A Pirate's Revenge (Legends of the Soaring Phoenix)

by ML Guida

  When Ronan had kissed Mariah, William had lost his mind. Anger had swept through him, and he had fought to not give into the dragon’s instincts. Maim. Slash. Burn. His control had slipped through his fingers. He was dangerous.

  He was ready to learn how to control the beast. Nearly killing his brother would have been the death of William’s honor. He clasped Mariah’s shoulders. “What now, Mariah?”

  “First, you need to get dressed.”

  William laughed at the slow blush that spread across her sweet cheeks.

  “Then, ’tis time for you to learn how to talk with your dragon, oui?”

  “Excuse me? Do what?” This was her plan? Talking? He’d have better luck swimming in the ocean with an anchor draped around his neck. This was hopeless.

  “Talk with your dragon.” She clasped his hand. “Take hold of the stone.”

  William sighed and held the stone. Ridiculous. “’Tis not like I speak wyvern,” he mumbled.

  “The beast is part of you. You have two parts to you. Two souls. He speaks whatever language you speak. Just concentrate. S’il vous plaît.”

  “Fine. Speak to me, dragon.”

  “He will not talk to you with that mocking attitude.”

  “Exactly what kind of attitude do I need?”

  She rubbed his arm. “Come with me.”

  “Where?”

  “I need to get some things from my trunk.”

  More magic? He’d had enough of the supernatural. “What kind of things?”

  “Candles…and we should be someplace private.”

  Was she thinking of conjuring a spell? His heart beat accelerated. She’d be naked. He groaned. Jaaysus, how the hell was he going to learn control with her naked? He was hanging on by a lanyard.

  She gathered her athame, bowl, and vial and motioned for him to follow. She led him down into the crew’s quarters and disappeared into her private space. “Give me a moment to change,” she said.

  Before he joined her, he hurried to his sea chest and pulled on some trousers. He wanted to protest and run away. Protect what little honor he had left.

  Mariah stood at her entryway. She had changed out of his shirt and her nightgown. She wore a pale, pink-color gown that matched her rosy cheeks. “Are you coming?”

  “Aye, I’m coming.” He trailed her inside, wishing she had on his shirt. He liked the way she looked, sexy and alluring.

  “Sit down in the middle of the floor,” she said.

  “I am not a dog.” He folded his arms across his chest and glared.

  “No, no you are not. You are a stubborn dragon. Please sit.”

  He slumped onto the floor. “What are you doing?”

  She pulled out white candles, set them on small clay bowls, and then placed them around him. “Each of these represents the four directions of Mother Earth: North, South, West, and East.” She used a tinder-box to light the candles. Fragrant flowery scents permeated the cabin. She sat in front of him and clasped his hands. “Now, close your eyes.”

  “Why?”

  “Must everything be difficult with you? You need to relax.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Relax? I almost killed my friend, and you want me to relax?”

  She clasped his hand and rubbed her thumb over his palm. Her touch filled him with a desire to kiss her. He had to admit he wanted more than kissing. He wanted to thrust his cock inside her. Relax? “This is not going to work.”

  “S’il vous plaît. Will you at least try?”

  William shook his head and closed his eyes.

  “Listen to my voice and only my voice.”

  He couldn’t believe he was doing this, but the fragrance of lavender lured him into listening to her sensuous voice. Her accent caressed his soul.

  “Breathe. Inhale. Exhale.”

  Trying to ignore his lust and failing miserably, he took a deep breath. The mixture of vanilla and sweet lavender filled his lungs and unwound his tight muscles.

  “Breathe,” Mariah whispered, her voice softer. “Clear your mind. Believe that you have the ability to talk to the beast. Trust yourself. Call to the dragon.”

  Her voice was music to his ears, a soft, seductive harpsichord playing a soothing song. An image formed in his mind and he gasped. A blue and green dragon emerged. Golden eyes stared at him. The dragon sat on his hind legs, its wings stretched out behind him.

  William swallowed. “Are you the dragon haunting me?”

  “Aye,” a guttural voice answered. “My name is Drakon, and I’m not haunting you.”

