A Pirate's Revenge (Legends of the Soaring Phoenix) (41 page)

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?”

He raised his eyebrow. “You’re not afraid, are you?”

“A little,” she said.

He raised her hand and kissed her knuckles. “You’re my life. I’d never drop you. You want me to go on this fool errand with you. Now you must believe in me.”

She trembled beneath his touch. ‘I do,” she whispered.

“Grand,” he said. ‘So—”

“Wait,” she said. “I need to get some items.”

They quickly returned to the crew’s quarters. Mariah wasted no time adding items to her satchel.

“What’s in your bag?” Ronan asked.

“Since we are going to face a demon, we’ll need charged stones.” She handed purple stones to Doc and Ronan. “William already has a one.”

William instinctively patted the jade stone around his neck. He was surprised it didn’t disappear when he changed into a dragon. But then again, it was charged by Morganna Fey, and knowing the crafty witch, she’d would have cast a spell to prevent it from vanishing like his clothes.

“Very well then, let’s go,” he said.

He gripped Mariah’s hand, and together, they walked up on deck with Ronan and Doc trailing behind, grumbling. They were going to face their greatest enemies, but he couldn’t help grinning at the unease emitting from the two vampire pirates, despite the throbbing of his bruised face.

William released Mariah’s hand and stepped away. He removed his clothes, handing them to Mariah who stuffed them into her bag. Ronan glowered, and William glared back. ’Twasn’t his fault dragons didn’t wear clothes.

He raised his head and lifted his arms toward the sky. “Dragon, come forth.”

Tingles rushed over him, and the hair rose on the back of his neck. Drakon roared. Heat sw
ept over him, muscles rippled, and wings sprung out. 

“I can’t believe how fast he can change,” Ronan murmured.

“’Tis because his power’s growing,” Mariah said. She urged him closer. “Come on. We need to get on his back.”

Doc shook his head. “He isn’t strong enough to carry all of us.”

“Craven. I can change my size.”

“You can?”

“Watch.”

With that, William grew larger than he ever had before. Wings spread out wider, pushing the sails. Body swelled, talons enlarged, nails lengthened. Mariah, Doc, and Ronan stepped away, their eyes wide and mouths open. His long shadow covered them, blocking out the sun. The
Phoenix
groaned under his weight. Her stern sank deeper into the sea, and the bow tilted upward. William growled and swiped his tail, knocking Doc onto his arse. Ronan put his hands on his hips and laughed. “Apparently, he is strong enough, Doc.”

Mariah mounted William’s back, and Ronan sat behind her. Doc mumbled and slid behind them. William’s eyes widened at their light weight. They were more like heavy blankets tossed onto his back than two full grown men and a petite woman.

Mariah linked her arms around William’s neck as he leaned back onto his haunches and soared into the air. Wind and clouds rushed over him, and the island’s beach drew near. But William wanted to circle the island to map the terrain, to search for Kane as well as his enemies.

Legs squeezed on his ribs, and he glanced over his shoulder. Mariah held fast, and he thought he caught a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. Perhaps she might even enjoy the ride under different circumstances. But the other two were, well…Ronan, with his eyes bulging, clung to Mariah for dear life. Doc had his arms wrapped around Ronan’s neck. Ronan’s face was  turning shades of red and purple.

“Doc,” Ronan gasped. “You’re chokin’ me, ye bloody
eejit
.”

“Donna talk to me,” Doc said.  A hard slap hit William’s side. “Put us down, ye flyin’ lizard.”

William snorted, and black smoke puffed out of his nostrils. He had wanted to answer Doc and tell him his plan, but he only huffed like a squealing pig. Thick trees, their branches intertwining with each other, hugged together, protecting what lay underneath. He wished he had the ability to peer through the dense foliage. Colorful birds cawed and flew from treetop to treetop. A waterfall spilled down a rocky mountain into a lake. He recognized it. The same damn fresh water lake that Zuto had cursed and tricked Kane and his men into drinking.

He sailed toward where the trees were less dense. In the clearing was a village of grass huts. Natives pointed and yelled, but there was no sign of the demons or Kane and his men. He circled the island, and ’twas smaller than some of the nearby islands. On the opposite side of the island, the
Fiery Damsel
was berthed in a cove, her sails flattened.

“Palmer,” Doc said, hate dripped from the single word.

“Please, Doc,” Ronan choked. “Loosen your grip. I donna want to pass out and fall off.”

William swung around and headed back to where the
Phoenix’s
long boats were beached. At least he had located the
Fiery Damsel
, but where the devil was Kane and the crew?

“There,” Mariah said. “On the beach, next to the long boats.”

Zuto waited for them as if he knew this was where they would land.

“You have not told her yet,”
Drakon said.

This time, William wouldn’t make the same mistake of allowing a demon to cloud his judgment and get his love killed. He landed north of Zuto in a small cove and his three passengers slid off his back.

Mariah squeezed his neck. “What are you doing? We must meet with him,
no
?”

Doc wobbled. “Thank God. Solid ground.”

Ronan rubbed his throat. “What the hell is wrong with you, Doc? You nearly choked me to death.”

“Flyin’ is for birds, not men,” Doc said.

“What are you babbling about?” Ronan asked. “
We
turn into bats.”

“But I’m done in control.” 

