Shield of Fire (A Bringer and the Bane Novel) (25 page)

Ravyn picked up the crossbow and zigzagged her way toward the scattered arrows, retrieving one lodged in a coil of rope. After notching the arrow, she spanned the bowstring and locked the trigger in place. Her breathing slowed and she relaxed, sending her awareness into the heavy darkness. Fire rolled through her. As she gave it more freedom the power surged forward and melted into liquid energy. Heat slithered through her body, igniting every cell. Her cavernous well of energy yawned, its power flowing into instead of around her. As on the training field, her vision shifted. Night turned to day, and the lines of energy sparked and crisscrossed over the deck.

She saw the demons circling above. Two broke formation and swooped toward her. The grating bites on her skin intensified into painful jabs. She gave the fire permission to flow. The succubi dove, one behind the other, wings tucked, fangs bared. These were no beautiful sirens. Ravyn leveled the crossbow and touched the tip into a thread of energy. Her barriers fell, and she took aim.

“Two birds with one stone.”

Her finger snapped the trigger. Fire engulfed the projectile and struck the first demon, only to pass through and lodge in the second. Both Bane exploded before they had time to register what hit them.

“Two birds with one stone, indeed,” Jaden said behind her.

Ravyn spun to face him. His body radiated brilliant blue light, but the black edges still remained. He pointed and launched his body at her as another demon swooped toward them. Ravyn’s head hit the deck and her vision shifted, returning to her normal sight. Darkness once again blanketed everything, and she grappled for another arrow, but they slid out of her grasp as the funnel clouds from the two demons swirled, tossing the ship from side to side.

Jaden snatched up an arrow as it slid across the deck and grabbed Ravyn’s arm, hauling her to her feet. He shoved the arrow into her hand. “We have company.”

A circling demon descended. To her horror, the creature flared its wings and landed on the deck with a heavy
thud
. Energy surged through Ravyn, consuming her with the need to obliterate. She notched the arrow and pulled back the bowstring. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she locked it into place. The situation was bad—if she blasted the demon, the spinning vortex would drive through the hull and sink them.

The succubus folded her large blue wings behind her back and crossed her arms. She flicked a nod toward Ravyn’s crossbow. “Planning on using that?”

“Yes,” Ravyn said.

She leveled the arrow at the demon’s heart, or at least where her heart should be, terrified of what she would have to do next. She’d rather burn or drown than be taken by the Bane and suffer their torture. Siban’s face swam into view. The haunted set of his eyes and his brokenness shook her to the core. Whatever it took, she’d defend herself or die trying.

The succubus sauntered a few steps closer, her hips undulating with each footfall. Ravyn glanced over her shoulder to ensure the ploy wasn’t an ambush. The creature seemed neither hurried nor the least bit concerned about the arrow aimed at her.

Clawed feet scraped against the deck as the succubus inched forward. Ravyn and Jaden stepped back, matching the creature’s pace and stepping over unconscious sailors. Everything on the demon glimmered blue except for her eyes. Her piercing yellow gaze slid from Ravyn to Jaden and she smirked.

“Jade, nice to see you again,” the demon drawled.

Ravyn jumped as the hiss of a blade being pulled from a sheath whispered beside her.

Jaden pointed his sword at the demon. “Can’t say the same, Sha-hera.”

“Jaden?” Ravyn said slowly.

“
Jaden
, is it?” The Bane tilted her head back and laughed. “What’s the matter? Couldn’t you snare a man? I’d offer to teach you some tricks, but I doubt you’d agree to my price. Although, you do make a very pretty boy.”

Jaden sneered. “I don’t want anything from you.”

“Well, never say I didn’t offer.” Her reptilian eyes fixated on Ravyn. “I guess I’ll just take my Bringer and be on my way.”

Ravyn’s finger brushed the trigger of her crossbow. “I don’t think so.”

“I must insist.” Sha-hera prowled forward. “My king desires a chat with you, among other things.”

“I don’t fancy a chat with him.” Her heart pounded, pushing the blood into her ears. She tried to swallow but her body rebelled against every effort she made to manage her fear. “Besides, I have a previous engagement.”

“What previous engagement would that be?” Sha-hera asked.

Ravyn depressed the trigger and loosed the bolt. “Killing demons.”

The arrow whistled toward the demon’s heart, but the creature spun and snatched it from the air. Ravyn clenched her teeth, trying not to gape.

“For the life of me, I can’t understand why Vile wants you.” Sha-hera snapped the metal shaft in two and tossed the fragments to the side. “You’re not very powerful. Or very smart.”