  William opened his eyes.

  Mariah smiled. “You heard him speak, oui?”

  “I can’t believe it. I see him in my mind and feel like I could reach out and touch him. He said his name is Drakon.”

  “He has a name? That is odd.”

  “Why?”

  “Grand-mère taught me all the lore of magical beasts, and this means you are not a shape-shifter.”

  “I’m not?”

  “Go ahead. Ask him.” She squeezed his hands. “Talk to him.”

  William nodded and closed his eyes again. The same image formed in his mind, and the dragon peered at him curiously.

  “What are you?”

  “The witch is correct. I am a dragon spirit trapped inside your body. When called upon, you transform into my form when I was alive. We are two entities sharing one body. You don’t have to speak out loud or close your eyes. I can read your thoughts, and you can read mine.”

  “Why do you want to bring Hannah and her father to Zuto?”

  “He promised to bring me back to life if I brought them.”

  “And you trust him?”

  The dragon hung his head. “I do not know. I’ve been dead for so long that I’m not sure the extent of demonic powers any longer. I know Maketabori could bring me back.”

  “I’ll not bring Hannah or her father to Zuto.”

  The dragon gnashed his teeth and hissed. “You’ve no choice.”

  “Aye, I do.”

  William looked to Mariah. “He wants Hannah and her father. Zuto promised to make him alive again if he brings them.”

  Mariah bit her lip. “Only Gods can bring creatures back to life. Zuto is powerful but not a god.”

  “He promised,” Drakon insisted.

  William ignored him. How the hell could the dragon believe Zuto?

  “There are many gods and goddesses. Grand-mère might be able to find one that could help Drakon. I cannot make any promises. He will have to choose who to believe.”

  “He is not answering,” William said.

  “Maybe he is considering it. What about his powers? Is there a way for you to control them?”

  “Drakon?”

  Drakon sighed. “You will help me find a way to become alive again?”

  “Aye,” William said. “Do you think I want to be half-dragon, half-man? Will you help us?”

  “For now. One of the ways to control a dragon’s power is to ensure he is not starving.”

  “You mean you were hungry when you ate the horse and terrified all those people? Not to mention you threatened to kill my friend, my brother, and Mariah.”

  “I’m not going to starve to death. In fact, I’ve never killed a human. Your feelings are within me, William. I feel what you feel. I want what you want. We are one. I’d never hurt or maim anyone you love.”

  “I don’t want to hand over Hannah and her father to Zuto. So we are not exactly the same.”

  “True.”

  “Back to your hunger—”

  “You must eat enough for a dragon before you call upon me. I eat meat. Lots of it.” His eyes glowed, and Drakon licked his lips. “I’m not controllable when I’m hungry.

  “Call upon you?”

  “Aye, you don’t need the full moon to bring me forth.”

  William opened his eyes and braced his hands on the floor.

  Mariah frowned. “What is wrong?”

  “I have to make sure the damn wyvern isn�
��t hungry.”

  “Otherwise, he is dangerous, no?”

  Mariah clasped the stone around his neck and rubbed it. Her soft fingers brushed against William’s skin, and he had an urge to suck on every one of those delicate fingers.

  “William, are you listening?”

  Concentrate damn it. “Aye, I am listening.”

  “I said to ask the dragon if the jade will help. I can make it stronger if need be.”

  He nodded. “Drakon?”

  “I heard.”

  “So?”

  “The stone will slow down my hunger, not stop it. But hunger is not the only urge I have.” The beast’s golden eyes burned brighter. “Mariah can help with this urge.”

  William stiffened. “What urge?”

  “I must mate.”

  William opened his eyes. “He said the stone will slow it down but not stop it.”

  “Even if I make it stronger? There is nothing else I can do?”

  William avoided her eyes. How could he tell her what the beast had said? He recoiled at the word—mate. Too primitive, too carnal, too lewd. “No, there is nothing else, you can do.”

  “Liar,” Drakon taunted.

  Mariah patted his knee. “Are you talking with him now? You have a vacant look.”

  “Aye,” he said.

