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  Mara froze as she saw him completely bared. Not that she hadn’t seen him that way before.

  Many times. He’d never been a particularly modest person. Point of fact, he’d seemed to delight in embarrassing her. But this was very different.

  “Are you all right?”

  She nodded. “I haven’t changed my mind.”

  “Good.” A tiny smile played at the edges of his lips before he leaned her back on the bed and covered her with his warmth.

  She sighed at the pleasant weight of him, reveling in it and in the massive size and hardness of every inch of his flesh. His body felt incredible against hers. And when he slid himself inside, she cried out and clutched him as pain overrode her kinder thoughts where he was concerned. She sank her nails into his back.

  He held himself completely still while he kissed and nuzzled her. “Breathe, blodwen. I’ll never hurt you. I swear. It’ll pass in just a moment.”

  Mara choked on a sob at his endearment and kindness. Blessed flower. For their people, that was reserved only for those who resided deep within your heart.

  And it wasn’t an endearment bandied about idly. No one used it unless they meant it. To a Deruvian, it was as sacred as saying I love you.

  Pressing her cheek to his, she cradled him with her body. “I love you, too, Duel.”

  He rose on his elbows to stare down at her in disbelief. “What?”

  “You don’t have to look so stunned. Is it so hard to believe that I feel the same?”

  “A little bit. Aye.”

  She snorted at him and his continued suspicion as she brushed at his long hair that fell forward to frame his face. How strange that such a simple thing could make so ferocious a beast appear boyish and vulnerable when she knew full well he was neither of those things. “Not exactly the reaction I was wanting, Captain.”

  This time, he gave her his full dimpled smile and charmed her completely. “You’ve stunned me past all rational thought, my lady. Therefore, you’ll have to have a bit of leniency with me while I acclimate to hell freezing over.”

  Laughing, she kissed his lips.

  Until he started to thrust against her. She bit her lip against the pain, but as he’d promised her, it quickly subsided into the most incredible pleasure she’d ever felt. And to a deep intimacy that overwhelmed her. He locked gazes with her as he stroked her with his entire body.

  Honestly, she didn’t think anything could feel better or more personal. Not until he quickened his strokes and thrust so deep inside her that it splintered her.

  The moment she came, her powers shot out and echoed around the room in a vibrant ricochet similar to lightning. Duel caught them with his powers and laughed as he absorbed them to keep her blasts from doing harm to the ship or the lanterns. But his own laughter died a moment later when he found his own release.

  And with it came a new charge to her Deruvian abilities. It was unlike anything she’d ever encountered.

  Colors exploded through the room, raining down over them like a spring shower. She not only felt and heard the aether. She saw it. Nay, she saw the very fabric of the universe that bound together every creature that was both living and gone.

  Her breathing labored, she struggled to get a handle on it and understand what was happening and why.

  “Duel?”

  “It’s all right, my love.” Rolling over, he pulled her across his chest to cradle her there and comfort her rising panic. “It’s a by-product of what we are. There’s nothing to fear. It’ll pass in a moment, but you will be stronger.”

  He was right. With every heartbeat, she could feel the charge inside her.

  “No wonder Vine sought you out so much.”

  He took her hand in his and placed it against the center of his chest, over the scar where her sister had cut out his heart. “I never did this with Vine. I wouldn’t allow it to happen.”

  Those words baffled her. “What do you mean?”

  “We had sex. But it never charged our powers. I never gave that part of myself to her, as I knew what she’d do with it. And I’m a fool for letting you have it now, but I couldn’t stop it from happening. My feelings for you run too deep. There was no way for me to pull it back before it happened. I’m afraid I have no control where you’re concerned.”

  “How do you mean?”

  That familiar dark shadow returned to his gaze and saddened his eyes. “I know about your bargain with Vine, Mara. I’m well aware of the fact that you’re planning to hand me over to her to get yourself free.”

  15

  “Thank you, Miss Jack.”

