Rafe arched a quizzical brow at Devyl.
He met Thorn’s cold green gaze before he answered with the truth. “Thorn isn’t Forneus.” At least not anymore. Though to be honest, Devyl would have liked to have met that warlord. They could have been friends.
Better still, they could have been allies.
But the curse of this world was that it was ever changing. Friends today. Enemies tomorrow. And, as was presently true, even enemies could become friendly.
Life was ever peculiar that way, as it kept everyone on their toes. You never knew where it was going to land you, or how quickly.
Sinner to saint. Hero to villain. A person’s role could reverse itself in the blink of an eye. All it took was one good deed for redemption.
Or one misplaced lie by another that others were too quick to grab on to and hold close to their hearts, even though they knew it for the fabrication it was. In that one single heartbeat, your whole life was ruined. For no other reason than people didn’t want to do their own thinking or learn their own facts. Rather, all too many were willing to follow along like mindless sheep to the slaughter.
Or the lynching.
He’d never understand the human mind. Especially the hypocrisy of it all. Just as he’d never understand why Thorn had given him this chance to earn back his soul when they both knew he didn’t deserve it.
Thorn wasn’t the one Rafe should be cringing from.
He was. In his day, he’d made a mockery of the vile, evil creature Rafe had caged before them.
And with that knowledge firing deep in his gullet, Devyl turned on Mona and bared his fangs at the Blackthorn bitchtress. He let his eyes glow their true bloody color so that she could see he was through with her games. “Tell what you know, Mona! Where is she?”
“So you do care, don’t you now? Och, Du.” She tsked at him with her blackened teeth. “The truth comes out. Dark lord you might be, but me lady always held your nubby heart, such as it is. You should have been there when we fell, my lord. Vine herself lamented your death over it. She said that, had she not killed you, we wouldn’t have been taken. None to blame for it but herself, she said.”
He scowled at her nonsense. “Stop the riddles!” He blasted the cage with his powers.
The force of it knocked her from her feet and sent her straight to the ground, where she slammed against the side of the ship.
From the floor, she wiped one pale, black-veined hand across her bleeding nose and laughed. “Poor Du!”
When he went to blast her again, Thorn caught his arm. “Don’t bother.”
Growling deep in his throat, he curled his lip at Thorn’s compassion. “What are we to do with her? We can’t leave her here. Sooner or later, she’ll feast on them all, and well you know it. You banish her to return to her prison and she’ll only escape and be back to bother us all the more and wreak who knows what harm on the humans. She’s naught but a disease to plague and eat away at anything that she sets her roots to.”
An insidious smile curved Thorn’s lips. “I’ll plant her in a place from which there’s no escape.”
Bitter amusement swept through Devyl as he realized that Thorn intended to take her into his home realm of Azmodea. He was right. It would be the one place from which she could never again escape. But what a hellish nightmare that would be, especially if Thorn planted her in his garden.…
Devyl smirked. “You are an evil bastard.”
“Indeed.” As Thorn headed to her cage, she shrank away from him.
“I’ll take you to the gate, Du! Please, lord! Mercy! Mercy!”
Devyl met Thorn’s gaze and let out a tired breath, as he actually felt sorry for the bitch and the fate that would await her in that hole.
This was a bad idea. Every instinct he possessed told him he was a fool to even consider it.
She was lying about helping them. He knew it without fail or doubt.
And yet …
What if she wasn’t?
It would be a lot easier to have a map to the gate than to play the guessing game they’d been doing by following the trail of the plat-eyes and other creatures released from it. Save them time. More than that, it would save human lives, and that was what Thorn wanted him to do.
They might actually make it to the Seraph before Vine killed him and absorbed his blood and its power. Or, as the Blackthorn had pointed out, Vine converted him into a tool they could use against them—which was the last thing any of them needed.
“Well?” Devyl asked him, even though it wasn’t in his nature to confer with anyone.
Thorn released an equally agitated breath. “I leave it up to you. Feel free to gut or burn her later, I suppose.”
Rafe let out a low whistle. “And they call me heartless?”
“Aye, well, you might want to stand back as I release her, or she might make that a literal statement instead of a figurative one.” Devyl headed for the cage.
He hesitated as he swept his gaze over her fragile appearance. She looked so harmless and weak, and yet she was one of the deadliest of creatures.
Like a rabbit possessed of a cobra’s venom and razor-sharp teeth.
She brushed at her dark, matted hair. Licking her lips, she reminded him of a street beggar. “I need sustenance, Majesty.”
“We have pig blood on the ship.”
Curling her lips to expose her fangs, she groaned in protest.
“There’s no living person there for you to feast on. We’re all Deadmen.”
She screwed her face up into a perfect expression of absolute horror. “What?”
“’Tis true. There’s not a living creature among us.” He didn’t make mention of Cameron, since the last thing the girl needed was to be singled out by this beast.
She groaned even louder. “Then leave me here.”
“Never.” Mona would only escape her cage and destroy Rafael and all his crew. “You go with me or Thorn. Your choice.”
Glancing to Thorn, she shook her head. “I’ll take me chances with you, Du.”