  “There must be something else we can do. You must learn how to harvest these gifts and be in control of them. Otherwise, Natasa will find a way to use them against us.”

  “Natasa has not tasted the dragon’s essence. She is not our mate. Mariah is.”

  “Dragon’s essence?”

  “You’ve kissed Mariah, have you not?”

  William didn’t like where this was going. What had he done? “Aye? Why?”

  “She’s tasted the dragon’s essence. You’ve branded her. Once branded, she won’t be able to mate with any other male. Only we can satisfy her.”

  William moved away from Mariah and stood, afraid he’d transform into the dragon and rape the poor lass. He refused to allow anything happen to her. He headed for the crew’s quarters.

  “Where are you going?” Mariah asked. She got off the floor and hurried over.

  “I need some air.”

  She clasped his arm. “We are not finished yet.”

  Her soft touch flamed his desire, and he wanted to kiss those ruby lips and run his hands over her curvy body. Since talking to the dragon, his need for her had grown. Had he unleashed a power he could not control? His voice strained, he said, “Aye, we are.”

  “You want her as much as I do. You’re feeling both of our desires. Take her now.”

  “I shan’t allow a dragon to take her.”

  “My dear lad, I mate with her through you. Together, we love her. Only in human form can we mate.

  She swiped his hair away from his face and edged closer, her curves brushing against his arm. He wanted to rip off her new dress. He wanted to bury his head between her breasts and suckle her nipples. He sucked in his breath and gripped the cloth door tight. No.

  “Aye,” Drakon said.

  “William talk to me, s’il vous plaît.”

  He waved his arm and pushed her away. “Don’t touch me.”

  She flinched and put her hands behind her back. “I am sorry that a witch’s touch is so distasteful.”

  William snorted. She was wrong. He craved her touch.

  “If you don’t mate with her soon,” Drakon warned. “My hunger shall grow, and soon, all the meat in the world won’t prevent me from destroying all the Caribbean, including the ones you love.”

  “Maybe I will seek out Ronan—”

  William growled and seized her shoulders. “You promised you would not.”

  She opened her mouth to say something, but he didn’t want to listen to why she preferred Ronan over him. She was his. If she sought Ronan out, he feared for Ronan’s life. He kissed her hard, wanting to punish her for breaking her promise, and waited for her to protest. She surprised him with clutching his shoulders and pressing her body against him.

  His resolve was breaking. He did not know how long he could resist the beautiful temptation. Sharon’s sweet face flashed into his mind and ravishing guilt filled him. He was betraying her memory. ’Twas his fault she was dead. He’d put her at risk and now he put another woman at risk to satisfy his own lust.

  He pushed Mariah way and leaned his head on hers, trying to summon his strength to resist her, to keep her safe.

  She cupped his face. “Why do you deny what we both want?”

  Drakon chanted, “Take her. Take her. Take her.”

  The words rang in William’s ears, urging him to give in. His blood pumped harder. He wanted Mariah, wanted her like no other woman, including Sharon. He winced. How could he think that about his dead wife? He’d loved her, killed for her.

  He stuffed his fisted hands in his pockets. He couldn’t be alone with Mariah; the enticement was too strong. He stepped away.

  “We need to get back up on deck.”

  “No, wait.” Mariah clasped his arm. “We are not done yet.”

  Her soft touch chipped away at his fraying will. “Aye, we are.”

  “William, you took the first step in speaking to the dragon. Now, you need to learn to meditate.”

  “Mediate?”

  “Not me-di-ate, med-i-tate. You need to learn to be calm.”

  “I am calm.”

  She chuckled. “Calm? No, I do not think so, monsieur. You are still angry. When you were kissing me, you cracked my back.”

  Damn. William whirled her around and ran his hand down her back. “I’m so sorry. Does this hurt?”

  “I am teasing you.” She peered over her shoulder. “Maybe even get a smile on your handsome face.”

  “’Tis not a laughing matter. What the hell will meditating do?”

  “Nothing,” Drakon whispered. “Only mating will solve this problem.”

  Grand. Now that he’d started talking to the dragon, Drakon refused to be silent.