  Cameron smiled up at Kalder as she knotted the bandage on his arm. “My pleasure. You should be more careful while you climb about the rigging in a storm. You could have been killed.”

  He snorted as he reached for his mead on the galley table. “Not really at the moment. Just would have injured me pride more than me head. Oh, wait! It did. Teach me to not pay attention in a tempest, but then to have such a beautiful lass tend me wounds, it was worth a little flesh off the bones and lost dignity, I think.”

  Blushing at his unexpected compliment, Cameron paused her hand over the marks on his skin that appeared as tattoos. She knew now they were his fins. How strange that they lay so flat whenever his skin was dry as to be indistinguishable from his flesh. Indeed, there was no difference whatsoever. He appeared completely human. What a strange thing to have happen. “Does it hurt when your body changes?”

  He screwed his face up as he kept his arm completely still in her lap. “No more than you with yours. Just a mild sensation really. I barely notice it.”

  Realizing that she was holding on to him a lot longer than she should be, she quickly released his arm and put more space between them. Even though she didn’t want to. There was something about Kalder that drew her to him a lot more than it should. He was a very handsome man … for a mermaid.

  And that thought made her smile. “What are your people really called? I don’t think ‘mermaid’ quite fits you.”

  Nay, it definitely did not, as he was more masculine and handsome than most of the men on the ship. There was something innately deadly and fierce about him. Something that made the Seraph blood in her quite literally hum whenever he drew close.

  Kalder laughed at her words. “For the record, Miss Jack, I hate to be called a mermaid. It sticks in me fins a bit, but don’t let the others know or there will never be any peace from the bloody bastards for it, as they’ll assume it to be a personal challenge to make me life hell. Especially Bart.” He winked at her. “We’re correctly called Myrcians.”

  “Like the medieval kingdom?”

  “Aye. Those were some of us originally. Till they mingled with humans and lost the ability to breathe water. They kept the name, for reasons only they know. However, they were only one group of many of our tribes. At one time, we were found all over the world, in great numbers, but war and angry gods have thinned us down to only a small handful these days.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  He shrugged nonchalantly. “It doesn’t help that we’re a belligerent bunch, by and large. Sooner fight than do anything else.” He passed a teasing grin over her body. “Some of us, that is. I meself have that tendency. But I can be persuaded to other, much more pleasurable endeavors … if the company be right.”

  This time, her cheeks heated to a volcanic level. What disturbed her most was the fact that she wasn’t offended or even all that adverse to what he was suggesting.

  Indeed, she was nowhere near as mortified as she should be. And definitely not insulted. Rather, she was drawn to him against all sanity.

  “I find it hard to believe you’d be belligerent, Mr. Dupree. You seem exceptionally kind and sweet.”

  He slapped his hand over his heart. “Ah, lass, you wound me to me core. And call me Kalder, please. ‘Mr. Dupree’ sounds like I ought to be in some posh coat and hat, issuing orders. Me people don’t run on such formality.”

  She shook her head at his cheerful play. While “surly” definitely described a certain large proportion of their crew, Kalder most assuredly was one of their more jovial members. “You seem rather easygoing to me.”

  He sobered at that. “Looks are deceiving. Let’s just say there’s a good reason I was gutted.”

  “Aye to that,” Rosie chimed in as he walked by and handed off his rum bottle to Kalder. “You’re on his good side, Miss Jack. Trust those of us who are permanently engraved on the bad end—you’d gut him, too. Especially in the morning. He’s a beast of a fish, then.”

  She didn’t believe it for a minute.

  Kalder laughed, and took a drink.

  “Hey there! What’s that sound?” William cocked his head.

  Cameron didn’t hear anything other than the storm—which was concurred by the others as they responded to William’s question. They heard nothing either.

  Not until Simon suddenly lifted his head from where he’d been resting in the corner. “I hear it now. It sounds like … takarum!”

