
His image faded; the last to disappear were his merciless black eyes.
* * *
Melancholy overwhelmed Mariah, and she slumped against William. “I was too late. Lark is a warlock.” Her stomach tightened, and she wiped away a lone tear. “I am afraid I will have to destroy him.”
William wrapped his arm around her and held her tight. “I’m sorry.”
Ronan paced the floor. “Is there naught you can do? Your destiny was to save him, na kill him.”
“’Tis our destiny. She can’t hope to defeat Lark without my help.” William’s tone echoed with dread.
“Will he…hurt Hannah?” Kane whispered her name, his husky voice filled with love and fear.
The hesitancy and worry in his tone broke Mariah’s heart. She lowered her gaze. “I don’t know. My brother has crossed over.”
“This is what your Grand-mère predicted. ’Tis not the time to cower. All of our lives are at stake. I suggest you find some courage, witch.” Kane’s hard voice failed to chase away the yellow in her spine.
Mariah wiped a tear. “Tell me, Capitaine, if you had to kill your brother, how would you feel about the challenge?”
Kane chewed on his cheek. “Point taken. This does not change the battle thrust upon us. We will set a course for Zuto’s island.” He turned and left the crew’s quarters with everyone following except for Ronan, William, and Mariah.
Ronan shook his head. “I canna believe that Lark has turned completely evil.”
“He walks down an evil path.” Fear and trepidation emitted from Mariah’s wary voice. “I need to go to sleep.”
Ronan blinked. “Sleep? Why the hell would you want to take a nap now?”
“I need to see if there is any good in him. Awake, he is dangerous. Asleep, there might still be some good in him.”
William folded his arms across his chest. “He is a warlock. Is he dangerous in your dreams?”
“No, he can’t harm me in dreams,” she lied. Warlocks were unpredictable, and she had no idea the depth of his power.
William gave her a suspicious look. No doubt, he did not believe her. She might not ever wake up. Still, she had to chance it. Her brother’s very soul depended upon it. She pulled her hair into a bun and avoided William’s penetrating stare. “It will be dark soon. I need to prepare.” She headed for the corridor. “Where is Cook?”
William lifted an eyebrow. “Why do you need to see Cook?”
“I need some wine, and if we don’t have any wine, boiled water.”
“I donna understand,” Ronan said slowly.
“Besides wearing my stone, I will prepare either a tonic or a decoction with herbs that are designed to protect me.”
William towered over her and glared. “I thought you said visiting him in dreams wasn’t dangerous.”
“I will be safe.”
He pulled her against his broad chest. “You need to take me with you.”
“What?”
His grip tightened on her arm. “I go with you or I tie you up and you will not visit him.”
“William, ’tis too much of a risk. He will sense that you are there.”
“I’ll be invisible.”
“But—”
“It isn’t open for discussion. You’ll obey in this.”
Ronan nodded. “You must do as he says.”
Mariah looked between the two pirates. She had thought Ronan would come to her aid, but she’d thought wrong. She would find no allies in doing this alone. Too weary to argue, she pushed a lock of hair off her hot face. “Ronan, see if Cook has any wine. If not, I will need boiling water.”
“Aye,” Ronan nodded and darted out the door.
“Please,” a muffled voice said.
Mariah glanced down. Capitaine Knight’s eyes were open. His face was drawn and white. “Please save my little girl. ’Tis my fault. Tell Lark I will go in her stead.” He struggled to get out of the hammock.
William gently pushed his shoulder down. “We will bring her back alive. Hannah needs you. It would break her heart if you sacrificed your life.”
Knight’s eyes glistened.
Mariah picked up his hand and squeezed it. “Oui, I promise you. We will bring her back alive. Sleep.” She leaned over and kissed his damp forehead. He gave her a weak smile and closed his eyes.
Solstice whined.
Mariah knelt. “He will heal, Solstice.” She scratched her ears. A sudden thought entered her mind, and she glanced up at William. “Wait a minute.”
He frowned. “What?”
“Solstice didn’t growl when Lark appeared.”
“Aye, so?”
Hope swelled inside her. “She would have growled or even attacked if he were completely evil. Excusez-moi.”
“Where are you going? Ronan went to get what you need.”
“To prepare the herbs.” She hurried toward her chambers. “Come if you must.”
William followed her inside. “What are you doing? I’m not allowing you out of my sight.”
“I won’tt go anywhere without you.”
“Promise me you’ll take me into the dream.”
“Mon Dieu! I said I would.”
He slowly released her and blocked her doorway like a huge wooden drawbridge. She hurried to her chest and searched for cinquefoil, fennel, and rue. “To complete the spell, I need your blood.”
“Why?”
“Dragon’s blood is powerful and will enhance the potency of these herbs.” She opened the vials. “William, there is only enough protection for one of us.”
“You’re not going alone.”
“If I bring us both into the dream, only one will be protected.”
“I’ll be invisible. You won’t. You drink the potion.”
She didn’t have time to argue with his authoritative tone.
“’Tis a tonic, not a potion. Even if you are invisible, Lark will sense your power.”
He shrugged. “This discussion is over. Prepare yourself a tonic.”
Hurried footsteps came down the corridor and into the crew’s quarters. Ronan burst into her cabin with a chalice. “Here is some wine.”
