by Guida, ML
Mariah curled her lips. “Not only am I supposed to prove my competence in shooting, I now must also prove my magic? Bon, I will show you, Capitaine, oui?”
“How?” Kane asked.
William resented the suspicion in his brother’s eyes and clenched his fists. “Give her some time, Kane. You never doubted Hannah.”
Hannah rubbed Kane’s arm, and the tension lessened in his face. “’Tis true, Kane.”
Ronan came up on the other side of Mariah. “Lass?”
Mariah turned to Ronan. “Before I can decide what magic to use, I need you to tell me about the yari.”
“’Tis a silver collar with six diamonds. Whenever Lark tried to use an unauthorized spell, the diamonds turned into glowin’ rubies, burrowin’ into his neck, the collar tightenin’.”
She frowned. “So, he could not perform any spells?”
Ronan sighed. “No.”
“Are you sure, monsieur? If he could perform the tiniest of magic, then this means there is a flaw in the incantation. It might be enough for me to break it down further and free my brother.”
His eyes turned dark and vacant, and a muscle shivered in his cheek as if he was reliving the anguish again.
Mariah kept silent, but William could see the eagerness in her eyes, willing Ronan to remember.
Ronan shook his head. “I don’t remember anything. I’m sorry. I was tortured on the rack, and the constant agony stripped me of any rational thought. I wish I could remember. I’d do anythin’ to help Lark. He was my friend.” His voice caught.
Mariah lowered her head. When she looked up, anger flashed in her eyes, and she balled her fists. William thought she was going to strike Ronan for not being able to remember. He knew the desperation of trying to find a way to save loved ones, only to be met with disappointment.
Hannah shook her head. “But ’tis not true. Lark could do magic even with the yari around his neck.”
Mariah’s scowling features and hands relaxed. Her eyes widened, and those rosy lips curled into a broad smile. She looked like a little girl excited to find a missing piece to a puzzle.
William didn’t see how this bit of information could give her hope.
“What?” Ronan blinked. “You werena there, lass. You donna know what Palmer did to the poor lad.”
“I do too,” Hannah said. “The day I freed you and my father, you fed on me. Remember?”
Kane sighed heavily.
Ronan winced. “Hannah, I dinna…”
“Ronan, we have been through this. You didn’t have a choice. I didn’t have a choice. If you hadn’t fed on me, you wouldn’t have been able to walk out of the dungeon. I wasn’t strong enough to carry you, and William had to carry my father.” She stared across the deck, and a melancholy passed across her countenance.
William followed her gaze. Her father, Captain Justin Knight, sat on a wooden chair that was bolted to the side of the ship to keep it secured as the ship rocked on the seas. Salt and pepper hair was neatly pulled back into a queue. His shoulders were slumped, and he held a cane across his lap. The man wasn’t what he used to be. Once an arrogant oaf, now he rarely spoke, his gray eyes distant as if he lived in another world.
Mariah gestured with her hand. “Is that your father, Hannah?”
Hannah nodded. “Doc crafted the chair for him. ’Tis difficult for him to get around the ship, and he tires easily.” She wiped a tear from her cheek. “Sometimes I think he’s given up the will to live.”
Mariah knelt next to Solstice and hugged her dog. “Solstice, heal and comfort Capitaine Knight.”
Solstice licked her face and wagged her tail. Mariah released her, and Solstice scampered over to Captain Knight and plopped down next to the chair.
Hannah’s father scowled. “What the devil?” He pointed his cane at Solstice. “Get this beast away from me.”
Solstice moved away so he couldn’t hit her. She lay down, her head facing Knight.
William frowned. “How did she know who Knight was?”
Mariah twirled her hair and put it in a loose knot. “She is my familiar. We understand each other.”
William curled his lip. “Aye, I forgot.”
Based on her scowl, he was certain she wanted to punch him in the face. He raised his eyebrow, and she released a large breath of air and turned away.
“Get away from me, mutt.” Knight edged Solstice with the tip of his cane.
Solstice got up, and rather than running away, walked in front of his chair and laid her head on his knees, her tail wagging.