  Bart cursed as he shot to his feet. Kalder and the rest did the same.

  “Takarum?” Cameron scowled at the unfamiliar term. Since she had no idea what it was, she was much slower to rise to a battle station.

  “Souls of those who’ve died at sea.” Belle and Valynda moved to stand by Zumari. “They’re here to find bodies so that they can possess them.”

  “Or those they can take down to the locker to replace themselves so that they can go free and live again.” Simon crossed himself and spit.

  Cameron’s hair went white. Her back began to burn as if her wings were trying to break through the surface of her skin.

  They were right. Whatever was here wasn’t human.

  And it was here for prey.

  “Where’s Janny?” Belle glanced about for the Dark-Huntress who’d been playing cards with Sallie, Kat, and Roach a few minutes ago.

  Valynda’s eyes widened. “She went to the privy.”

  Unsheathing his cutlass, Simon cursed. “She’d be the one they’d want most. We have to get to her afore they do.”

  Cameron was confused by that. “Why would they be after her more than anyone else?”

  “Janny’s soulless already.” Belle pulled a torch from the wall and lit it. “They wouldn’t have to struggle to take her over. Nor take her to the locker. They could move right into her body and make themselves at home.” She ran for the door.

  Cameron rushed after her with the men following closely behind them. She was just about to ask what she should be looking for when she saw a shadow move off to her right.

  And not the way they normally did. Rather it came toward her like a vicious predator. More than that, it appeared to have dreadlocks and a skeletal form. One that developed fangs and bony fingers.

  With a whispering rattle, it reached for her.

  Kat grabbed her and pulled her back, out of its reach. “Don’t let them swarm you. That’s how they claim their victims and drag them down. If they pull you from the light, you’re done for!”

  “Stay to the light!” William warned.

  Rosie used a torch to scatter the takarum back into the crevices of the ship. They made a peculiar scurrying sound that was similar to that of bat wings and rushing rodents, and yet unique to the beasts. “Aye to that! They fear light and fire. It’s the only thing we have to fight them with.”

  Yet a takaru doubled back through the shadows, and grabbed another sailor who was at their rear.

  With a scream, he was pulled into the shadows and then vanished as if he’d never existed at all.

  Only a faint image of his screaming face was left behind as an impression in the dark wooden walls, and the faintest of outlines of his body.

  Cameron froze as she realized he really was gone. Completely. Those … those things had dragged him away quicker than she could blink.

  The others scrambled to light the corner, but it was too late. “Is there any way to get him back?”

  Belle shook her head. “It’s done. Whatever you do, lass, don’t let them sink their claws into you.”

  “Janice!” Simon shouted, rushing past them. “Can you hear me?”

  More of the takarum crept across the boards, reaching out for them like insidious puffs of smoke that only the light could disperse.

  Valynda handed Cameron a torch. Cameron swung it as one of the shadows reached for her. She twisted out of its reach.

  Bart tried to open the door, then cursed. “We’re sealed in with them.”

  William scowled at those words. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean we’re locked down here.” He kicked at the door as hard as he could. It rattled on the hinges, but didn’t give at all. “Someone’s latched it from the other side.”

  William tried the handle. “What the hell?”

  Zumari shoved them aside so that he could try it, but as when they’d attempted it, it didn’t budge. The anger in his eyes said that he was about to have a fit to make a toddler proud.

  Cameron felt her cheeks growing warm as she tried to think of a way out of this mess. The room grew darker and darker as more shadows closed in on them.

  The torches began to dim.

  What new hell was this?

  Suddenly, she heard her brother screaming outside, in the hallway.

  Her jaw went slack. “Paden?” She headed for the sound.

  Simon caught her by the arm.

  Fighting against him, she tried to get free. “It’s me brother!”

  “It’s a trick.”

  “Nay! I know his voice!”

  He picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder, refusing to let her go. “’Tis their cruelty, lass. Trust me. Your brother’s not there. It’s a lure they’re using.”