She sighed. “Hopefully it will be powerful enough.” She closed the chest. “Put the chalice here.”
Ronan set it down. Both men cast long shadows over the chest, her sentinels. She emptied the last of the herbs into the chalice. Fragrant smells filled the cabin, and Mariah inhaled, filling her lungs with calmness.
William slowly pulled out a dagger and slashed his palm.
Ronan grabbed William’s wrist. “What the devil are you doin’?”
“She needs dragon’s blood for her damn concoction to work.” He broke free of Ronan’s grasp and squeezed drops of blood into the wine. “If it will work—”
“You still do not have any faith in magic do you?” She couldn’t keep the misery out of her voice.
Ronan smiled. “I have faith.”
Why couldn’t William be more more like Ronan—accepting magic?
“Will my blood help, or not?”
“Oui.” She stirred the blood, and it muddied the wine.
Ronan squeezed her shoulder. “You’re not going to drink that, are you?”
She glanced up into his trouble eyes. “You drink blood, no?”
His cheeks reddened. “Aye.”
She lifted the cup to her lips. “Bon appètit.”
She sipped the tonic that tasted salty and tangy.
Ronan studied her. “Is it working?”
Mariah didn’t answer. The drink flowed down her throat, and tingles spread through her blood. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, allowing the protective power to surge within her.
“Well?” Ronan probed.
“Give her time,” William said. “Witchcraft requires time to conjure spells. ’Tis not like Hannah who can draw on her power.”
For once there was no sarcasm in William’s voice. Was he beginning to believe in magic?
She opened her eyes. “The tonic will protect me when I enter Lark’s dream.”
“You mean when we enter the dream,” William corrected her.
Ronan glanced between them. “So, do you both go to sleep now?”
Mariah yawned. “In time. I need to be alone with William.”
Ronan crossed his arms. “Why?”
William met her gaze and a slow smile spread across his lips. “Aye, we need to be alone.” He clapped Ronan’s shoulder. “If you’ll excuse us, Ronan, we need some privacy.”
Ronan opened and shut his mouth. Realization flickered in his eyes, and he glowered. “Damn you, O’Brien.” But he left.
William tied the straps to the canvas door. “Sex magic?”
“Oui,” she whispered. “’Tis the only way for me to transform you into my dream.”
He flashed his gaze over her and motioned with his arm. “Shall we?”
Chapter 25
William smiled. This sex magic was not something he’d ever tire of. Mariah reached to unlace her dress. He held up his hand. “No, allow me.”
She couldn’t hide a yawn. “We do not have much time.”
“Aye, we do.” He brushed a lock of her hair out of her face. “You’re so beautiful.”
“The decoction is stronger than I thought.” Her eyes fluttered. “I am not sure how much longer I can stay awake.”
“Oh, you’ll stay awake, lassie.” His lips brushed over her luscious ones. She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck. He kissed her slow, indulging in her honey taste.
He unbuttoned her dress, his fingers sliding over her satiny skin. He would take his time with her. For him, ’twas more than sex magic. ’Twas showing this delicate yet strong lass how much he cared for her. He couldn’t utter the words, but he could show her.
He pushed her dress down to her elbows and kissed her naked shoulder. “So creamy,” he murmured.
She shivered beneath him, and he smiled. He undressed her down to the shift that outlined her curves and hid her treasures.
She started to r
emove her shift.
“No, I want to take my fill of you.” He removed one boot and then the other. He shed his trousers and shirt. Mariah’s bold gaze stirred his passion. He tossed the blankets covering her hammock onto the floor, eager to kiss and explore her silky skin.
He wrapped his arm around her waist, pressing her soft curves to him, and captured those tempting lips. She kissed him, her tongue darting around his, teasing him. She slipped her hand down his stomach. Soft fingers caressed and stroked his flesh. His little witch grew bolder exploring his body. Every touch aroused his fiery passion.
Deep within him, the ever-present dragon hungered and roared for its mate, begging for him to thrust inside her. But he wasn’t ready, not yet.
Mariah had said with the sex magic she’d bring him with her to Lark’s dreams. What if it wasn’t strong enough? What if he was left behind and she faced her brother alone? Men and vampires, he knew how to kill. They were in his world. A real one. But what lurked in a dream world? What dangers would his little vixen face?
He growled and lowered her to the blankets, stretching his body out on top of hers and pressing the hard length of his cock into her soft flesh. He held her there and indulged in the pleasure of her hips moving against him. Their kiss deepened and fire burned between them. He poured the intensity of his hunger into her mouth—his need to protect her, to keep her alive.
He slipped his fingers up her undergarment and cupped and squeezed her breast. With one stroke, he lifted the material up over her breasts and gazed at her budded nipples. He closed his lips over the soft full mound and suckled hard. Mariah arched her back, allowing him to capture her flesh, and she glided her fingers into his hair, holding him closer. Flames of passion consumed him. He had wanted to take her slow and build the desire within her, not take her swift like a green lad, not in control of his own passion.
“Please,” Mariah urged. “I want you inside me.”
She stroked his cock, and he shook, afraid he’d release into her soft hand. He parted her thighs and wedged his hips between them.
Mariah licked her lips. “Kiss me.”