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

charms.  
    “C apitaine ?” Mariah asked. “If Lark changes into a warlock, you will remain a vampire and your brother a dragon. The choice is yours.”
    “Welcome to the crew, lass,” Kane said.
    “Damn you, Kane,” William grumbled. “Do you know what you’re doing?”
    “ Oui , he does,” Mariah said. “We are wasting time. We need to move now.”
    She was hiding something. William grabbed her arm. “Why?”
    “Because before we set sail, we need to visit my Grand-mère .”
    Not satisfied, William tightened his grip. “Why?”
    “Ow! You are hurting me.”
    He dropped his hand. “Sorry.”
    She rubbed her arm. “Because Grand-mère can give you a clean pair of clothes and she needs to give you something.”
    William took a step toward her. “A witch? What the hell does she need to give me?”
    “She would not tell me.”
    Suspicion gnawed at William. The last witch had refused to disclose a secret, and it had cost Sharon her life. “What games are you playing, wench?” he asked.
    She grabbed Kane’s arm. “Please, Capitaine , ’tis important.”
    “I trust Lark, Capt’n,” Ronan said. “If what she says is important, then ’tis important.”
    Kane nodded. “Aye, we will visit your Grand-mère , lass.”
    William scowled. “You’re making another mistake, Kane.”
    Mariah grabbed her satchel. “Come on. Follow me. Our house is not far.”
    William swore and followed the reckless little witch outside.  He couldn’t help but admire the sway of her arse. She was beautiful when angry. Hell, she was beautiful when she wasn’t angry. He wanted to make her smile, yet she wanted to come aboard the Soaring Phoenix and stretch out her beautiful neck for a demon to cleave it off her stubborn shoulders.
    Her boots crunched on the pebbles and crushed twigs. Branches of pine trees rustled as the sea breeze blew around them. The sun played hide and seek with the branches overhead.  Despite the sun and the shirt around his shoulders, William shivered. With each step, his back throbbed.
    “William, you’re going to slice your feet up more than a butcher dices up a pig,” Kane said. “Let us carry you.”
    Kane and Ronan came on either side of him.
    Mariah glanced over her shoulder. “What happened to the boots I brought?”
    “Too small,” William said. “I don’t need to be carried. My feet are fine.” Surprisingly he walked over the sharp rocks without cutting his feet and didn’t stumble once. ’Twas as if his skin was made of leather. He waved his hand. “Lead on.”
    “Humph,” Mariah said and headed down the winding ledge.
    Ronan hurried to catch up with her.
    ’Twasn’t his damn feet that hurt. ’Twas his back. Each step he took on the rocky trail jarred his spine. He bit his cheek to keep from focusing on the throbbing pain.
    Walk, just walk.
    After a few feet, the ledge widened. Kane and Ronan passed William, while Sean and Doc brought up the rear. The trail wound downward, and the trees thickened. A stream bubbled next to him, and William licked his dry lips.
    Sean came up alongside him. “Do you need to rest?”
    Sweat trickled into William’s eyes, and the shirt tied around his neck stuck to skin. He wiped his forehead and sat on a large white boulder next to the stream, catching his breath. “Aye, my back aches.” He lifted his foot and examined it. No red marks. No cuts. No bruises. Why? Was it due to being a dragon?
    “Kane,” Sean called. Kane, Ronan, and Mariah stopped.  
    “You’re pale, brother,” Kane said.
    William shook his head and closed his eyes. “I’m fine. Just…give…me…a minute”
    He heard her approach before her gentle fingers wrapped around his arm. “Are you bleeding?”
    He looked up. Large violet eyes stared at him with concern. He could drown in their purple depths.
    “No,” he whispered.
    Doc lifted the back of William’s sticky shirt. “Da blood is seepin’ through da bandages. How much further?”
    “’Tis only a half