  It didn’t feel that way.

  Nay, she even smelled his cologne. “Paddy!” she called. “Is it you?”

  “Cammy-belle? Where are you? Help! I need you!”

  “It’s him!” Cameron fought with renewed vigor against Simon’s hold.

  And she’d almost succeeded in gaining her freedom when something struck the ship so hard, it knocked it off keel, tipping it dangerously to the starboard side. They all stumbled, fell, and rolled to the starboard wall.

  Everyone paled as objects skittered across the boards and slammed into them. Several sailors screamed out as the takarum reached from the shadows and claimed them.

  Valynda and Belle combined forces to form a shield wall while Bart and William were forced to extinguish their torches or risk setting the ship on fire.

  “Where’s the captain?”

  No sooner had Roach asked the question than a booming voice answered. “On deck! Now! All of ye! Move your sorry arses!”

  There was no missing the fury in Captain Bane’s tone as he ripped open the door that was no longer locked.

  He and Marcelina came into the room and helped them up, and then one by one they left the room until they were outside in the rainstorm.

  The ship finally began to right itself so that they could stand on deck and not risk being swept overboard.

  “Stay out of the shadows,” the captain ordered them. “Sancha, head us due north toward the Quella.”

  “Aye, aye, Captain!” She ran to obey him.

  As he started below again, Cameron stopped him from his descent. “They have me brother, Captain.”

  He paused to meet her gaze. “Nay, lass. I fear something a lot worse than the takarum has your brother. Now stay here and let me clear them.” He gave her a gentle push back toward Marcelina before he vanished through the hatch.

  She turned toward Mara and scowled. “I don’t understand.”

  Marcelina handed Cameron the medallion she’d loaned to Thorn. “Paden’s been seduced by the darkness, child. He’s no longer the man you knew him to be. Rather, he’s someone else entirely.”

  Nay, Paden wouldn’t have done that. She knew better. “I don’t believe you.”

  Thorn came up on deck, not far from them. “Believe it. I did everything I could. I’m sorry, Cameron.”

  Nay …

  Nay! This wasn’t right. Cameron could feel it deep in her soul.

  But she didn’t know how wrong things were until a moment later when William and Belle swung about.

  “Cameron! Avast! Them ain’t Thorn and Mara!”

  “They be shifters!” Belle warned. “Duck, lass!”

  Before Cameron could move they seized her and swept her overboard.

  16

  “Duel … it’s not what you’re thinking.”

  He arched a brow at Mara’s whispered, guilt-ridden words. “Then you’re not intending to hand me over to your sister as soon as we reach the gate?”

  She cringed as she realized that he did indeed have an exact handle on her original plan. Pity, that, for her, anyway. “It was the plan.… But things have changed.”

  “I’m sure of that.” Sarcasm dripped from his tone.

  A sarcasm Mara didn’t understand given all that had transpired this day. “Meaning what?”

  No sooner had she asked the question than she understood exactly where his thoughts had gone.

  And why.

  Her jaw went slack. “You can’t honestly think that I’d have seduced you for that! Can you?”

  “To make me more pliable for your wiles and an easier fool to manipulate? Aye. It’s the exact kind of treachery Vine specialized in. So why not you? As her sister, it makes complete sense.”

  “How dare you!” She raked a furious grimace over him as she felt an urge to do him bodily harm. Pushing herself up, she wrapped the sheet around her body to glare down at him. “And if you truly thought that and slept with me anyway … you’re … you’re despicable!” It took everything she had not to reach out and slap him for such an insult.

  Relief filled his eyes as he reached for her and pulled her back to the bunk. “Don’t be angry at me, Mara. ’Tis glad I am that you’re not that treacherous. But can you blame me for being a mite suspicious after learning you’d made such a pact with her behind me back when you know how she did me?”

  When he put it that way …

  She still wanted to punch him on her basest level.

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