“I wanted you to remember that the cross each of us bears isn’t truly the one that be on our wrists. ’Tis the one of guilt we carry inside our hearts. And while those two cut to the bone, they are nothing compared to the double-crosses of our trusted friends and family that scorch us soul deep. That is what the red jack we fly truly stands for, Mara. A fanged skull to remind us of the eternal bite that comes from such nasty treachery. And the ribbon ’round it is the captain’s eternal promise that he will never betray us. No matter what, he will keep faith and be at our backs through whatever nightmarish hell comes our way.”
“Captain!” Kat’s voice rang out from the crow’s nest high above her head, interrupting Belle’s words. “Incoming!”
So accustomed to the sea holding all their incoming threats, it took Mara a moment to realize that wasn’t what he was warning them about.
Nay, this threat came from the skies.
There was a group of dragons, and they were headed straight for them.
18
“Paden?” Cameron crawled toward her brother on trembling arms and knees that threatened to give way at any moment. He was so battered and bruised that she barely recognized him. Yet even through the misshapenness of his features and his strangely pale hair, she’d know him anywhere.
Or so she thought.
No sooner had she reached him than he looked up with coal black eyes that were shot through with bloodred veins. He hissed at her, baring fangs.
Shrieking, she pulled back. “What have they done to you!”
He let out an inhuman growl as he slid across the floor after her like a rabid dog intent upon her utter destruction.
Terrified and unwilling to hurt him, she shrank into the corner and held her arms up to protect herself as best she could. Tears welled in her eyes. She whispered a prayer of protection. “In the name of St. Michael, dear God, deliver me from evil. Preserve me from violence and set Your shield around my body. In the name of the Father. The Son. And the Holy Spirit! Please, Paden, please! Mercy!”
His breathing ragged, he paused an instant before he would have ripped out her throat. Drool dripped from his fangs to her neck while he hovered so close that his rancid breath scorched her flesh. “Cammy?” Her name was an anguished whisper.
“Aye, brother.”
He let out a sob so deep that it seemed to come from the very bowels of his soul. His body shaking, he gathered her into his arms and clutched her tight against him while he wept tears of blood.
“Ah, how precious and sweet.”
Paden tightened his grip on her to the point of pain. A heartbeat later, his wings sprang from his back. When he tried to rise, the demons grabbed his chains and dragged him away from her, then slammed him to the ground.
She tried to help, but the voluptuous woman in bloodred armor used her powers to drive her back against the wall. And held her there with an ease that infuriated Cameron.
Tsking, she smirked. “Now, now, little spawns of Michael, we can’t be having any of this.”
“Let her go, Gadreyal!” Paden growled. “This has nothing to do with her!”
“Oh, but it does. And had you wanted her left alone, you should have cooperated. Now…” She let out an evil, insidious laugh. “We shall play a little game called Plant the Seed. One of you will carry it, but neither of you will know who it is. At least not until it takes root and grows to such a beast that it can’t be defeated and it’s too late to be stopped.” Her laugh echoed in the room. “Aye. I’ll have the head of Dón-Dueli, and the spawn of Michael will be the one who brings it to me.”
Her laughter died an instant later when a demon manifested behind her and whispered in her ear. “What?” she growled.
“Aye, my lady. They’ve broken through and are approaching the gate.”
Her features turned to stone. “Gather my army. ’Tis time we returned Thorn’s Deadmen to the hell that spawned them.”
* * *
Using his thoughts, Devyl commanded the raven to set them down on the sea barely a heartbeat before the dragons began their vicious attacks. Their incendiary breath lit the sky as they sought to sink the ship. Fireballs exploded all around.
In a bright flash of light, the raven transformed back into Simon Dewing, which startled the rest of the crew, as they realized Devyl had used the witch’s feathers for a spell to enlarge their striker’s alternate incarnation. As a shapeshifter, Simon had come in handy a number of times for certain tasks. But never more so than today.
Mara smirked at him. “You could have told us who the bird was, you know.”
Winking, he cracked a rare smile at her. “And miss the look upon all your faces? What be the fun in that, love? Got to have some enjoyment in me death.”
With a deep laugh, Simon moved to stand ready with Kat and Roach. He draped his arm around Kat, who shook his head at him and rolled his eyes.
