Valynda hesitated as she wondered what Mara saw that gave her such concern. “Aye. Why?”
“Just …” Her voice trailed off while she glanced around the darkness, where blood was smeared all about. “You seemed a little bloodthirsty there. Much more so than usual. Been hanging with Kalder a bit?”
She snorted at the mention of their ship’s striker. He could be a bit intense in a fight as he’d been one of their rougher members.
Especially now that he’d claimed Cameron as his bride. While he’d been protective of the crew before, he’d jumped to a whole new level of insane protection after his marriage. One that had only intensified with his wife’s pregnancy.
Before Valynda could comment on their similarities, a portal appeared beside them. The light was almost blinding in the darkness. Mara summoned her sharp wooden daggers again as Valynda made ready to attack whatever new creature was coming for them. Though to be honest, she was growing a bit weary of the battle. Why couldn’t something nice come out of the portal for once? Like maybe soft butterflies.
A piece of pie or music?
Just as Valynda made ready to rush and attack whatever new monster hell had decided to spit out at them now, she paused to see an incredibly tall, handsome demon stepping through. One with red, evil eyes and coal-black hair that begged for a woman’s fingers to be twisting through its curls. More than that, his lethal predator’s lope said he was here to kick the ass of anyone foolish enough to cross his path.
And Valynda had seen him do that enough to know he was more than able to make good on that threat.
Mara ran into his arms with a delighted cry.
With a deep grunt of relief, Captain Bane scooped up his wife in one arm, while holding out his sword with the other, ready to stab and kill whatever creature had made her so hysterical. He scowled in confusion as there was nothing left to confront him, then paused as he caught sight of Valynda, who watched them with an amused smirk.
Behind him, Blackheart Bart and William Death slowed down their rush to fight as they realized they’d missed the threat, too.
Stepping forward, Valynda clapped Bart on his broad shoulder. “Day late. Pound short, gentlemen. We ladies already took care of the nasty beasties. Thanks for not being here.”
With a mane of long brown hair that he wore tied back in a tight queue, Bart had the bluest eyes of any man Valynda had ever known. And like Xuri, he fancied jewelry to such an extent that he wore a ring upon each finger. What was more, he’d not only pierced both ears, but also his left eyebrow, where he wore a small gold hoop.
Even so, he was still unbelievably handsome. Same as William, what with his black hair and hazel blue eyes that had seduced many a maid past her common sense and out of her knickers. Much to the maid’s later chagrin. And to hear Will tell it, his too, many times.
Those men were just three of the reasons being a member of theSea Witchwasn’t so bad. She had to give it to Thorn, he’d picked a mighty handsome crew for this venture. Or perhaps that was the thing about evil.
It liked to corrupt pretty things.
Come to the dark side, we have luscious booty.
Bart tsked. “Are you telling me that we’re too late to play hero? What good are we then?”
“Not a bit, mate.” Will winked. “It’s what I keep telling you.” He sheathed his sword before he grinned at Valynda. “Are you all right, milady?”
“Aye. Thank you.”
The three of them ignored the captain and his wife, who were locked in a bit of an awkward display of affection. So much so that Bart began to whistle and clap his hands together. A bit loudly, as if trying to separate them, and remind them that they weren’t alone in the dreary darkness.
“Thinking we should head back to the ship, eh?” Will volunteered loudly when Bart’s tactic didn’t work.
Bart nodded. “Definitely.” He passed a meaningful look toward the captain and Mara. “Anyone got a crowbar?” He smirked. “Bucket of cold water?”
Will let out a scoffing snort. “I dare you, mate.”
She couldn’t agree more, as such a move would be all kinds of suicide. Not to mention, she didn’t want to dawdle, as more jumbie friends could come back at any moment.
“We’ll just leave them to it, shall we?” After all, Captain Bane was more than capable of dealing with anything their enemies could toss at them.
With one last look, Will led the way back toward the portal.
Valynda didn’t hesitate to follow. Last thing she needed right now was to see a happy, loving couple. That only reminded her of how badly Xuri had done her and how much she wanted to cut off a piece of his anatomy and hand it to him.
With her regards.
Bloody bastard.