  Rough laughter answered his thought.

  “If Drakon is filled with anger, then it will be easy for Natasa to control him. You have to learn to summon him.”

  “Aye, he said I could.”

  “Oui, but you need to summon him without being angry. If you summon Drakon when you are angry, you will transform into a raging dragon. You have to learn to control your anger, your hate, your fear.”

  William stiffened. “I’m not afraid. I’m a pirate. Pirates don’t fear.”

  She reached up and clasped his cheek, her thumb caressing his skin. “Everyone experiences fear, William. You have summoned him with your mind. Now, you need to practice calling him calmly to transform into a dragon.”

  He groaned at her velvety touch, pushing back the urge to wrap his arms around her and kiss her. He’d infected her with dragon’s essence.

  “You make it sound like something evil,” Drakon grumbled.

  William wanted to silence Drakon. Maybe dragons didn’t think the essence was bad, but he did. ’Twas his fault. “No.” He clutched her hand and slowly removed it from his cheek.

  She edged closer, tilting her head with parted rosy lips and inviting him to taste her. “You need to trust me. I can teach you,” she whispered. “Drakon is not your enemy.”

  He inhaled her intoxicating feminine smell, and his gut tightened. He ached to run his fingers through her dark hair, to taste those honeyed lips again and—God forbid—his cock ached to plunge deep inside her.

  Drakon roared, “Give into temptation.”

  William’s jaw clamped tight, and he struggled to stay in control. “Aye, he is. I shan’t summon him and put you or anyone else in danger. I’m done.”

  “Where are you going?”

  He stormed out of Mariah’s makeshift chamber, needing air and space.

  “William,” she called.

  He hurried faster. He should hand her over to Ronan. Drakon howled inside him. He grimaced. Who was he kidding? He’d
rip his friend apart if he took any other liberties with Mariah.

  On deck, he headed for Kane, who stood at the stern, peering through a spyglass. “Kane?”

  Hannah stood by his brother’s side, her hand on his arm. She had freely chosen Kane. Kane’s vampire powers didn’t force her to love. William couldn’t live with Mariah only loving him due to a bloody spell that he had unknowingly cast upon her. He wanted her to give herself freely like Hannah had Kane or his mother had his father. Or like Sharon. Even if Mariah said she loved him, how could he believe her?

  Sharon had been a class above him and was destined to marry a wealthy earl her brother had chosen for her. She’d detested the earl, who was twice her age and a known womanizer, but her brother lusted for the man’s connections. Sharon had cared for none of it and would not be her brother’s willing pawn. ’Twas one of the many reasons William had loved her. They’d had plans for a simple life back in Ireland. He had saved enough money to reclaim his father’s farm. Raise sheep again. Sharon only wanted to be his wife and mother to his children. She wanted to escape the endless balls and parties.

  But she made the mistake of confiding to her best friend—Melissa Hamilton. Rumors had it that she was a witch. Neither he nor Sharon had believed the gossip. Another deadly mistake.

  A few days before, Melissa had thrown herself at William, claiming that they were destined to be together. He had spurred her. He should have known better. Melissa’s enemies tended to experience misfortunes.

  If only the damn ship to Ireland had been ready to sail, Sharon might still be alive. Melissa had poisoned Sharon’s brother with tales of disgrace, and he had hunted them to their hotel. His strength was unreal. He was at least twenty years older than William and had always been frail. But not that night. That night, he’d possessed the strength of ten men. He’d broken down the oak door. His brown eyes were solid black, his teeth unusual long. Not a vampire’s, more like an alligator’s. He had tossed William around like he was a little boy then beaten him to a bloody mess. William’s blows didn’t even slow him down.

  Before William passed out, Sharon’s brother attacked her. He’d tried to get up, but his limbs refused to move, as if an invisible presence penned him to the floor. Melissa stood in the doorway, laughing. She’d actually laughed.

  He’d struggled to move while she held up a doll that looked like him. He hadn’t realized the significance then. The rumors had been true. Her nanny had been from the Caribbean and practiced voodoo and taught Melissa dark spells.