“Why do I feel so insulted?” Thorn asked.
“You? I think I’m the one most slighted by her choice.” Devyl was definitely the one most offended by her stench. Holding his breath, he opened the cage and tried not to think about the fact that she seemed to be rotting.
From the inside out. Gah, the bowels of hell had reeked less.
Mona smiled up at him as she followed Thorn toward the ladder. While this wasn’t the most ideal situation, at least she was getting off this ship and away from the crew that had captured her. Sooner or later, Du would have to make port and then she could feed. But first …
First she would find the Seraph medallion Vine had sent her after. Then she would tear the heart from the fetid beast and deliver them both to her mistress for reward.
Along with the souls of every member of Devyl Bane’s damned crew. And then they would all have their just rewards, and the world would finally be their playground.
6
“You know this is a trap and that creature is a liar?”
Devyl passed a smirk to Thorn. “Of course I do.”
Shaking his head, Thorn snorted. “Still letting the bitches catch up?”
“Best way to keep an eye on your enemy is to have them under your thumb. Learned that from you.”
“And here I thought you weren’t paying attention.” There was a light of respect in Thorn’s eyes as he watched Rafe’s men escorting Mona up the ladder.
“You sure you’re ready to take her?” Rafe hesitated before they completely released her.
“I’d much rather she be among my crew than yours.” His Deadmen—and, more to the point, Mara—could handle the beast and put her down if needs be.
Santiago’s sailors were nothing more than a walking banquet for the hag. They were all lucky that, given Rafe’s mother’s extreme powers and knowledge about such things, the pirate captain had known and wasn’t taken aback by the fact that Devyl wasn’t quite human. That
Rafe had recognized the fact that Mona was highly dangerous when they’d found her, and his mother’s spell had protected them all. Anyone else would have been killed instantly and their crew sacrificed.
In fact, Santiago was among the tiny few who knew Bane and his men were not of this world, but belonged to another species entirely.
Rafe clapped him on the arm. “No offense, my friend. But I feel better with her in your custody myself.”
Devyl snorted at his misplaced humor. “Before we go, I should warn you that Barnet has moved into our waters and is hard pressing for information as to your whereabouts. He’s determined to collect the bounty on your hide.”
“Wonderful,” Rafael said drily. “Appreciate the heads-up. I’ll be sure to warn St. Noir and Bonny about it when next I see them, as well.”
Devyl almost smiled at the mention of the female pirate. Anne Bonny was a unique piece of work. “Give Rackham my best.”
A strange look came over Rafael’s face. “You know Anne isn’t with Jack anymore, right?”
That news stunned him. Jack Rackham, Anne Bonny, and Mary Reade were so tight that he’d assumed the three had magically melded into a single life form. “Since when?”
Rafael let out a nervous laugh. “Since she conceived Jean-Luc St. Noir’s child and Rackham found out about it. The three of them have been at each other’s throats ever since.”
Wow. That was indeed impressive news. Devyl shook his head. Pirate drama. They could get into more shyte than anyone he’d ever known. “What of Reade?”
“She and Anne have both taken up with St. Noir’s crew for the time being. While Mary was fond of Rackham, her loyalty will always be to Bonny.”
“Well then, give them all three my congratulations.”
Rafael appeared bemused. “All three?”
“Aye. Jean-Luc and Anne for the baby. Jack for escaping the hell known as matrimony and fatherhood.”
Rafe laughed. “Ah.” Then he sobered as the demon was hauled past him and taken topside. The look in Mona’s eyes promised Devyl a merry time to be sure.
Little did she know, such challenges only fired his resolve. And they never boded well for his enemies.
Thorn had the scars to prove it.
Looking forward to the challenge, Devyl said his good-byes to Rafael, then returned to his own ship with Thorn in tow.
By the time he was on deck again, William and Bart already had Mona in custody.
“What do you want us to do with this?” William gestured at their newest “guest.”
Devyl pondered his options. In truth, he still wanted to set fire to her and scatter her ashes.
The glimmer in Thorn’s eyes said he concurred.
But for now …
“Put her under Belle’s guard and have Miss Jack moved to my quarters.”
William’s jaw went slack as Bart’s eyebrows shot northward.
“Pardon?” William’s voice cracked on the question.
“Have you lost your hearing, man? Those be your orders. See about them and be quick on your way.”
“Aye, aye, Captain.” They hurried away while a slow smile curled Mona’s lips.
Devyl was tempted to blast her. Yet somehow he managed restraint. Though it was one of the rare times in his life that he’d ever done so.
Thorn slid a knowing smirk toward him. “I take it Miss Jack is the Seraph’s sister?”
“Aye. She is.”
Thorn paused as if considering that for some reason. Though why it warranted such stern attention, Devyl had no idea. Cameron Jack was the last woman he was interested in. His heart had been claimed long ago by a callous lady who still held it with an iron-taloned fist.
“And you offer her your direct protection?”
He pinned a murderous glare to Thorn at the insinuation in his snide tone. The boots on his feet were older than the girl. “She’s an innocent child.”
