Chapter Twenty-Two
Amy awoke to the sound of the shower running. She stretched her arms over her head, wincing at the tenderness between her thighs.
She’d teased Zaureth until he’d taken her once more. Not that she regretted it; she wanted him again.
Amy threw the covers back and felt her way to the bathroom. She opened the shower curtain and stepped inside with Zaureth.
He immediately opened his mind to her, bringing light to her otherwise dark existence.
“How are you feeling?” He bent and brushed a kiss across her lips.
Amy could see her own nakedness through Zaureth’s eyes, could feel the desire he felt as he stared down at her. “I’m in heaven, if that answers your question.”
“You are not sore from our coupling?”
“A little,” Amy confessed, knowing he would be able to read a lie if she spoke one. “But it’s not as painful as I thought it would be. I want you again.”
Zaureth reached down and cupped her face. “I will not take you again so soon.”
Amy covered his hands with hers. “I can’t seem to get enough of you. I want to learn all the different ways to please you.”
“You please me by breathing, sweet one.”
Releasing her face, Zaureth lowered to his knees before her. “I want to wed with you in your human custom.”
Amy’s heart skipped a beat. “You want to marry me?”
“Yes,” Zaureth rasped, wrapping his arms around her waist. “As well as mate with you, the Bracadyte way.”
Tears filled Amy’s eyes. She lifted trembling hands to his face, running her fingers along his cheeks. “I would be honored to be your wife, your lover…your mate.”
Zaureth crushed her to him, burying his lips against her neck. “I will speak with Oz about the details. We are to meet with him in the gym in half an hour.”
Amy returned Zaureth’s hug before coasting her hands up his sides. “What is this?” The grooves along his ribs were prominent.
Zaureth hesitated. “They are called gills.”
Running her fingertips over each one, Amy leaned in and touched her lips to one. “I’d been told that you have these.” She kissed another one. “As well as the barbs. Will you show them to me?”
Lifting his wrists, Zaureth held completely still as Amy studied the slightly darker shade of skin.
She reached for it. “That is a barb?”
“Do not touch it,” Zaureth rasped, taking a step back. “It contains venom that is dangerous to humans.”
Amy tilted her head. “So, if I accidentally touch one, I could become sick?”
“No,” Zaureth assured her. “They can only harm you when they are erect. The barbs are strictly for self-defense and a way to obtain food.”
“Thank you for showing me.” Amy stood on tiptoe and kissed Zaureth’s chest before stepping under the warm spray of the water.
The feel of Zaureth soaping up her body surprised her. “You don’t have to bathe me,” she teased, enjoying his soft touch.
His hand slid between her thighs. “But I want to.”
Amy moaned as Zaureth gently cleansed her feminine parts, tenderly brushing his fingers against her over sensitive bundle of nerves.
“Zaureth…”
“It is too soon,” he rumbled, removing his hands from her center. “Once you have healed, I will stay inside you, day and night. You will grow tired of my attention.”
He rose to his feet. “Turn around so that I might wash your hair.”
Amy did as he instructed, instantly missing his hands on her body. And then his fingers were lathering her hair.
“Oh my God, that feels so good,” Amy groaned, her head instinctively falling forward.
Zaureth chuckled. “Your head is sensitive as well.”
“You have no idea. I would pay to have someone brush it for me daily.”
“I would be honored to brush your hair,” Zaureth rumbled in a deep voice. “Every day for the rest of my life.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
Helping her rinse, Zaureth shut off the water, stepped from the shower, and wrapped her in a big, fluffy towel. “Would you like for me to retrieve your clothes?”
Amy smiled. “I can dress myself. I’m just going to brush my teeth. I’ll be out in a minute.”
Zaureth kissed the top of her head and left the bathroom, pulling the door closed behind him.
Amy leaned against the sink and blew out a shuddering breath. She had never been one to wallow in self-pity, but she’d resigned herself, years ago, to being alone.