“Get off me.” He shoved the dog’s head off his lap. Solstice whined and backed away.
“Father.” Hannah stepped forward, intent on intervening in her father’s bad behavior.
Mariah grabbed her arm. “No, he won’t hurt Solstice. This takes time.” She nodded. “Watch.”
Solstice glanced over at Mariah and plopped beside Knight’s chair. Knight went back to staring off into the horizon. William didn’t see how a mutt could cure Knight’s withdrawn behavior. He’d been sullen and unresponsive for weeks.
“She will stick to him, Hannah,” Mariah said. “Your father is deep in despair, and Solstice will slowly show him the way out. Trust her.”
Hannah bit her lip. “But—”
“His spirit needs to be mended,” Mariah said. “And Solstice can help. She knows how to take care of herself.”
Kane folded his arms across his chest. “Mariah, now about showing my brother how to control his dragon...”
William wanted to shove Kane down and slam his head on the deck repeatedly to knock some sense into him. A witch and a dog were not going to solve his problem. “She can’t help me, Kane. ’Tis folly.”
“Oui, I can.”
“You mean like what happened below?” He winced, regretting he’d said it. Kane would not forgive Mariah if he knew about how close she’d come to starting a fire in the crew’s quarters.
“What happened below?” Kane demanded.
“I conjured a spell,” Mariah said. “And—”
“And what?” Kane razed her with his glare as if he wanted to slit her throat. “Did something go amiss?”
Mariah stepped back. “No.”
William opened his mouth to argue, but Kane had his hand on his sword and the other on his pistol. William’s honor demanded he protect Mariah. Heaven knew why. “Nothing went a miss, Kane.”
“Something happened,” Kane persisted.
“I contacted my brother. He has not turned, and he is fighting it. We must act soon.”
Kane put his hands on his hips. William stared out to sea to avoid Kane’s questioning gaze. Kane knew he wasn’t telling the truth. William would deal with his brother later.
Mariah studied Ronan, her gaze urgent. “S’il vous plaît, I need to know what happened.” She clasped Ronan’s arm.
Ronan put his hand over hers.
The slight gestured shot waves of anger through William. He wanted to say something, but instead of words, a slow menacing growl rumbled in his chest. It wasn’t human. Holy hell, the dragon? Was he turning?
Kill him. Burn him. The commanding voice urged him to attack Ronan. Jealousy consumed him, and he battled to stay in control.
No, he said to the voice, but William’s voice was too puny, too weak. The voice ignored him and kept chanting, “Kill, burn, maim.”
He tried to take a deep breath and push his anger back. His body failed to obey. Muscles rippled beneath him, and his heart quickened. Blood pumped between his temples. Power surged through him. They all stared at him. William’s cheeks heated, and he avoided their wary gazes.
Only Mariah gave him a knowing look. An unafraid look.
She caressed his arm. “Breathe, sleep.”
Her soothing voice was lyrical; the two words echoed in William’s mind. Each breath he inhaled, he smelled lavender. Soft. Alluring. Gentle. Muscles relaxed, his blood slowed. The growling stopped.
Kane rubbed his chin. “Aye, las
sie, you’re slowly convincing me.”
Mariah gave William a triumphant smile.
“Kane,” Hannah said. “Mariah’s right. Back on the Fiery Damsel, before William came down, Lark helped me when he was weak. He used his voice. I felt him tap into my power and make me stronger. Don’t you see?” She gazed at each one of them. “Palmer couldn’t completely limit his power.”
“Oui. ’Tis true, the spell proves it. If we find the Fiery Damsel, I can use my power to tap into his and break the yari.”
Fear pooled in William’s gut at Mariah’s confident voice. She would be facing Palmer, and if he got his hands on her…“Why can’t you do it from the ship?”
“The black magic is too strong. I would need to touch Lark.”
Ronan frowned. “If you’re wrong, you could end up a prisoner like Lark.”
“I will not. You must have faith in me.”
A lump formed in William’s throat, and he swallowed hard. He wanted to believe in her, wanted to believe she could save her brother, but all he could see was her lifeless violet eyes staring up at him. “Your bold faith could get you and your brother killed.”