Ravyn curled her hands and released the barriers. Power pooled in her palms, building and pulsing. She centered her focus, exhaled, and gave herself over to the fire. Time slowed, and as with Brother Powell, Ravyn knew the demon’s move before she made it.

Sha-hera launched herself at Ravyn, talons extended. With a thrust of her arms, Ravyn released a bolt of lightning that penetrated the center of the demon’s chest. Sha-hera’s hatred melted to shock as the strike lifted the succubus off the ground and held her several feet above the deck, writhing.

The demon’s yellow eyes protruded and her stunned expression turned fearful, seconds before she exploded. The blast catapulted Ravyn and Jaden backward. Ravyn slammed her head against the deck Lights burst behind her eyes as she slid across the deck and rammed into a post. She groaned and rolled to her side.

“Ravyn.” Jaden’s voice penetrated the haze. “Ravyn. Get up. Get
up.
She’s spinning.”

Ravyn cried out as Jaden propelled her upright, nearly pulling her shoulder from its socket. “What?”

Jaden pointed. “She’s spinning.”

Ravyn blinked and swayed, her gaze following the direction of his finger.

“Sha-hera,” he shouted. “She’s spinning. Do something.”

Her mouth went dry and her mind raced. The embers had gathered and were spiraling into a tall funnel cloud directly over the deck, much larger than the ones the previous demons had created.

“Blast her,” Jaden yelled.

Ropes, barrels, and men inched toward the pull of the funnel cloud. Panic clawed at Ravyn, but she beat it back and released her shields, freeing her fire. She thrust her hands forward and blasted the swirling embers with two spinning balls of light. The vortex barely moved.

“Hit it again,” Jaden cried over the swelling noise.

Ravyn dodged a flying cask and launched another assault. The funnel cloud moved a few feet toward the rail. Inhaling, she mentally sought her well of untapped power and drank deep. Her body vibrated as renewed energy filled her, giving her strength and direction.

“Move it beyond the ship.”

Ravyn bombarded the funnel with wild, rapid energy. The cloud drifted toward the ship’s side, but continued to pick up speed. She couldn’t let the men die. She wouldn’t let the Bane take Rhys from her. Death—for any of them—was not an option.

She reached deep and gathered as much force as she could bear. With a cry to rival the sirens’, Ravyn ran at the spinning vortex and released her power. Energy spread like a glittering net as she hit the fiery cloud. Locked with the funnel, her body shook violently as she pushed against its resistance and finally shoved it over the edge of the ship. She pulled in her powers, and released the towering vortex.

The spinning cloud stirred the sea and Ravyn grappled for the railing. Violent waves tossed the ship, pouring across the deck and drenching Ravyn. Slammed by the wave, Jaden lost his balance, hitting his head against a post as he went down. He didn’t move. She crawled across the deck and latched onto the neck of his shirt. With her other hand, she clung to a rope. Men and barrels skidded along the side of the ship like toys. The mast creaked and groaned. Shrieks rang through the dark as the black shapes of the demons disappeared into the vortex.

Another wave crested the side of the ship, dousing her with icy water. Ravyn sputtered and gasped but didn’t dare let go of the rope. She searched the deck for Rhys. His body pitched backed and forth, repeatedly hitting the bench he was shackled to. At least he was safe. How many men had died? Luc lay several feet away, untethered. Dragging Jaden behind her, she clawed her way to him and looped the rope around one ankle. Ravyn gasped, choking as the funnel sucked the air from her lungs.

The ship pitched, dragging the right side toward the surface of the water. With one hand on Jaden and one clinging to the rope, Ravyn flew forward and crashed face-first onto the deck. Waves pummeled her as she struggled to rise above the water. This was it. Surely they were all going to die.

With a thunderous roar, the funnel burrowed into the water, dragging the ship with it until suddenly releasing it as the vortex disappeared into the depths. The ship catapulted upright, sending anything not tied down sliding over the opposite edge or slamming against the side.

Ravyn lay on her back, choking as she expelled seawater. Her throat and nose burned. With each rasping inhalation, she struggled for breath. She rolled to her side and vomited. Tears spilled down her cheeks as everything from relief to shock washed over her. Had she won? Were the demons gone? She rolled to her back again and stared at the starry sky. Her lungs ached and her head pounded. How many had died?

She whimpered as the burning sensation fumed against her arms and legs again. “No, no, no.”

Her plea whispered through her lips. She had no more fight, no more strength in her body. Whatever demon waited in the dark would have easy pickings. A movement near the top of the mast caught her attention. She squinted. Somebody was there—sitting, watching her. With a giant leap, the creature detached itself from its perch and glided down to settle on the deck with surprising grace.

