by ML Guida
Kane flashed a deadly smile and cracked his knuckles. “You’ll be sorry, little brother.”
“No, you will be. I’m stronger than you.”
“Mutton head, I’m a vampire.”
The two men circled each other, then they attacked, a crunch of flesh and bone. Kane charged and smashed his fist into William’s nose.
Blood spurted into the air, and Mariah was close enough to feel splatters fall on her face. She was at a loss on how to stop them from killing each other.
Grunts and curses assailed the sea air, reinforced by the sound of flesh pounding flesh as the two brothers rolled onto the deck, William briefly gaining the advantage, dripping crimson onto Kane’s face and chest. Kane managed to throw William off. The two warriors dragged themselves to their feet. They panted heavily, sizing each other up. Kane launched the second round and rammed his fist into William’s gut, doubling over him. William fell to his knees, gasping for breath.
“’Tis your fault she’s dead,” Kane yelled. “Yours and your little whore.”
Heat washed over Mariah’s cheeks and she wanted to hide. She could feel the eyes of the crew upon her, hear them mumbling in agreement with le capitaine. He was mad with grief, but nevertheless, his words stung.
William lumbered to his feet. “You bastard,” he said. Droplets of red trickled from his split lip onto his chest.
Mariah had not credited William’s rage as a weapon, but he wielded it now and charged his brother. He rammed his head into Kane’s stomach, knocking him down. He sat on Kane’s chest, pinning him to the deck.
Kane spit into his face.
“You’ll not hit her again.” William smashed his fist into Kane’s face again and again. Bones cracked.
Mariah stared in horror. Why wouldn’t someone pull them apart?
Crimson stained the deck, and her stomach lurched. She covered her mouth, not from the gore, but from watching two brothers kill each other. This was not right. This was dark magic. This was Natasa’s fault. “Stop, William,” Mariah yelled.
As if her words broke a spell, men seized William’s arms and dragged him off Kane. Red drenched Kane’s shirt, and he rolled onto his side, spitting up blood.
Doc knelt down. “Capt’n?”
Kane shrugged off Doc’s arm. “Lock them in the brig.”
“No, Capitaine,” Mariah said. “We must all go to shore. Natasa is planning on us losing control. Do you not see? This is only the beginning. William and I can help. Do not give into grief.”
“I tire of listening to you.” He wiped his face with his sleeve. “I gave an order.”
William stared at his bloody hands. “My God, what have I done?”
Sean and Amadi gripped his arms. He bowed his head bowed and let them led him away. Pirates crowded around Mariah, weapons still drawn, and blocked her view of William. Men glared at her, their eyes brimming with hate.
“Traitor,” a burly pirate murmured and spit on the deck.
“Hand her over to her brother,” another said.
“Should be hanged.”
A tall skinny man shook his head. “No, turncoats should be burned.”
Mariah fought back tears. The memory of her parents flashed in her mind. France all over again. Was this Natasa’s plan for her to follow her parents’ fate? Her heart raced, and her lungs failed to exhale. Stay calm.
Kane held onto a mooring line to keep from falling down. He stared at the island.
“Capitaine, please listen,” Mariah said.
He ignored her, his other hand caressing the butt of his pistol. She opened her mouth to plead once more, but when he released the mooring line and started to load the pistol with powder, she thought better of it.
The sea of hate parted, and Ronan maneuvered through them. “Bloody hell, ye louts. Leave the lass alone.”
A pirate pointed a sword at Mariah’s throat. “’Tis her fault the Capt’n’s bride’s dead.”
She recoiled and wished she could draw on her power. But she was powerless. Defenseless.
Ronan unsheathed his sword and flicked the man’s blade away from Mariah. “Harm her and you’ll face me. Now, stand back, ye devils. Capt’n said to lock her in the brig. Not kill her.”
The man sheathed his sword. Ronan pulled her off the deck and wrapped his arm around her waist. He lifted her into his strong arms. “You’ll have to forgive the capt’n,” Ronan whispered. “He’s stricken with grief. Hannah was his life.”
