Identical in looks he might be, but he was definitely not her lover. This one held a sinister air and aura about him that wasn’t quite right, and it wasn’t just the black overcoat and breeches he wore. Or the black tricorne that was decorated in red and gold.
This man didn’t carry himself the same. He bled pure malice and discontent. While Xuri drew her in like a beacon in a storm, this man repelled her more than Benjamin had. Her very flesh crawled in his presence.
“Who are you?”
“Don’t you know?”
“Qeenan,” she breathed the obvious answer. Baron Kriminal. The man who’d killed Nibo out of petty jealousy.
Her blood ran cold.
“What are you doing here?” He’d never been interested in meeting with her before. Indeed, he’d gone out of his way to avoid her entirely.
And now she was grateful that he’d never shown her any interest, except for the fact that she was now meeting him.
Why?
“I heard a rumor that you were back and I was curious. What is it aboutyouthat my brother finds so damn intriguing that he can’t stay away? But then I’ve never understood his mind or his taste.” He raked her with an offensive sneer.
Valynda scowled at the ogre.Now? He had to ask about this now?
“As you can see, I’m a little busy.” She started to leave.
Qeenan grabbed her arm. “It’s just a few demons. Surely you’re not afraid.”
She twisted away from him. “Not afraid. The word isbusy, as in my hands are full.” To illustrate the point, she held out her right hand that had a sword and the left one that held her skirt.“Literally.”
Valynda took a step back and gave him a cold smile. “Now if you don’t mind, I think you can understand why I don’t want to turn my back on you. So … if you’ll leave?”
His gaze turned cold at her dig against him for his unwarranted attack on Nibo. “You should be careful who you insult, little girl.”
“Don’t call me little girl.” She tsked. “You asked what it was Xuri saw in me, Mr. Kriminal. That’s it. It’s my fearlessness and audacity. The fact that I’m willing to call things like I see them.”
“And you see me as a killer?”
“That is who and what you are, is it not? A creature who struck his brother when his back was turned and he was unarmed?”
He actually smiled at that. “That I am. Killing is the one thing I’m good at.”
“Then perhaps you should pursue new hobbies. Not sure that’s much of a bragging point, but very well. Take your win where you can.”
“Ah,chère,” he said in a tone that was so close to Nibo’s it made the hairs on the back of her neck rise. “Be glad that I don’t take your head.”
And with that he vanished, an instant before a demon attacked her so fast that she barely had time to defend herself. Valynda caught the demon with her sword. Forcing it back, she realized how much harder it was to fight as a human than in her straw form. For one thing, she could now feel every blow rattle through her body. For another, her center of balance was off, as were her senses. Not to mention her hair kept getting in her eyes.
Ugh! This was impossible. Well, not impossible. Just harder.
Valynda finally caught her footing and stabilized, then stabbed the beast through his left eye. She took a moment to glance around the ship. Demons were all over, and not just one kind.
Some could fly. Some stayed to the shadows. Others were locked to the ground. Dramonks and sea cronks. It was as if the Malachai had summoned every kind he could think of.
Which meant he must be furious over what she’d done.
I’m the reason for this. …
Her stomach shrank as she realized why there were so many what had been unleashed against them. While it wasn’t unusual for their crew to be attacked, and viciously so, even this was excessive.
He knows.