In all her life, Amy never would have imagined herself where she was today, not only in love and about to be married, but in love with a giant creature from the depths of the gulf. A Bracadyte, a healer…an anomaly.
She spent the next few minutes brushing her teeth and drying some of the water from her hair before opening the bathroom door.
“I never imagined you either,” Zaureth quietly confessed, standing in the open doorway.
He gently took hold of her hand and led her across the room to the bed.
“Are you certain that I cannot help you to dress?”
Amy relented with a chuckle. “Okay. I’ll have to wear what I had on yesterday. All of my things were destroyed in the explosion.”
A growl rumbled deep in Zaureth’s chest. “I will see that you have everything you need before we leave for Aukrabah.”
“All I need is you,” Amy assured him. “And maybe something to cover my tush.”
Zaureth grew quiet for a moment. “I am not familiar with the meaning of tush.”
“My rear. Bottom. Behind.”
A deep laugh erupted from Zaureth. “You will always have a covering for your tush. Otherwise, I would be forced to slay every male in Aukrabah.”
Amy laughed as well. “We can’t have that.”
Once Zaureth finished helping Amy dress, she pulled her hair back into a ponytail, slipped on her shoes, and allowed him to guide her toward the door. “Did Oz say why he wants us to meet him in the gym?”
“He did not,” Zaureth answered, opening the door. “But his adamant tone suggested it was important.”
Amy sighed. “I wish everything would calm, and life could go back to normal.”
Zaureth led her into the hall. “I fear that normal has become a thing of the past.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Zaureth took the elevator to keep Amy from having to brave the stairs. He could have scooped her up and carried her to the gym, but he feared her misinterpreting his actions for impatience.
Amy’s independence and strength were two of the qualities Zaureth loved most about her. That and the way her eyes lit up when she laughed. And her scent. Ah, her scent drove him insane with need.
Shaking off his thoughts lest he snatch her up and run back to bed with her, Zaureth opened his mind to her, giving her his sight.
“So, this is what the inside of a stairwell looks like,” Amy murmured, slowing her steps to take it all in. “It’s a lot bigger than I imagined.”
They came to the first floor. “I will carry you through the lobby. There are many obstacles lying about from the attack by Carlito.”
Amy nodded her consent. “Such a gentleman.”
Zaureth scooped her up into his arms and carried her through the lobby, stepping over debris to safely reach the gym.
Everyone was in attendance, including some people he’d never seen before.
“Have a seat,” Oz offered, nodding toward a couple of empty chairs.
Zaureth gently deposited Amy into one of the chairs before taking a seat next to her.
Oz tugged a band from his wrist and pulled his hair back into a ponytail before taking a deep breath and facing the small crowd. “As most of you know, Carlito Acosta has yet to be located.”
“Are any of the prisoners talking?” Mallory asked from her position next to Vaulcron.
“Prisoner,” Oz corrected,
leaning a hip against a piece of machinery. “We have his sister.”
Zaureth lifted an eyebrow. “What of the other man being held in the basement?”
Oz’s jaw tightened. “He didn’t survive.”
Zaureth let that sink in. “And the female?”
“She’s still not talking,” Oz admitted. “But she will. I just need a little more time with her.”
Hauke shifted in his seat. “Time is not something that we have a luxury of. Carlito is more than likely gathering an army as we speak.”
“Hauke’s right,” Abbie piped in. “We’re sitting ducks.”
Oz held up a hand. “Which is why I’ve asked you all here this morning. I’ve procured another boat. We leave in an hour for Aukrabah.”
“What about Mallory?” Amy blurted, worry evident in her tone. “She can’t dive in her condition.”
“None of us will be diving,” Oz stated. “There isn’t enough time to replace the dive equipment that we lost in the explosion. We are going to have to go in through the land entrance.”
“But that means we will have to return to the States,” Hauke growled. “It is far too dangerous for Abbie to be on American soil.”
