Chapter 16 Rhyland
Rhyland
"Retreat!" someone bellows, his voice thick with pain and fear. "Every man for himself!"
And just like that, the tide turns. What's left of Bloodbane's crew scramble over each other in their haste to get to the doors, their faces pale with terror as they flee for their lives.
I let out a roar of pure, savage fury, ready to give chase. But before I can move, Erik's hand clamps down on my shoulder, his grip like iron.
"Let them go," Erik growls, his voice low and deadly. "We have more important things to worry about."
For a moment, I want to argue, want to tear my arm from his grasp and go after those fleeing bastards. But then… Dani. And just like that, the rage drains out of me, replaced by a cold, implacable fury that burns in my veins like ice.
I burst into the back room, my heart pounding. The scent of Dani's blood hits me like a punch to the gut, and I freeze, my eyes widening in horror.
The room is a disaster. Chairs and tables are overturned, smashed to kindling. And there, on the floor, is a pool of blood.
Dani's blood.
Her daggers lay scattered on the floor, a stark reminder of the fight she put up.
I reach out instinctively, my voice a raw growl. "Baby, where are you? Talk to me..."
But there's nothing. No answer. She's hurt and in a bad way.
For a moment, I can't move, can't breathe. It's like the world has stopped turning. And then the rage hits me, a tidal wave of fury and desperation that threatens to drown me.
I let out a scream that's half agony, half rage, and slam my fists into the wall with all my strength. Wood splinters and cracks beneath my hands, but I barely feel it. All I can feel is the sickening dread, the gut-wrenching fear for my mate.
Erik is instantly by my side, his face draining of color as he enters the scene. He knows what this means and knows that Dani is gone—taken.
I burst out of the tavern, my heart pounding like a war drum. The hot, musty air slaps me in the face, but I barely feel it. All I can think about is Dani, my angel, my heart, my fucking soul.
I cast out my senses, searching for any trace of her, any hint of her presence. And there, on the edge of my consciousness, I feel her—she is close.
I latch onto it like a drowning man latching onto a rope, and then I'm running, my feet pounding against the sand as I race towards the docks.
The bright moon casts an eerie glow over the water, illuminating the scene before me. And there, pulling away from the docks is a massive ship with blood-red flags hoisted high.
No. No, no, no.
FUCK!
They have her. Those fucking bastards have my girl, and they're taking her away from me.
But I won't let them. I won't let them take her, not now, not ever.
I run faster, my feet flying over the sand like I'm running on air. I can hear Erik behind me, his feet pounding against the sand as he tries to keep up.
But I don't slow down, don't hesitate. I just keep running, my eyes locked on that fucking ship like it's the only thing in the world that matters.
Because it is, Dani is on that ship, and I won't rest or stop until I have her back in my arms where she belongs.
I reach the end of the docks just as the massive Galleon begins to pull away, the water churning beneath its hull. For a heart-stopping moment, I think I'm too late, that I've lost her forever.
But then I spot it—a small rowboat tied to the dock, bobbing gently in the water.
I don't even think. I leap into the boat; my only thought is getting to that ship and tearing it apart plank by fucking plank if I have to. Erik is right behind me, his face set with grim determination.
"Lads!" It's Gideon, clutching his side as he staggers towards us, his shirt dark with blood. "Ye won't catch 'em in that little cockleshell."
I snarl, slamming my fist against the side of the boat hard enough to send splinters flying. He's right, damn him. This pathetic excuse for a vessel will never catch that ship, not in a thousand years.
I turn to Gideon, my eyes blazing. "Then we take your ship," I growl, my voice low and deadly. "Now."
Gideon meets my gaze, his own eyes glinting with fierce approval. "Aye," he agrees, spitting a glob of blood onto the dock. "Let's be on our way, then."
Erik and I scramble out of the dinghy, meeting with Gideon on the shore. The old pirate captain straightens up, his voice booming across the docks.
"Finn! Ye mangy cur, where are ye?"
Finn appears momentarily, his face a mask of confusion and concern. "Cap'n? What's all this, then?"
"We're setting sail," Gideon snaps. "Get the ship ready, and be quick about it."
Finn gapes at him, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Cap'n, have ye lost yer bloody mind? We can't go after the Crimson Brotherhood. It's suicide!"
I take a step forward, ready to tear the insubordinate little shit limb from limb, but Gideon beats me to it. He rounds on Finn, his face thunderous, his eyes flashing.
"They have the girl, ye idiot! Ye'll do as yer Cap'n commands, boy," he snarls. "Or ye'll answer to me. Now move yer arse, before I kick it from here to the Mermaid's Cove."
Finn's eyes widen, "Fuck." he shakes his head as a look of anger crosses his features. He swallows hard, his throat bobbing, and nods. "Aye, Cap'n," a hint of sadness in his tone. "We'll have her ready to sail in two shakes."
"See that ye do," Gideon growls before returning to Erik and me. "Come on, lads. Let's get ye armed and ready. We've got a damsel to save and a sea witch to gut from stem to stern."
I nod, my jaw clenched tight. Every instinct I have is screaming at me to just leap into the fucking water and swim after that ship—to tear it apart with my bare hands until I have Dani safe in my arms again.
She's powerless right now, and if I had to guess, is hurt pretty badly since she's gone silent on me.
But as much as it kills me, I know Gideon's right. We need a ship of our own, need the speed and the firepower and a crew of ruthless sons of bitches at our backs. So I follow him up the gangplank, my heart pounding like a war drum and my blood singing with the promise of the violence to come.
Hold on, baby. Just hold the fuck on. I'm coming for you, and I'm bringing hell with me.
Those bastards have no idea what's about to hit them, no clue about the world of pain they just brought down on their own heads.
They think they can take what's mine? They think they can lay a hand on my mate and just fucking sail away into the sunset?
They've got another thing coming. I'll hunt them to the ends of this fucking realm if I have to, through hell and high water and everything in between.
And when I catch them... when I finally lay my hands on the filthy bastard that dared to touch my girl...
There won't be enough left of him to feed the fish.
That's a promise sworn on in my honor as a Viking, warrior, her man, and mate.
I'm coming for you, Angel.
And God help anyone who gets in my fucking way.