She recognized him, would know the black demon anywhere—
Icarus
. Her heartbeat stuttered. He had come to take her. She’d fought and saved the men, but the demon had still won. The gnawing needles were nearly too much to bear in her weakened state. She struggled to stay upright, her every instinct screaming to flee.

Muscles rippled under his skin as he prowled toward her. Ravyn scooted backward, tumbling over Jaden’s unconscious form. In a blink of an eye, Icarus towered over her, no more than a foot away. He captured her gaze, and suddenly she wasn’t afraid. All fear drained from her as his yellow stare penetrated her very soul. She watched, unconcerned, as the demon crouched beside her. She should be afraid. Why wasn’t she afraid? His eyes skimmed her body as if searching for something.

“Are you injured?” His voice poured over her.

She blinked. Something about his eyes drew her.

“Are you hurt?” he asked again.

She shook her head. “No.”

Ravyn couldn’t turn away. Icarus’s eyes changed, swirling from gold to silver. She grabbed his wrist. He flinched, his eyes widening in shock

“What…” The words froze in her throat as images of Icarus stealing Angela’s soul assaulted her. “No!”

He pried her fingers loose and stumbled away.

“Murderer!”

She jumped to her feet and sent a lightning bolt careening toward him. Icarus launched himself into the sky, narrowly avoiding her strike. She raced across the deck, hurling every bit of energy she could milk from her body at him until the night sky swallowed the demon.

Ravyn dropped to her knees and sobbed. It was one thing to know Angela had been killed by the Bane…but to relive it? No punishment for the demon was too great. If it was the last thing she ever did, she would destroy Icarus.

Chapter Nineteen

Smoke invaded Rhys’s nostrils, along with something putrid he couldn’t identify. The sour odor wafted across his face in short, measured bursts. He cracked open his eyelids, but images danced and spun before him. A moan slipped through his lips as he shut his eyes again and rolled to his side. He listened to the creaking of the ship. Another blast of foul air sprayed his face and his eyes snapped open.

Gem lay curled in a ball only inches from him. The sailor’s resonating snore battered the wooden deck, and a substantial puddle of drool pooled under the man’s cheek. Before Rhys could turn away, another cloud of fetid breath hit him in the face.

Rhys coughed and moved onto his back, flinching as his head made contact with the deck. The ache in his skull suggested he’d drunk too much. He pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes and tried to remember. Nothing. He drew a blank on everything after Big Al’s story of the seven dancing girls. He lowered his hands and sniffed. Smoke. Why did he smell smoke?

With great effort, he willed his body into a sitting position and looked around. His entire crew lay scattered across the deck in varying states of undress. Some slept curled up in a fetal position like Gem, while others snoozed across barrels, benches, or entangled in lengths of rope.

Coherent thought and panic pushed the haze from his mind. Where was Ravyn? Giggles floated to him at his right, and he turned to see two figures slouched against a wine cask.

He cleared his throat and swallowed. “Ravyn?”

“Rhys?” Ravyn said.

His voiced cracked, the dryness making it difficult to speak. “Are you all right?”

“I’ve been better.” She held a cup in the air. “But this is helping.”

He rubbed the back of his head and flinched. “What happ-ened?”

She snorted and took another drink. “Funny story, that. We had a bit of a run-in with the Bane.”

“Succubi disguised as sirens,” Jaden clarified over his cup.

“Right. Succubi,” Ravyn said.

Rhys’s voice boomed, causing the sleeping sailors to stir. “WHAT?”

“My reaction exactly. It was not a pleasant experience.” Her words slurred slightly. “But,” she pointed between her and Jaden, “we took care of them.”

He tried to calm his voice, but the seriousness of the night’s events was quickly becoming clear. “What happened?”

“Well,” she said, “there I was, enjoying a perfectly wonderful evening when the Bane decided to visit.”

Rhys’s insides twisted but he didn’t respond.

“And in order to save you men from a watery grave,” she continued, “Jaden and I had to battle the demons.” She took another long drink. “And let me tell you, there were a lot of them.”

He squeezed his eyes shut, rallying all three hundred years of his discipline to calm the beast raging inside him. “Explain.”

“They started singing this horrible song, and you and your crew turned into a bunch of mindless puppets, ready to follow them to your death. I restrained some of the men, but I couldn’t save everybody.” Her voice shook and she took another drink. “At least I saved you.”

He stared at her, sure she’d done everything she could to save the crew, but that wouldn’t be enough for her. He was certain she’d lament the loss of the few she didn’t save. “What happened to the Bane?”