Chapter 8
* * *
Zuto strolled along his beloved beach. The waves rolled in, swirling the sand between his toes. An ocean breeze blew across his face, and he inhaled, smelling the sea and tasting salt on his lips. He wanted to push out the stench of Coaybay, of burnt lava and death. He stilled.
Natasa gripped his arm, her nails digging into his flesh. “You’re mine, Zuto.”
He put his hand on Natasa’s and shoved it off him. “’Tis over between us, Natasa.”
She laughed and stepped in front of him. “I don’t think so. It will be over when I say ’tis over.”
Her long, red hair blew across her face, and her breasts strained to escape her velvet corset. There was a time when he would have ripped off her dress and buried himself inside her, riding her hard, listening her cry out in ecstasy. But her betrayal had killed his passion. He bit back a smile. Revenge would be sweet. All he had to do was lure the wench into his web. “Get out of my way, Natasa. Maketabori said we had to work together. Nothing else.”
She put her hand on his naked chest, and he shrank from her touch.
Natasa flashed him an evil smile that made him curl his toes. “Do you think I care if you loathe my touch? All that matters is that I crave yours. What you can do to me, what you will do to me, what you will beg for me to do.”
“Natasa, Maketabori wants—”
Long fingers cupped his chin and squeezed tight. “I know what our master wants.” She stared at his lips. “I want you,” she whispered.
He shuddered, not wanting to feel her wicked tongue, coated with lies, twirling in his mouth.
Zuto pressed his arms to his side to keep from beating her to death. Not that he could. Maketabori protected the bitch. “Stop playing these games.”
She released him. “I know what you want, Zuto. Remember, I was with you for…” She frowned. “’Twas a long time. Long enough to remember what you liked in the bedroom.”
“You know nothing of what I want.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. You want your freedom. To live among the humans.”
’Twas a feat not to react, not to give any indications to the truth. “You know nothing of my dreams.”
“Ah, but I do.” She ran her fingernails across his chest. “Maketabori told me your request. You’ll fulfill his orders, then what? You actually think he’ll grant your freedom after you’ve failed him?” She laughed.
He shut down the urge not to spit into her smug face.
Chills snaked down his back. He stared at her slender neck and ached to squeeze the last breath out of her, cutting off her biting tongue and silencing her laugh forever. “I didn’t fail him. Palmer did.”
“If you didn’t, then why am I here?”
Zuto hustled past her. “I tire of this. We’ve got to—”
Natasa grabbed his hair and yanked. “Don’t walk away from me, darling.” She cupped his buttock and squeezed. “We’re not finished yet.”
Revulsion rushed through him at her intimate touch, and without hesitation, he whirled around and backhanded her. “Don’t touch me.”
She dabbed at her bloody lip. “You always did like to play rough.” Her voice turned husky.
It reminded Zuto of sweeter times long dead.
“I’m not your slave, Natasa, and you won’t treat me as such.”
“Oh?” She smirked. “I don’t think that’s what our master thinks. You’re my slave and shall do what I want.”
“No, I won’t.”
“Ah, do you care for the women on your island?”
Her words sent dread boring into his bones. “You’ll leave them alone.”
“And what are you going to do about it?”
“Natasa,” he warned.
“Natasa, what?”
“Leave them alone. They aren’t involved in this.”
“’Tis your fault they are involved, lover.”
He bristled. “I’m not your lover.”
“No, not yet.” She strolled around him, her nails scraping his flesh. “If you don’t do exactly as you’re told and only please me, I’ll visit each woman in her dreams. I’ll cast a spell and drive her mad. Each woman will take her own life in a most unpleasant manner.” She stood in front of him and tilted her chin, her eyes blazing red. “Deny me, and they’re dead. Your choice.”
“You bitch.”
“Tsk, tsk.” She shook her finger. “Do we have a deal?”
“Go to hell.”
“So is that a no?”
