“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?”