Mariah leaned her head against Ronan’s chest. She did not blame le capitaine. Tears slipped down Mariah’s cheeks, and she buried her face into Ronan’s shirt. “Le capitaine is right. ’Tis my fault. My magic failed me.”
“No, ’tis not your fault, Mariah. We’re at war. People die in wars. People we love. We canna give into hate or revenge.” He pushed her against the wall. “Can you still save Lark?”
“Not with the yari around my neck. I need William. Without us, we will all die.”
“Ronan.” Amadi walked down the corridor toward them. He jerked his thumb behind him. “You heard da capt’n. Lock da witch in da brig.”
“I will,” Ronan said. He put Mariah back down on the deck and seized her hand. “Donna fret.”
Mariah did not fight Ronan. He led her down into the bowels of the ship, where only a few lanterns light up the belly. Barrels lined the walls. Humidity and mustiness was thick in the air. In the cell, William slumped on the bench.
Ronan unlocked the door and motioned for Mariah to go inside. “I canna free you both now. But I will be back. I promise.” He locked the door and put the key back on the wall.
Mariah rubbed her throbbing cheek. “William?”
He lifted his head. His eyes were swollen, and she gasped. A slit ran down his left cheek and blood leaked out of his nose. Red drenched his shirt. “I could have killed my brother.”
“William, we have to get out of here. Natasa will kill Kane. He is not thinking straight and will rush head-on to his death.”
“I could have killed him.”
“We have—”
“Because of you.”
Mariah shuddered at his soft words. She refused to huddle in the corner and wallow in self-pity. She could do so later. “You pirates are a stubborn lot, no? We have to get on that island and work together. Then we can part?”
“Is that what you want? To separate from me?”
His eyes glowed gold, and a low rumble came from him like a wolf threatening to attack.
Chills whisked down her back, and she rubbed her arms. “I do not want to argue.” She flicked her hair out of her face. “Do you still have the wands?”
He got up off the bench and strolled over. He smeared his bloody mouth on his sleeve. “You did not answer my question. I want an answer.”
She wanted him, loved him. “William, I know you do not feel the same about me as I do you.”
He clasped her shoulders and forced her to look into his bloody face. “And how do you think I feel about you?”
She refused to repeat his cold words—that he could never be with a witch. He had said he didn’t trust witches. Said they were evil. His condemnations stung her lips and bore a hole into her breaking heart.
Concentrate.
“William, we are wasting time.”
“For us to defeat the evil, do we not have to care about each other?”
“We must have faith in one another, only then can we defeat the evil.”
He kissed her forehead and bent his head. Sweet kisses nuzzled her neck, his hand massaged her breast, and warmth spread through her. The man ignited a fire within her, and she wanted him, would always want him. “William, stop.”
“Answer my question.”
She tried to focus on what he had asked. “Question?”
“How we feel about each other?”
“Desire,” she gasped. “We want each other.”
“Aye, ’tis true. I’ll always desire my little witch.” He captured her mouth and kissed her ha
rd.
She snaked her hands up his chest and held onto him, exploring his mouth. ’Twas tangy from the blood, but the taste was still William. Her dragon.
“’Tis not desire that binds us,” he murmured. He trailed kisses down her neck to the valley between her breasts. “Answer me.”
The words to tell him she loved him were on the tip of her tongue. She wanted to profess the same words for him. But her pride prevented her from spilling her heart. She couldn’t handle rejection. Not now. Her determination to save the crew would waver. “I…I…”
“You what?”
Footsteps pounded down the corridor. William grabbed Mariah’s arm and thrust her behind him. She licked her lips, tasting his essence, and her skin was chaffed where he had kissed her.
Doc burst into the brig. “Da capt’n has done ordered da crew to go ashore an’ done left me to guard ye both.”
“To guard us?” William asked.
“Aye, I swore dat if either of ye tried to escape, I’d kill ye.”
William slumped. “He wants us both dead?”
“He’s gone mad with hate, and grief. I’ve never seen him like dis. I fear he’ll lead da crew to their deaths.” He grabbed the key off the wall. “Witch, you said you could help us.”
