A Pirate's Revenge (Legends of the Soaring Phoenix) (33 page)

“’Tis Zuto or Natasa’s,” he said. Condemnation rang thick in his voice.

She stiffened. “No, ’tis not demonic.”

William tightened his arm. “Then whose is it?”

Thunder clashed again. The rain pounded harder. Lines snapped and flapped freely in the wind. She swallowed hard. “’Tis Lark’s.”

William turned her around and gripped her shoulders tight. “He’s a warlock?”

Concern flared in his eyes. “’Tis not his fault.”

“He has the power to kill you.”

“No, he does not,” she lied. “’Tis my destiny to save my brother.”

He whirled her around and wrapped his arms around her, pinning her to his hard chest. His heart beat fast against her back. “Kane, the lass will get herself killed. Lock her in the brig.”

Lightning crashed, and the foremast splintered, bits of wood fell onto the deck and into the sea. Fire sparked onto the billowing sail, and a stream of fiery red burned through the canvas. Hannah darted between running men. She faced her palms toward the sea, and a wave of water washed over the burning sail, dousing it.

Amadi yelled, “Capt’n, off da port side. ’Tis da
Fiery Damsel
.”

Kane pulled out his spyglass. “Aye, there she is. No storms are around her.”

“
Oui
, Lark has the power to call upon the elements. This is the beginning,
Capitaine
,” Mariah said. “Hannah cannot fight Lark herself. He is a warlock and will soon destroy her.”

“Then—”

“Lark is aboard the
Damsel
. I can feel him. Vampires are useless against a warlock. Your ship will sink, and your crew will either drown or be captured. With my help, you will have a chance to save your crew and your ship,
oui
?”

William hissed into her ear. “We’re mated, remember? You said our combined powers are what will work against black magic. So, your magic won’t work without me.”

Mated? God, he made it sound like they were animals, not lovers. 

Kane held her gaze, the wind whipping his hair around him. The rain pummeled against them, turning into cold, icy sleet. 

Mariah tilted her chin and waited, afraid for his answer.

Hannah rushed over to Kane. Her face was ghastly pale, and blood dripped from her nose down her lip. “More fires on the deck,” she panted. “I cannot keep up.”

“Kane, don’t do this to me,” William said. “I can’t lose Mariah, not like…” His voice trailed.

“Like Sharon,” Hannah finished.

William tightened his grip again, and ’twas as if an octopus ensnared her. Mariah struggled and gasped for breath. “William, I can stop this. Let me help,
s’il vous plaît
.”

The wind howled, and waves crashed onto the deck. Men slipped and fell, fighting not to be pulled into the churning sea.

“Give her a chance, Kane,” Hannah said. “Please.”

She raced away to the edge. She held out her hands, drawing upon her power and trying to save a man that had been whirled into the sea.

“Let Mariah help,” Kane said.

“You bastard,” William growled. “She’s my woman to protect. I’ll not let you put her in danger like you did Hannah.”

“Fool,” Kane argued. “Do you think I wanted to put Hannah in the middle of this war?” He gestured toward her.  “I had no choice. Without her, Palmer would have defeated us. War is never fair, William. Mariah’s brother is aboard the
Damsel
and bent on destroying her.”

“I’ll never let him harm her,” William said. 

Mariah glanced over her shoulder. His face turned grim as fear swam in those eyes. He was afraid for her. He cared? “William—”

He untangled his arms and gripped her shoulders. “No. I can’t go through the pain of losing…”

Thunder clashed and Mariah could not hear his words. Words she desperately wanted to hear. “I will not die.”

He turned his head. “Sharon argued she wouldn’t die the night before
her
brother slayed her.” His fingers bit deeper into her flesh. “Don’t you understand? I can’t go through that hell again. Not with you. I couldn’t—”

His voice cracked, and when she opened her mouth to reassure him, he kissed her hard. ’Twas not a gentle kiss, but one filled with hope and fear. He wrapped his arms around her, crushing her to him, and she clung to him, tasting the male protectiveness, indulging in it.

Men screamed, and rain hit them harder. William broke off the kiss and wiped a lock of hair off her face.   

“We must go,” she said. “Before ’tis too late. Lark’s powers are growing stronger, darker.”

“Promise me you’ll survive.”

“I will,” she whispered and hoped to God she was telling the truth. That they would both survive. “I wish you would believe in my magic.”

“I don’t believe in any magic.”

She sighed and bit back tears of frustration.

He clasped her chin and tilted it toward him. “But I believe in you.” He kissed her lips lightly. 

She blinked, not sure she had heard right. He believed in her? 

“I’ll not let you out of my sight,” William said. “What do you plan to do?”

She stared at his captivating lips and whispered, “Save the ship.” 

He released her chin and held her hand. “Then lead the way.”

“
Bien
,” she said and led him across the deck.  

He believed in her. Those words rolled around in her head. Hope swelled through her.

Ronan and other men carried buckets of water to put out the flames bursting out on deck. He glowered at William. A pang of hurt clutched her heart. Ronan had always had faith in her, but William’s words meant so much. Maybe she could trust William, not as a dragon, but as a man. She did not understand how those three little words chipped away at her iciness toward him, but ’twas not just sex magic. It had become something more, something special. 

She hurried toward the stairwell.

William clasped her arm, and he pulled her to him. The rain pounded his scowling face. “Where are you going?”

Despite the torrent around them, her traitorous body responded to his nearness, to his scent and touch. “I need to get to my chest.”

They ran together down the stairs to her cabin. She retrieved her wand, candle, and athame. “We have to go outside.”