William’s muscles and bones contorted, and he convulsed. Sun beat down on his naked skin, and his feet sank into the white sand. He was a man again. He swayed on the beach and put his hand on his forehead. “’Tis so quick it makes me dizzy.”

“
Jaaysus
, O’Brien,” Ronan said. “D’ye not have any decency?”

He snatched the knapsack and tossed it at William. “Get dressed, ye damn lizard.”

William wanted to counter that Mariah had already seen him naked, but he would not embarrass her. He stepped into his trousers. “Happy,
vampire
?”

Ronan crossed his arms over his chest. “Aye, I am.”

“Will you bulls stop?” Doc glowered.

William tilted his head at the jungle. “You two go ahead and scout it out. We need to find out where we are.”

Ronan looked between William and Mariah. “And what are you and her going to do?”

“I need to talk to Mariah. Alone.”

Doc pulled out his sword. “Come on, Ronan.”

Ronan didn’t move. Mariah walked over to him and kissed him on the cheek. “Be safe.”

He lowered his head and followed Doc into the dense jungle.

“So—”

William grabbed her shoulders and kissed her hard, desperate to taste her one more time, knowing that this might be the last time he would share her sweetness. Her tongue blended with his, and she held him tight, running her fingers through his hair. Desire surged through him, and he wanted her, wanted her one more time. Gathering his will, he reluctantly released her.

“We need to go, William. This is not the time.”

He smiled at the disappointment in her husky voice. “Aye, it is.” He tilted her chin and stared into those violet eyes. “Promise me you’ll stay alive. No matter what happens you must fight to survive.”

She furrowed her brows. “Why?”

“Because I love you.”

“Now isn’t that sweet?”

William bristled at the sarcastic tone. He looked over Mariah’s dark head and met Zuto’s sardonic red eyes. The demon strolled out of the jungle. His long dark shadow blanketed William, and spidery tingles swept down his spine. Every hair on his body stood at attention, and his heart quickened.

Zuto did not possess any weapons and only wore his loin cloth.

But William wasn’t fooled. Zuto possessed the power to materialize any weapon he chose and could kill them with a mere gesture of his hand. 

“Zuto,” Mariah whispered. Fear resonated in her voice.

William slowly shielded her behind him. “Why did you summon us?”

Zuto cast his gaze over him. The demon’s height never failed to amaze William. With his large stance, Zuto was a Goliath, taller than Amadi who towered over most men.

“To make a deal, of course,” Zuto said.

William wasn’t fooled by those whimsical words and dread dropped to his toes. “What kind of deal?”

“One you can’t refuse, dragon.”   

“I’m waiting,” William said.

“Careful. I’ve had enough insolence from humans.”

Mariah squeezed his arm, and William kept his mouth shut. If the demon made a move to hurt or take her, he’d attack.

“Take her and run fool,” Drakon screamed. “Mariah didn’t utter the words back to you. The love isn’t strong enough. Not yet.”

Terror wedged into William’s gut. Drakon was never frightened. Contemptuous, aye. Sarcastic, aye. Bold, aye. But not fearful.

Zuto raised his eyebrow. “Do not worry, dragon. I’ve no intentions of killing or maiming you. At least, not now.”

“What is it that you want?” Mariah whispered.

“I need a dragon and a witch’s help.”

William’s muscles knotted. “Our help?”

“I will give you Hannah and her insufferable father on one condition.”

Deep scratches, some fresh, some healed, marred the demon’s chest. Who had done that to him? Someone more powerful than Zuto. Lark? No, a warlock could not be more powerful than Zuto.

William rubbed his chin. “What?” 

Zuto strolled around them, and William couldn’t help but notice ’twasn’t scratches that marked his body. Lashes covered his broad back and thighs. He glanced at the jungle’s tree line. What lurked in there that could punish a demon? He shifted Mariah away from Zuto, keeping her beyond the demon’s reach, and moved her down the beach.

“You must go back to Coaybay,” Zuto said. “and seize the soul catcher. ’Tis merely a black stone, and ’tis inside Maketabori’s altar.”

William found his courage. “Face the god of the Underworld? Violate his temple? Why would we do this?”

“I didn’t say you would face him. I said you would steal the stone. It contains Lark’s soul. With it, you’ll be able to change him back to a witch. And then I will free Drakon from being trapped inside you, O’Brien.”

In William’s mind, Drakon shook and flapped his wings. “
Freedom!”

“Drakon, do you think he’s telling the truth about making you whole again?”

Drakon stopped flying and hung his head. “
I don’t know. But what choice do we have?”

Mariah slipped around William and rushed over to Zuto. “What do you want with my brother’s soul?”

“Damn it, Mariah,” William growled. He yanked her away.

Zuto folded his arms across his massive chest. “I have no intention of keeping his soul, if that’s what you’re worried about, witch.”

William didn’t like this, not one bit. The demon was luring them into a trap. “How will the soul catcher free Drakon?”

“I can suck his soul out of you, which will allow me to give him his body back. I can’t do it with him trapped inside you.”

Uneasiness sunk into William’s toes. He studied Zuto, but the demon gave nothing away in his stoic face. “Then why—”  

“My reasons are my own.”

William narrowed his eyes and thought about breathing fire onto the bastard. “What if we refuse?”

Zuto gave him an evil smile. The wind blew harder, the waves crashed against the beach, and clouds covered the sun. William staggered backward, and Mariah clasped his arms.

“Then you die,” Zuto said.