Mariah studied Doc. “You believe me?”
“I donna know.” Doc inserted the key and unlock the cell. “I do know dat da capt’n is not himself. He took Capt’n Knight with him.” He swung open the door.
“The fool,” William said. “Natasa is a lying bitch.” He seized Mariah’s hand and hurried her out of the cell. “Thank you, Doc.”
“Donna make me regret dis,” Doc said. He shut the door and leaned against it. “Now what do we do?”
“We stop the capt’n from killing himself.” Ronan stepped out of the shadows and held Mariah’s gaze.
Desire shone in his eyes. “I told you I’d return,” he said. “I’ll always return for you.”
William peeled backed his lips, and the warning wolf growl had returned. She couldn’t take another fight between them and squeezed his hand, trying to calm his anger.
Doc stepped in between the two men and held up his palms. “We done have no time for ye two bucks to fight over da lass.”
“William, give me Lark’s wand,” Mariah demanded.
William glanced down at her. “His wand?”
“I cannot use mine. There’s a chance I can channel his.” Pain surged through her neck, cutting off her air, and she cried out. Black dots swam in front of her eyes, and dizziness gripped her.
“No, you can’t.” William drew her to his chest. “’Twould be folly.” He kissed the top of her head. “Stop it, Mariah. You can’t use magic.”
Mariah fought through the pain and whispered, “You can. Call…forth…the…dragon.”
Blinding pain tore into her neck as if someone ripped off her flesh. Cruel laughter rang in her ears—her brother’s laughter. She tried to scream, but her voice was cut short. Air was robbed from her lungs, and her eyes fluttered shut.
***
William held Mariah’s limp body in his arms. “Doc, help her.”
Doc put his hand on her forehead. “She’s done got a fever. Take her to da crew’s quarters.”
William rushed into the crew’s quarters and carefully laid Mariah on the nearest hammock. Ronan and Doc stood on either side. Her face paled, and her lips turned blue.
“Let me see her, William,” Doc said. He opened one of Mariah’s eyes. “She’s unconscious.” He placed his hand over her mouth. “Her breath’s shallow…too shallow.” He laid his head on her chest. “Heartbeat is faint. I donna understand.”
“Do something, Doc,” Ronan demanded.
Doc shook his head. “I donna know what to do. What’s wrong with her?”
William ran his hand through his hair. ’Twas happening again. He was losing the woman he loved. He clenched his fists and paced back and forth, not sure what to do, powerless to stop her death.
“William,” Drakon said. “I know how to save her. But you must trust me.”
Ronan shoved William. “You eejit. ’Tis the yari. It will kill her if we donna do something to stop it. I saw what it did to Lark.”
Drakon roared inside William’s skull. “Use the wand, blighter”.
William winced. He was torn, unsure on what to do. “How will a wand help? Magic will kill her.”
“Use Lark’s wand,” Drakon repeated. “Combine with our power. Do it. She’s dying.”
His commanding voice sunk into William. He was being given a choice to save Mariah, a choice he’d never had with Sharon. He prayed Drakon was right and pulled out Lark’s wand.
Doc frowned. “What are you doing lad?”
“You buffoon.” Ronan grabbed William’s arm and wrestled for the wand. “You’ll kill her.”
“Trust me,” Drakon urged.
William drew on Drakon’s strength and flung Ronan off him. “I call forth the dragon’s magic.”
Blood quickened in his veins, and his heart pumped faster and faster. Power surged through him. The wand trembled in his hand, and a beam of light streamed out of it. The beam surrounded Mariah, bathing her in a soft white light. Her eyes flew open, and she arched her back, screaming.
“Mariah.” Ronan lunged for William and grabbed his arm. “You’re killin’ her!” He jerked his hand away and cried out. The stench of burned flesh filled the quarters. White smoke swirled around his hands. He curled his fist and swung.
Doc grabbed Ronan’s arm. “Do you have a death wish?”
