A Pirate's Agony (Legends of the Soaring Phoenix Book 3) Read Free Page A

the ground, he gritted his teeth and widened his stance. A cool breeze brushed over him. He staggered. He was a big man, but in his weakened state, a small gust could knock him on his arse. Lush jungle with palm trees, jungle flowers, and ferns beckoned. Cover. He needed to rest and hide, but it was so far away. Less than a hundred feet, but it might as well be a hundred miles. 
    Trying to push back the thumping pain in the back of his head, he forced himself to move. His boots sank into the sand, his feet squishing in the soggy leather. Move. Just Move.
    Something splashed behind him. A chorus of phhishhht and stomps launched fear in his swirling gut. He glanced over his shoulder. His heart stopped. Cold, hard, terror turned his pirate bravery into mush.
    Men on horseback. A large bulky man pointed. “There. We found one! Get the large buck.”
    Christ, slave traders.
    Amadi drew on his vampire strength and ran for freedom, but his wobbly legs failed to obey. He stumbled onto the sand. Not caring about his pounding head or swirling stomach, he sprinted toward the jungle. He refused to be a slave again, to feel the harsh lash against his back, to be robbed of his dignity. Death was a better alternative.
    Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. 
    The galloping horses gained on him—determined to trample on his freedom. Hot breath hit the back of his neck. Sand and water sprayed on the back of his legs. The men whooped and howled.
    “Get ’im, Sammy!”
    Amadi’s blood pumped between his ears, roaring faster than the waves whirling around his boots. Birds cawed from the shadowy jungle as if shouting “Escape. Escape. Escape.”
    If he made it into the jungle, he might have a chance to outmaneuver them. Just one more step…
    Something draped over his neck. A noose! Amadi grabbed the end to brush it off. But his efforts failed. It ripped through his fingers like a whip.
    He flew through the air and landed smack on his back, knocking the air out of his lungs. He lay stunned.
    The rope pulled on his neck, and he slid across the sand that scraped his body. Gasping, he yanked out his sword. He rolled onto his stomach and sliced the rope. Five men on horseback surrounded him. He scrambled to his feet and scowled.
    Don’t show fear.
    Hate burned his gut. He would not be a slave. Vampire or human, if he had to, he’d kill them all. 
    “What the hell?” A skinny man sat on his horse. His eyes wide, he examined the cut rope. “The buck’s got a sword.”
    “He darn got a whip on his hip.”
    A man spat onto the sand. “Don’t you know darkies ain’t supposed to have weapons, boy?”
    Amadi narrowed his eyes at the spit-chewing swine. He’d not been called “boy” since he was a slave on the Sorcière de Mer .
    He undid his whip and prayed he possessed the strength to wield it.
    The skinny man wiped the sweat from his brow. “I think this here darkie don’t know who he’s dealing with…”
    “Aye, Dubois won’t like this.”
    Dubois? Hell, the bastard overseer was still alive. When Hannah had been kidnapped and taken to the Sorcière de Mer , Amadi should have killed Dubois when he had the chance, but there wasn’t time. Capt’n had been hurt too badly. Bloody mistake.
    Another sour-looking man clicked his heels against his horse and edged him forward. Amadi flicked the whip. Snap. Crackle.
    The whip hit the horse on its snout. It whinnied and reared, barely missing Amadi with its hooves. Close, too close. He stepped aside, but he wasn’t fast enough. A hoof slammed into his shoulder. He staggered backward. Pain blinded him, but he managed to hold on to the whip.
    Sweat slipped into his eyes. Between his throbbing head and shoulder, he should pass out. Most men would. But he wasn’t most men. He held the whip in his hand, ready to slash beast or man.
    He wished with all his might that the crew would burst out of the jungle, or that William would fly down from the sky and exhale fire onto the tormentors. But he was alone. Alone