Regret settled in Oz’s eyes. “I know, but it’s the only choice we have.” He glanced at Vaulcron. “Since it’s approximately going to be a forty-five-mile walk through the tunnels, I’ve arranged to have a wheelchair on the boat for Mallory. She can’t be expected to walk that far in her condition.”
Zaureth could feel Amy’s relief.
“I hate being such a burden,” Mallory softly muttered.
Vaulcron wrapped an arm around her, pulling her head against his shoulder. “You are not a burden. That is my child you carry in your womb. I will do anything to keep you both safe.”
A thought suddenly occurred to Zaureth. He’d made love to Amy twice the night before. What if his seed had taken root inside her womb? He would take her to Aukrabah and keep her there, safe from the horrors of the surface.
“What about you?” Zaureth asked, pinning Oz with a curious stare. “Will you be coming with us to Aukrabah?”
Oz nodded. “For a short time. At least until I can get the information I need from Carlito’s sister.”
Zaureth narrowed his eyes. “You are bringing the female to our home?”
“I have no choice,” Oz bit out. “I can’t let her go, and I can’t kill her. She’s the only one who can tell me how to find her brother.”
Zaureth wasn’t convinced. “And if she talks? What then? You cannot allow her to live once she has knowledge of Aukrabah’s location. What is to prevent her from returning with the Cuban cartel?”
“She won’t have knowledge of Aukrabah,” Oz assured him. “She’ll be blindfolded and bound the entire trip.”
Vaulcron shifted in his seat. “I do not like it.”
“Neither do I,” Oz mumbled, striding toward the door, “but it’s the only way.” He stopped with his hand on the knob. “The boat’s name is Apocalypse.”
“How fitting,” Tony remarked in a slightly sarcastic voice.
Zaureth stood, tugging Amy up with him. He turned to face Hauke, Anthony, and Vaulcron. “Oz is correct. If Carlito is not found soon, he will return to this place with an army of human weapons, killing everything in his path.”
“This is all my fault,” Naura whispered, getting to her feet.
Abbie jumped up also, wrapping an arm around Naura’s shoulders. “How can you say that? You had nothing to do with Oz’s past affiliation with the Cuban cartel.”
“No, but I am responsible for the virus that is taking so many lives. The same virus that brought the human military down on Aukrabah and sent us fleeing to Cuba to begin with.”
“Nonsense,” Abbie protested. “The human government is responsible for the explosion that brought the Bracadytes to the surface. They are also the ones who mutated the virus into the deadly weapon it is today.”
Naura hugged Abbie back. “Then why do I feel so incredibly guilty?”
“Because you have a heart.” Abbie pulled back to kiss Naura’s cheek. “You all do. The humans could learn a thing or ten from you.”
Naura sighed, returning to Tony’s side. “I am ready to go home.”
Zaureth lifted Amy into his arms once more before meeting Mallory’s gaze. “Your sister lost most of her belongings in the explosion. Would you see to it that—”
“I’ll grab her what I can from the gift shop. She can wear some of my things. It’s not like I can squeeze into them anymore,” Mallory teased, stepping forward to brush a kiss on Amy’s arm. “See you at the boat.”
Thanks, Mal,” Amy acknowledged with a soft smile.
Zaureth carried Amy through the lobby and out the front door of the hotel. He took a right toward the marina, blinking in awe of the majestic Apocalypse anchored nearby.
A gasp escaped Amy as she obviously appreciated its beauty and great size as well. “Is that what we are taking?”
“It would seem so,” Zaureth answered, noticing Oz moving about, barking orders.
Striding onto the dock, Zaureth nodded toward the boat as he approached Oz. “Is it safe?”
A muscle ticked along Oz’s jaw. “Yes. I’ve had it guarded since its delivery this morning. Come,” he murmured, climbing into the dingy that would take them to the yacht. “I’ll show you around.”
Zaureth followed Oz onto the dingy, placing Amy on the seat next to him. He gripped the oar handles and helped Oz row.