“Why?”

“The spell needs to be free among the elements. For it to work, I need to be one with nature.”

“One with—” He cocked his eyebrow. “You mean naked.”

She held the spell book tighter against her chest. “
Oui
, now out of my way.” 

He blocked her path. “I’ll not let you go out there naked.”

“I can conjure a spell so the men will not see me naked, but naked I will be.” She studied him. She wanted him to love her, but he’d never trust the feeling. He’d think he only felt that way due to the bonding. “There is another way to stop it, but you will have to work with me. Decide quickly before Lark sinks us.”

He furrowed his brow and chewed on his cheek. Distrust, wariness, and fear flickered in his eyes, but he nodded.

“Well?” Mariah led the way out of her cabin and ran up the stairs. The ship rocked, and she flew into the wall. Pain gripped her shoulder.

“Damn it.” William seized her and carried her up the stairs.

“The stern,
s’il vous plaît
.”

The storm intensified, the rain blinding them. Through the swirling wind, maniacal laughter roared around them, chilling her heart. William shielded her with his body and dodged running crewmen fighting to keep the
Soaring Phoenix
afloat. Her sails flapped, and the waves hit the side of her hull harder and harder, washing up on deck. Crewmen struggled to keep from being thrown into the angry sea.

“You should go below deck,” William said. “This is too dangerous.”

“No, we can do this,” Mariah insisted. She hoped she was right. She had never gone up against a warlock before.

He stopped at the stern. Passion filled his eyes. “Now what, temptress?”

Mon Dieu! Focus.

“William, you need to blow on the candle.”  The wind whipped around her, tangling her hair in front of her eyes, and the boat tilted. She lost her footing and shifted her weight to keep from falling onto the slick deck. “Hurry please.”

“’Tisn’t possible.” He blinked and gestured up at the sky. “The storm will blow out the candle.”

“Not against dragon fire.” A gust of wind buffeted her hand, and a menacing voice hissed a chant in her ear. She gasped.  Lark. Pure evil dripped from his words. She shuddered and wiped her wet cheeks. “
Si’l vous plaît,
try. Before ’tis too late.”

William’s emerald eyes changed to a glowing gold. He nodded and blew. A soft stream of fire fanned around the wick, swirled around it, and ignited a bright flash.

The wind roared, and Mariah wobbled, but the flame grew brighter and rose higher. “Take the candle, William.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Trust me. Take it. This is not a time to argue, no?”

He took the candle and his fingers brushed over hers. “I
do
trust you.” 

She could throw her arms around his shoulders and kiss him. There was still hope for him, for
them
.

Concentrate.

“Now follow me.” She grabbed her wand and athame and held them high over her head and went to the very end of the stern. Once there, she stripped out of her dress. “Mother Isis, I call upon you to send the spirit, Akasha, to bless and protect us.”

Warmth washed away the frigidity, and the rain ceased. Tremors ran down her arm, down her torso to her toes. Power surged through her.

“The flame grew higher,” William yelled over the thunder.

“We walk in the shape of the magic star. First, Air.” She tapped her athame with her wand three times. “Earth.”

“What’s happening?”

Mariah ignored him. Her skin tingled. “Fire. Water.”

She turned around. A white glow outlined William. His shirt plastered to his skin, showing off every sculpted muscle. Black trousers outlined his thick thighs, and she could not help but be drawn to his crotch. His gold eyes burned bright. If only she could wrap her legs around his hips and impale herself on his shaft. His sudden kindness tore away her defenses. Hopefully, he meant what he said. “William, hold the candle high over your head.”

He complied, his head tilted back, his long thick hair sticking to his broad shoulders.

Shutting out sinful thoughts, she lifted her athame and tapped her wand. Each time she did, a fiery line formed along the deck, tracing a glowing silver star. “I ask the four basic elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water to send the black magic to where it came.”

“The ship,” William said.

“The flames will not burn the ship,” she answered. “Keep the candle high over your head.”

“Akasha,” she called out, her voice strong and powerful. “Protect us.” 

The flaming star shot up into the churning sky, and the outline of a silver star branded the clouds. A high pitched shriek pierced Mariah’s ears. ’Twas a hateful cry, as if someone’s heart had been ripped out. A small opening widened, and rays of golden light flowed down onto the
Soaring Phoenix.
But a black cloud rolled back in and masked the light.

“What is this?” a man called.

“More black magic,” another accused.

“’Tis the bloody witch.”

William stared up at the angry sky. “’Tis not working. Get below deck. I’ll draw him off.”

“We need to enhance the spell.”

He frowned. “What? How?”

She laid her wand on the deck and faced the doubt emanating from him. “Give me your palm.”

“Why?” He glanced up at the darkening, spinning clouds. “Get to safety.”

She cupped his face. “Listen to me.”

“You promised me you’d be safe,” he said.

“I will.” Mariah released his tense jaw. She held the athame in her hand and sliced her palm. Blood dripped onto the wood. “To save the ship, you must trust me. Now give me your hand.”

***

William blinked, stunned by his brazen witch. “My God, what are you doing? Are you trying to kill yourself?”

“No, I am not. Now put the candle down and give me your hand.” She scanned the sky above. “The demons are counting on you to give into your indecision.”

Screams raged behind them. The crew fought for their lives, and the ship tossed back and forth. Waves bashed against the ship, determined to turn the
Phoenix
onto her side. Yet he and Mariah were not sliding all over the wet deck like the crew. Magic. He did not trust it. Would never trust it. But he trusted her.

“S’il vous plaît.”
Something in her sensual voice broke through William’s indecisiveness.