She had no idea how that could be other than he was the Malachai and those beasts had unique powers unlike any others. Damn him for it.
And damn her. At least now she understood what the stain on the wall had been earlier. It must have been a Malachai spy.
Guilty over what she’d done, Valynda glanced about. Belle was fighting off two more demons while Captain Bane held off three. Will used his flintlock to shoot one between the eyes before he went after another with his sword. More gunfire rang out as others fought with whatever they could. Her friends were in such grave danger because of Adarian’s wrath.
Nay, because of her stupidity and gullibility where none should have existed.
The sea around them churned as Marcelina struggled to keep the ship as level as possible against the waves. Kalder was in the sea below, fighting against a giant squid.
This looked hopeless. And she felt that deep in her heart.
How were they to take down all the forces of evil with just a single vessel? With just this meager crew? What had Thorn been thinking? Why would he ever send so few on such an important mission?
Had this been its own form of cruelty?
Stop that!
Had she learned nothing from her doubt of Xuri? Those thoughts came from a deep, dark place in the mind. An unsettled place. Thorn, like Xuri, had never done anything to make her doubt him or his motives. While his words could be caustic, his actions were true.
Actions speak louder than words.
Of all people, she knew that. And until he gave her reasons to doubt, then she would give Thorn her faith. True and unyielding.
See, I can be taught!
Suddenly, a new rumbling began. One that came from deep below. Crisp and clopping. Gurgling and churning. It sounded vaguely like running horses and it caused a rushing funnel in the sea that began to twist the ship about. The wooden boards creaked and moaned in protest.
“What fresh bloody hell is this?” Bart grabbed a rope before he was thrown overboard.
Kalder reached for the anchor ropes and quickly climbed to the deck before he was harmed. And still the rushing came. Thick and steady.
Unrelenting.
Valynda caught herself against the rigging as her stomach heaved and she feared she’d be sick from the rocking motion—another thing she hadn’t missed about not having a human body.
A dark, gargantuan shadow rose up from the sea. Blue fire lit up the sky. Thunderous claps resonated as the demons began to scream and vanish.
More demons ran for cover, only to be vaporized.
“Ah shite.” Will’s tone was laden with disgust. “You know it’s a bad omen when the scariest of things be heading for cover at the appearance of this and then get eaten. Be damned we are now, mates.”
And that was how it felt as these new beasts turned out to be two dozen dragons. Gigantic beasts that rolled through the blue fire, circling through the air in a beautiful dance as they devoured the demons.
Except for the blood and entrails that rained down on them. That she could have done without.
Especially some of the grislier bits that fell around her. But at least it got their enemies off them. None of the demons cared about them at all. They were too busy trying to escape the dragons and their talons or fire. Trying to evade becoming a part of their menu.
Not that she blamed them. It wasn’t something she’d want either. Which wasn’t her concern until all the demons were gone.
Then the dragons began to whistle and turn their attention toward them.
Bart glanced to the captain. “Should we run?”
“Where to, Mr. Meers?” he asked simply. “The ocean’s all yours.” He gestured toward the open sea.
Valynda would laugh, but this wasn’t funny. As noted, they had nowhere to flee.
The dragons swooped in and her stomach shrank. This was it. …