“I blasted the leader and they either flew away or were sucked into the cloud—just like at the inn.” She sighed. “But I can’t say for certain.” She looked at him and smiled. “I couldn’t have done it without Jade.”

Jealousy gnawed at Rhys as he watched the obvious camaraderie between Ravyn and Jaden. She held her cup up in a toast to the young man, the look of hero worship mocking Rhys’s ability to shield. The Bane had attacked and he’d been helpless to defend anything. Guilt and failure burned through him. All his life he’d protected humans, but when it mattered the most, he hadn’t been strong enough to protect her. Anger pushed at him to lash out, but against whom? The woman and boy who had saved them?

He moved to stand, but his leg yanked against the iron band clamped around his ankle. “Why am I shackled?”

“For your own protection,” Ravyn said. “So the Bane couldn’t carry you away.”

He ran his hands through his hair and glanced helplessly around at the carnage. A charred hole the size of Sampson smoldered in the center of the ship’s deck. He growled and pointed at the devastation, not trusting himself to speak.

Ravyn held up her hand. “That was my fault.” she admitted. “Well, mostly my fault. Icarus moved before I could blast him.”

“Icarus?” Rhys kicked the forgotten flute across the deck with his unshackled leg. The instrument whistled in protest. “Icarus was here?”

His mind reeled at the possible outcomes this evening could have had. The damage to his ship seemed inconsequential compared to the potential loss of Ravyn. His throat tightened, and a cold wave of desperation rushed through him as his body rebelled against the very idea of Icarus being close enough to abduct her, and him only feet away, unable to help.

“Yes, but he got away.” Ravyn pulled herself to a standing position and clung to the edge of the wine cask. She plunged her cup into the ruby liquid and handed the dripping vessel back to Jaden. He accepted the cup and traded it for his empty mug. After successfully repeating the task, Ravyn turned and slid back to the deck.

Rhys watched her, his mind unwilling to grasp what had happened tonight. He grabbed onto the obvious. “Are you drunk?”

“That’s my fault,” Jaden said. “She was a little upset.” Ravyn sniggered. “Well, hysterical, really. I thought this would calm her down.”

“Jade, you’re a true gentleman,” Ravyn said. She looked at the boy and burst out laughing.

Jealousy fanned Rhys’s already simmering anger. “
Jade
? You two have become very friendly while I was unconscious.”

Ravyn wiped tears from her eyes and sighed. She looked at him and slowly pointed a finger. “Fooled you.”

She leaned forward and knocked the hat off Jaden’s head. A wealth of silvery-blond hair spilled down his shoulders, instantly transforming Jaden from a young lad to a stunning young woman. Jaden giggled and pushed the silver strands out of her eyes.

“She fooled everybody,” Ravyn added.

Rhys stared in disbelief. “You’re a
girl
?”

“I told you he was smart.” Ravyn said.

“You told me.” Jade tipped her cup.

“A girl?” How had he not seen it? It was so obvious now. “You’re a girl?”

“Not very quick, though,” Jade added. “Maybe I bashed him too hard with the shovel.”

Rhys rubbed the back of his head. “Is that why I have a raging headache?”

Jade smiled and patted the handle of the shovel lying beside her. “Crude but effective.”

“A little too effective,” he said. Rhys bit back the rest of his terse retort. How could he complain? Ravyn and Jade had saved nearly every man onboard. The revelation dug deep, and his anger grew—not at the women but at himself and his broken promise to protect Ravyn.

“Do you have the keys?”

“Keys?” Ravyn asked.

He shook his leg. “To unlock them.”

She gave him a wide-eyed look and shook her head. “Sorry, but if you tell me where they are I can get them.”

Now that they were relatively safe, the last thing he needed was her to fall down the hatch and break her neck. He scanned the deck. Luc lay by the edge of the ship, unshackled.

“Luc,” Rhys shouted.

His friend didn’t move.

“Luc,” he shouted again.

Jade rose a little unsteadily to her feet and gave the shovel a little twirl. “I’ll wake him.”

“No.” Ravyn reached up and snatched the tool from her hand. “No more bashing Luc in the head.”

Jade pouted. “You’re no fun.”

She wove her way across the deck and stopped beside him, staring for a few seconds. Without warning, she hauled her foot back and kicked him in the ribs.

Rhys flinched.

“Wake up,” Jade shouted. When he didn’t move, she tried again. “Hey, ignoramus, wake up.”

As she let her foot fly, Luc rolled and caught her ankle, upending her. Jade shrieked as she crashed to the deck. With lightning speed, he rolled on top and pinned her beneath him, his big body wedged tightly between her thighs.