“She’s in pain, Doc. I canna bear it.” He struggled, and Doc pulled him away.
Tears streamed down William’s face and he lowered the wand.
“No! Keep it up,” Drakon demanded.
William tottered, and ignoring Mariah’s cries, he bit back his fear and clasped the wand tight. What if Mariah and Drakon were wrong and he was killing her?
“Say it,” Drakon said.
“I love you, Mariah,” William murmured, not loud enough to drown out her screams or Ronan’s swearing.
Convulsions shook William, and waves upon waves of power surged through him, pulsing through his body. He opened his mouth and white light burst through and streamed toward Mariah’s neck. A loud crack rang in his ears.
The white light vanished, and William collapsed onto the floor. The room fell quiet, except for the creak from the swaying hammocks and his desperate pants to fill his burning lungs.
A soft sigh was music to his ears.
“William?”
He peered up through the strands of his hair, and Mariah smiled down at him from the hammock.
She stretched out her hand. “My dragon. You did it.”
William didn’t know whether he should whoop with joy or sob with relief. He clasped her hand, and those three little words stuck in his closed throat.
“O’Brien,” Ronan said. “The yari, ’tis broken.”
William stumbled to his feet and helped Mariah out of the hammock. He pushed her dark hair. The yari slipped from her throat. Cracked diamonds fell off the silver band. Hand prints marred her flesh. “Your neck?”
“Black magic was choking me. You believed in me.”
He moved his head side to side. “No, I believed in us.”
“Are you well, Mariah?” Ronan’s eyes filled with concern.
She nodded. “Oui. We must get to the island.”
Dark circles were under Mariah’s eyes, and her color was still pale. “You need to rest,” William said.
“No, you do not understand. I had a vision while I was succumbing to the yari.”
Doc stared at her warily. “A vision?”
“Zuto. He wants us to come and speak with him.”
William couldn’t believe this was her plan—talk to Zuto?
“That black-hearted devil,” Ronan spat. “To murder us.”
“No,” she said. “He says we are right about Natasa. She lied to us.”
<
br /> “’Tis not a surprise,” Doc said.
“You still do not understand. She lied about everything. Hannah’s not dead. Kane is bringing Knight to Natasa and she will have both father and daughter. She plans to take them both alive to Coaybay. He wants us to join forces.”
Ronan’s eyes blazed with cynicism. “What the bloody hell for?”
“To foil Natasa.”
William lifted her chin. “You trust him?”
“No,” she said. “But we have no choice. Kane and the crew are walking into a trap. Zuto showed me. We must get there now.”
William wanted to argue, but he knew Zuto. He’d shown Mariah what he wanted her to see. If they didn’t meet with him, it could mean his brother’s life.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
William stared at Mariah and couldn’t believe he’d heard the woman right. Had she gone daft? “You’re not serious!”
“Oui, I am,” she said.
Her defiant gaze and straight back dashed his hopes of dissuading the lass. He grounded his teeth. “I loathe Zuto. Thanks to that bastard, my brother’s cursed and doomed to be a vampire for eternity. Why the hell would I believe anything from his forked tongue?”
“We have little choice,” Mariah said. She rubbed his tense arm. “You trusted me with Lark’s wand. Now, I am begging you to trust me with this. S’il vous plaît.”
He wanted to trust her, to believe in her. But the shrewd demon had led the crew down false paths before. Why would this be any different?
Doc frowned. “William, you can’t be serious thinkin’ of goin’ along with dis?”
Mariah stared at him with those doe eyes and she clasped his hand.
In William’s mind, Drakon paced back and forth.
“Trust in your power,” he said. “The demon does not understand true love. You must declare your love before you face him.”
William opened his eyes and squeezed Mariah’s hand. “We won’t know anything until we reach the island. Come on.”
“Kane took all the long boats,” Ronan said.
“We don’t need long boats.” William slapped Ronan on the back. “We’ll fly.”
Ronan knotted his eyebrows. “Fly?”
William grinned. “By dragon.”
Mariah glanced up at the ceiling. “You mean ride on your back?”