A Pirate's Revenge (Legends of the Soaring Phoenix) by M.L. Guida Read Free Book Online Page A

glare, not caring if his words cut Kane. He would have sent Hannah back to England, far away from this nightmare, no matter how much he wanted her. But Hannah hadn’t chosen him, she’d chosen Kane. 
    “I do not have anything to say about this?” Mariah asked.
    Kane and William turned, and Mariah stood with her now clean hands on her hips. William didn’t know how much she’d overhead and opened his mouth to reprimand her for acting like a spy but shut it. With her tilted chin and fierce glare, she was going to walk into danger like Sharon and Hannah. Sharon had lost her life, and Hannah was in danger of losing hers. He’d be damned if he’d let Mariah make the same mistake.
    Mariah pressed her lips together. “You underestimate my power, oui ?”
    William and Kane glanced at each other. Warning bells clanged in William’s ears. “You can’t defeat a demon.”
    “Do you not listen? Grand-mère has the gift of sight. She has seen the demon and knows his plans. He wants to transform Lark into a warlock. I am the only one who can stop him.”    
    Was the lass delusional? “Lass, your g rand-mère is daft if she thinks you can defeat a demon. Zuto has your brother under control, and he’s a prisoner. And Palmer would like nothing better than a female slave.”
    Mariah folded her arms across her chest. “I can take care of myself.”
    William wanted to shake her. She had no idea what waited for her out on the open seas.
    “I will not leave my brother to be tortured and brutalized,” she said.
    “You’re not coming with us, and that’s final.”
    She marched to William, and he couldn’t help but admire her fierce determination. “You are not my lord and master.” She turned to Kane. “Well, Capitaine ?”
    Ronan stretched his arms over his head and arched his back. “What’s going on?”
    Mariah’s mouth dropped open, and a glimpse of desire flashed in her eyes, then vanished. William cringed. Of course, she’d be interested in Ronan. Most lasses swooned over him. Why did he care if they courted? He’d just met the lass. But bloody hell, he did care.
    “William does not think I am strong enough to defeat a demon.”
    Ronan’s brows furrowed. “’Tis not true. Without you, we’ll fail.”
    “You’re a bleedin’ eejit , Ronan,” William said. “You’re going to put the lass in danger. Do you want her to end up like her brother?”
    “I will not abandon my brother. Not when I can help.”
    William’s throat tightened at her small voice. He wished he could convince her to stay here, out of sight. But if she was bent on coming on this nightmare voyage, then she needed to know what monsters waited for her. “You could suffer the same fate, Mariah. The magic possessing Lark is dark, straight from hell. You can’t help him. You must stay here.”
    “Then you condemn my brother to die.”
    William stood toe-to-toe with her, his full height dwarfing her petite form. In his most menacing voice, he said, “You’ll stay here where you’ll be safe.”
    “No.” She pushed William.
    He fell backward, but easily righted himself. He was surprised at her strength. Not that she could topple him over, but she was no weak female, either.
    “I will follow, you if I have to,” she said.
    Doc stumbled to his feet. “Lass, stop. You done hurt him.”
    “Like bloody hell she has,” William grumbled.
    “ Mon Dieu ! Then tell him I am not a prisoner.”
    “You’re not coming with us,” William said.
    “Capt’n, William’s wrong,” Ronan insisted. “Lark said she can help. Give the lass a chance.”
    William studied Ronan. Of course, Ronan would take the lass’s side. On board the Fiery Damsel , the stories Lark had told Ronan of Mariah kept Ronan alive. He had been determined to find Mariah, save Lark, and meet the woman of his dreams. William should stand aside and let Ronan court her, but he couldn’t deny he was attracted to the lass and couldn’t pass up the chance to test her