Thorn had to keep his own jaw from dropping at the defensiveness that lay beneath those deeply growled words. Dón-Dueli … the Dark One … the World-King who’d slaughtered any and everything that got in his way, was protecting someone?
Anyone.
No fucking way.
It was unprecedented.
Thorn couldn’t get his mind to wrap around this inconceivable concept. For the first time in his insanely long life, Thorn’s treatment at the hands of the higher Sarim council made sense.
Aye … now, I get it.
Because this … this made no sense whatsoever. It was so far out of character for the vicious beast he knew Devyl to be. There was a better chance of Lucifer becoming a virginal choir girl than Devyl Bane sheltering someone without it benefitting him.
Yet those thoughts vaporized as soon as he saw the woman nearing them on deck.
At first glance, Thorn thought her a very slender teen boy or young man like Devyl’s rigger Katashi—Wild Kat as the crew had dubbed him. Until Thorn noted the delicate arch of her brows and the line of her cheeks. Though her thick chestnut brown hair was pulled back into a queue and she wore the coat and breeches of a man, it was still obvious that those hips and that posture and walk belonged solely to a woman.
One with a nice, well-rounded ass.
And her hazel blue-green eyes were absolutely mesmerizing.
But none of that should induce a cruel, heartless bastard like Duel to protect her.
Nay. Her features were too average and pretty. Her guile lacking all sophistication. She was nothing like Duel’s ex-wife. Possessed of vibrant titian hair, and goddess curves, Vine was exquisitely formed. Breathtakingly beautiful. The kind of woman who left all women lurking in her shadow in a jealous rage, and men gaping and speechless, fully erect and incapable of any coherent thought other than how to entice her into a bed as fast as possible.
He’d never had any trouble figuring out how Duel had lost his heart or his soul, never mind his life, to that bitch. Any man who favored female companionship would have gladly done whatever Vine asked and abandoned all conscience and reason for her.
But this one …
The only part of her that was remarkable was just how woefully average she appeared.
“That’s Michael’s bloodline?” Thorn whispered to Duel. “You’re sure?”
“Aye.”
Incredible. Normally, those born to Michael’s blood were hard to miss. They were blond, as a rule, tall, and exceptionally handsome.
This one …
Well, she did have one thing in common with the ancient being.
Her eyes stewed with venom as she planted herself firmly in front of them. “I’m not sleeping in your cabin, Captain. Have you any idea how inappropriate that is?”
“Aye, and I couldn’t care less. There’s not a soul here who would dare defy me or speak ill of my intentions. You will sleep where I say, Miss Jack.”
She laughed incredulously. “You would be wrong.” She sobered to glare up at him with an audacity that was as stupid as it was commendable. “Most wrong.”
Devyl actually felt a smile tugging at the edges of his lips as she started in the opposite direction of his cabin. “Miss Jack?”
She paused to look back at him with an arched, defiant brow.
“My cabin, or we leave you adrift in the sea … without an oar … or boat. I believe the term is ‘walking the plank.’”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Beg all you want, but it changes naught. You heard me, lass, and I meant it. Those be the terms of your stay here. Now hie thyself off to where you’re supposed to be headed.”
“You can’t be serious.”
Devyl arched a brow at the cheeky lass. “I can and am.”
With a foolish stride, she returned to stand in front of him. “You will regret this, Captain Bane.”
Doubtful. The only thing he regretted was the stunned look on Thorn’s face that made him want to slap the bugger.
Thorn finally managed to shut his gaping mouth. “Can I see her medallion?”
/> She paled at Thorn’s question. “You told him about it?” she whispered to Devyl.
“Aye,” he whispered back. “And the low tone is useless, as his hearing is without equal.”
A deep red stain crept over her cheeks.
Thorn laughed. “No fears, child. I’m the last one who would harm you for the token. I only want to see it for myself to make sure Devyl doesn’t have a head injury that’s causing him to imagine things.”
Devyl felt another impulse to give him one, but didn’t move as she reluctantly pulled it out and handed it to the repugnant oaf who made his current living death even more unbearable than his time spent in hell.
The moment Thorn saw the medallion, his eyes shot to the same hue of red as Devyl’s natural state. He turned the medallion over in his hand. It glowed a deep, vibrant green in protest of Thorn’s demonic grasp. It even hummed as if screaming in agony. Devyl definitely knew that feeling, as he felt the same compunction himself.
“You’re right. No doubting the origins of this.”
Devyl crossed his arms over his chest. “Told you. I’m not the one with a head injury.”
Thorn locked gazes with him, and if he didn’t know better, Devyl might think there was actual panic there. “We have to get to her brother. Sooner rather than later. Otherwise, there’s no telling what Vine will do to him.”
“Well aware of that fact.”
Thorn clenched the medallion in his hand. “Mind if I keep this for a bit?”
Cameron was aghast at his question. “Of course I mind. Me brother entrusted it to me care.”
“I know, but I really need it for a little while so that I can use this to hopefully find him.”
She glanced to Devyl. “Can I trust him?”
“You probably can.”
“What does that mean?”
“That I would never trust him. For anything. Not even to clean spit from my boots. But you shouldn’t have any problems, as he doesn’t virulently hate you.”