“Get off of me you filthy piece of…”

He kissed her. The words died in her mouth and her body stiffened. Ravyn burst out laughing. Rhys blinked and shook his head. What madness had possessed this night?

Luc broke off the kiss and grinned arrogantly down at Jade. A dreamy smile drifted across her face as her hand slid up his torso and bunched a handful of material at the neck of his tunic. Her voice dripped with honey. “Luc?”

His superior smile grew. “Yes?”

“Don’t ever…” Her smile vanished a second before her fist slammed into his jaw. His head snapped back, and Jade heaved him off her and climbed to her feet. “…touch me again.”

He rolled to a sitting position while rubbing his jaw, and glanced around the ship. “What happened?”

“You kissed me, you big lunk-headed lamebrain. Who do you think you are?” She drew back her fist in a threat. “Don’t ever kiss me again. Why did you kiss me anyway?” She waved her hands in the air. “Never mind,” she sputtered. “I don’t care why you kissed me, just don’t ever do it again. Do you hear me? Next time you’ll draw back a bloody lip.”

Luc ignored her rant and pushed up from the deck. He gripped the ship’s railing to steady himself and slid his hand to the back of his head. He winced. Rhys sympathized with his friend. His skull throbbed, and he was fairly certain Jade had hit Luc with more enthusiasm than he’d been subjected to.

Luc’s brow knit as he appraised Jade. “Weren’t you a man a few hours ago?”

“No, I wasn’t a man,” Jade snapped. Color rose in her cheeks. “I mean, I was
dressed
as a man, but I’ve always been a woman. You’re just too thickheaded to notice.”

“If you wanted me to notice, then why did you dress like a man?”

“Pompous ass. You think every woman is begging for your attention.” She thrust her thumb at her chest. “Well, I’m not.”

“I suggest you pick a gender and stick with it.” He straightened from the rail, once again ignoring her sputters of indignation, and walked to Rhys.

Rhys shook his foot and rattled the chain. “Do you know where the keys are to these leg irons?”

Luc looked down. “Why are you shackled?”

“So the Bane wouldn’t carry him off,” Ravyn said, slowly standing. “Jade did it.”

Luc glared at Jade. “I wasn’t shackled.”

She covered her mouth with her hand in mock innocence. “Oops.”

Luc’s mumbles faded as he disappeared belowdecks to retrieve the keys. Within minutes he’d set the crew free from the manacles but not from the effects of the sirens’ song. Or Jade’s shovel.

Rhys clenched his jaw as Ravyn retold the events of the evening as best she could. The crew cursed and gasped at all the appropriate moments. With each detail, the weight of his failure pressed around him. What if he’d lost Ravyn? He stepped away from the crowd and moved to examine the smoldering hole in the deck.

As he reached for a blackened plank of wood, his hand quivered. He curled his fingers into a fist in an effort to stop the shaking, and squeezed until his nails dug deep into the palms of his hands. Loss. Grief. Failure. All the pain he’d shut away centuries ago boiled to the surface. A lump formed in his throat as the crushing weight of responsibility pressed down on him again. He could not run away from his duty, no matter how hard he tried. He was too close to Ravyn. She disarmed him and made him careless. He’d grown soft. And though he didn’t want to admit it, he cared too much for her to be a worthy protector.

The barriers around his heart galvanized as he wrapped himself in the duty and honor of being a Shield. Yes, he had been happy since he’d found her, more content than he could remember. But at what cost? He’d dropped his guard and become complacent. What right did he have to put others in peril just so he could be happy? None. He hadn’t earned the right. What’s more, he didn’t have anybody to share the burden of duty with. He was a full-blooded Bringer, a Shield, the protector of mankind…and nothing more.

He walked back to the circle of crew members. Ravyn leaned against a pole and yawned. Tomorrow would be soon enough to explain that he needed to distance himself. His chest tightened when she smiled at him, and try as he might, he couldn’t bring himself to smile back. How could he? There was nothing to be happy about. He’d have to harden his heart against his feelings for Ravyn and once again embrace his coldhearted mistress, responsibility. His gaze slid from Ravyn and focused on Luc.

“Why are you on the ship?” Luc said to Jade.

She smiled sweetly. “To kill you.”

The crew snickered.

Luc’s gaze narrowed. “Where’s your family?”

Jade glared at him. “Dead.”

He opened his mouth but Rhys cut him off. “Enough. She saved our lives. We owe her our gratitude, not our suspicions.” He cocked an eyebrow at his friend. “Find her new quarters.”