He sighed and turned. The native women had pleased him each night, and he delighted in their human bodies. He was drawn to their pure souls. No dark deeds marred their thoughts, and he could indulge with them without fearing betrayal. They gladly gave themselves to him. He didn’t have to command or demand them. If they were virgins, he left them virgins, not wanting to steal their precious gift. If not, well, that was a different matter. “You’ll leave them alone?”
“Yes, I will.” Her eyes gleamed with anticipated triumph.
Forcing the words out of his mouth and lowering his head, he said, “Then I’m yours.”
“Kneel,” she ordered.
Zuto seethed, but obeyed. He sunk into the sand, and the water washed around him.
His new mistress spread her legs apart. “Please me.” Dominance reflected in her hard eyes. “This is the beginning, lover. You’ll pay the price for leaving me, and you’ll do exactly as I say, or I’ll kill your precious women one-by-one. Do you understand?”
Despite the hate boiling in his veins, Zuto managed to whisper, “Yes, mistress.”
Chapter 9
No one had ever doubted Mariah’s abilities until William and the crew of the Soaring Phoenix. Only Hannah smiled and gazed at her with acceptance. Mariah missed Grand-mère, Grand-père, and Lark. Her heart lay heavy in her chest, and she missed their encouraging words, their blind faith, their love. Here, she was alone.
Solstice lifted her head, and Mariah gave her a small smile, trying not to cry. The dog left her charge and hurried to Mariah’s side. She nudged Mariah’s palm, and her soft, cold nose took away some of Mariah’s pain, giving her strength. “I am well.” She pointed. “Return to Capitaine Knight. He needs you.”
Before the dog left, she licked Mariah’s hand and wagged her tail. She trotted back to Knight, then curled next to his chair.
“There are no words I can say that will have you believe me.” Mariah glared at William. “Only my deeds can be measured.”
William nodded. “Aye, shall we start with your shooting ability?”
She nodded and smiled.
Hannah clicked her tongue. “I think you will be sorry, William.”
Mariah pulled out her pistol then loaded and primed it.
He lifted his eyebrow as if surprised by her familiarity. When she cocked the w
eapon, she gave him a superior look. “What target do you want me to shoot?”
William shrugged. “Kane, pick a target.”
“William, we’re sailing out to sea. ’Tis not the best time.”
“Do you want answers?”
Kane glanced between William and Mariah. “You’re determined?”
William crossed his arms. “Aye. Pick a target.”
Hannah rolled her eyes. “You two will be arguing about this all day. I will fetch some cups.”
The Soaring Phoenix sailed out of the harbor, her sails flapping over head. Mariah stood at the railing. Water sprayed into the air, salt staining her lips. She watched her home slip farther and farther away. The lump in her throat widened, and she could hardly swallow.
Hannah returned with two metal cups. She placed one on the railing away from the ledge. The cup slid along the railing with the rocking of the ship. “Now, William, since you are so sure of this, you go first.” She backed away, holding the other cup.
William scoffed and rolled his eyes. He aimed at the cup moving back and forth and fired. The cup clanged, jumped into the air, and fell into the churning water below. Smug satisfaction beamed across his face, and he bowed. “Mariah.”
Hannah placed the second cup on the railing. Once again, the cup twitched back and forth. Mariah leveled the pistol at the sliding mark. If she missed, William would spout that she was a liability. Her hand shook. Sweat broke out on her lower lip. She lowered her hand.
“You don’t have to do this.” Kane’s soft words failed to match his stern face that was riddled with doubt and anger. She had to make this shot.
She drew on her magic, staring at the skating cup. Her heart fluttered, tingles swirled over her body, and warmth spread into her chest. Her hair flew behind her, and her vision grew sharper. She aimed at the shifting cup, remembering Grand-père’s words.
Keep the pistol to the left of your target, chérie. Keep your arm and hand steady. Keep your eye on the target.
Mariah fired the weapon, and her arm jerked. Smoke swirled around her pistol.
The cup was gone. Hailing brought her attention. Excitement reflecting in her brown eyes, Hannah ran over to her, clapping and whooping. “Mariah, you did it. You must teach me how to shoot.”
