Free Mistress of the Stone by Maria Zannini Page A

woman to sit in your room.”
    “But why didn’t he follow us? We could have rendezvoused at any time.”
    Paqua shrugged and let out a long sigh. “We were supposed to meet in Istanbul. That was the plan. Saint-Sauveur must have discovered our plot and held him hostage. Inácio could be dead.”
    “But you said he was still alive.”
    “I said he was on the island. But I have no idea what condition he’s in.”
    Paqua leaned over and rested his hand over hers. “Someone betrayed us, querida . Someone captured your father before he could leave and turned him over to that French cutthroat. I don’t believe Saint-Sauveur worked alone.”
    Luísa’s hands clenched into fists. “That traitor will be found and punished by my oath. First, we get Papa.”
    “Aye, Luísa. We will go to the Isla de Sempiterno and find your father. The signs have told me so. But know thee well there’ll be a price to pay. Many will die.”
    Luísa wet her lips, unwilling to admit they were risking every man on board in order to save her father. “No man turns pirate without knowing the risks, viejo .”
    “Aye,” he said softly. “But as pirates, we fight mortal men for earthly treasure. If we go to Sempiterno , we might very well fight for our eternal souls.” He pushed the ivory box toward her. “Yours,” he said. “You might need this now.”
    Luísa opened the box, half expecting something to crawl out. Instead she found a silver chain attached to a blue stone so pale and soft, it looked almost ghostly. It sang to her. “ Dios mío ,” she gasped. “What sort of deviltry is this? It throws my brain in a swoon.” Luísa braced herself against the edge of the table.
    “Are you all right?”
    “Don’t you hear it?”
    “I hear nothing but the groans of the ship.” Paqua lifted the necklace out of the box and placed it in her hands. “If you hear the stone, it’s because it recognizes you. ’Tis your birthright. Your father should have given it to you long ago. It is a seer’s stone.”
    “It’s magicked then?”
    “Very much so. All moonstones tell the future to the right eyes, but this one can do more. It can channel magic.”
    Luísa rolled her eyes at him. “What good is it then? I don’t know any magic.”
    “Magic is in the blood, niña . Your mother had it and her mother before her.”
    “Bah, viejo ! Mamacita never spoke of such things.”
    He gurgled a laugh. “Aye. I’m not surprised. Your Mamacita was a proud woman. She’d never admit to sorcery.” He polished the smooth stone with his scarred thumb. “But this gem is the very reason Inácio raised you in Spain rather than in his homeland in Brasil .”
    Luísa lifted her brow in suspicion. “Why Spain?”
    Paqua shrugged. “Perhaps because it is an ocean away from the West Indies and Saint-Sauveur.”
    “Must that frog-eater haunt me all the rest of my days? What connection does he have to this stone?”
    “None, save the unholy obsession for making it his. The stone is a tool. But it is powerless without its mate, an identical stone that was worn by your greatly grandmother nearly two hundred years ago.”
    “Then it is useless to him and to me.”
    “Perhaps. None of us know for sure.”
    She fondled it, losing herself to its song. “It’s beautiful though. Isn’t it?”
    “It’s cursed,” he said flatly. “And I fear so are you.”

Chapter Six
    Daltry felt better now. He felt human, especially since last night when Luísa came down to check on him.
    He smelled the heat on her and it took all his willpower to rein in his impulse. The girl tempted fate, prancing in front of him like a naughty vixen. Did she think he wouldn’t notice the way she brushed against him or swung her hips as she walked away? He had a good mind to give her a sound spanking—after he made love to her, of course.
    The sound of another visitor beckoned. Daltry hoped it was Luísa again, but no. It was the boy.
    Dooley had returned with clean water and a