They arrived at the Apocalypse a couple minutes later. Zaureth carried Amy up the ladder, keeping his mind open to her as he set her on her feet.
“Oh wow,” Amy breathed, her face lit up in amazement. “This is incredible.”
Oz waved a hand toward the hall. “I’ve wanted this beauty for a long time, but could never talk the guy into selling it.”
“What changed his mind?” Amy inquired, following along next to Zaureth.
Oz shrugged. “He died recently, and apparently his daughter needed the money.”
Stopping in front of the first door on the left, Oz threw it open. “You two can have this room. I hope it will suffice.”
Zaureth took in the elaborate space with a nice-sized bed situated in its center. “It is more than sufficient. Thank you, Oz.”
“My pleasure.” Oz turned back toward the front of the yacht. He stopped and called back over his shoulder. “Make yourselves at home. It’s stocked with plenty of food.”
Zaureth nodded his thanks before facing Amy. “Would you like something to eat?”
“I’m starved,” Amy shyly admitted.
Zaureth offered her his arm. “I am hungry myself.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Amy and Zaureth wandered around the yacht until they came to the kitchen area. Amy had never imagined a kitchen quite so lavish.
A large refrigerator sat on the left side of the room, with a stove and sink flanking its right. Lights hung from the ceiling over a wooden table lined with stools and pots hanging from above it.
“This is called an island,” Amy informed Zaureth, running her hand over its surface. “My parents had one in their home.”
The shift in Zaureth’s emotions wasn’t lost on Amy. Curiosity fairly oozed from him.
“Tell me about your parents.”
Amy blew out a shaky breath and took a seat on one of the bar stools. “Mallory and I shared a mother. She died when I was a little girl.”
“And your father?” Zaureth pressed.
Memories assailed her. “My dad is an alcoholic. I was too much of a responsibility for him, so he dumped me on Mallory. She took care of me until I became an adult and moved into Piney Point.”
Zaureth sidled up next to her. “What is an alcoholic?”
Amy inwardly cringed. “A nightmare.”
“Tell me,” Zaureth persisted in a soft voice.
“Alcohol is a manmade drink that causes the mind to alter. How much it alters depends on how much on
e intakes.”
“The human wine,” Zaureth murmured, resting his palm on her shoulder.
“Among many others such as liquor and beer. There’s nothing wrong with consuming alcohol,” Amy conceded. “It can actually be quite fun when done in moderation. But some people can’t stop, and it quickly turns into an addiction, poisoning their mind and body until they become a shell of their former self.”
“I will never abandon you or any children that we might have,” Zaureth vowed, taking her face in his large hands.
Amy’s stomach fluttered. “Do you want children with me?” The thought of having Zaureth’s babies both frightened and excited her.
“As many as you are willing to give me.”
Tears threatened, but Amy blinked them back. “But my sight—”
“Does not matter to me. You will be a wonderful mother, little one. And I will be there to assist you in any way that is needed.”
“I love you, Zaureth.”
“What have we stumbled into?” Abbie teased, breezing into the room with Hauke following close behind.
Amy cleared her throat. “We were just about to grab a bite to eat. Would you like to join us?”
“I’m famished,” Abbie confessed, moving to open the refrigerator. “I’ll make breakfast. Would you like eggs or pancakes?”
Zaureth’s stomach growled. “I have never tasted a pancake.”
“You will love them,” Abbie announced, grabbing items from the refrigerator shelves.
Amy listened to all the different sounds around her as everyone filed into the kitchen.
“Is everyone accounted for?” Oz asked from the doorway. “We’re about to take off.”
Glenn entered the room with Fiona on his heels.
“We are all here,” Zaureth ground out, moving to stand behind Amy. He rested his hands on her shoulders.
Amy leaned back against his stomach, relieved to be leaving Cuba behind. With the uncertainty of the government, the cartel threat, and the virus on the verge of going airborne, she couldn’t wait to get to the safety of Aukrabah.
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