Oz: A SciFi Alien Romance (Enigma Series Book 5)

by Ditter Kellen

  Gryke shrugged. “I counted four on deck.”

  Oz came to a stop next to Vaulcron, who happened to be seated at the helm. Fiona stood nearby with a pair of binoculars resting at her golden eyes, her red hair partially hidden beneath a cap.

  “It’s definitely military,” Fiona announced, lowering the binoculars and turning to go. “I’ll take care of it.”

  Gryke gripped her by the arm. “I will be watching you. One wrong move, no matter how subtle, and I will end your life without question.”

  Fiona glanced down at Gryke’s hand wrapped around her arm before meeting his gaze once more. “Remove your filthy paws if you want to keep all of your fingers.”

  A growl rose up in Gryke’s throat, and his lips peeled back over his teeth. “You do not scare me, human. I suggest you—”

  A knife instantly pressing against Gryke’s throat cut off the rest of his threat.

  “Whoa,” Oz interjected, stepping forward with his hands out in front of him. “Let’s just calm down now. No need to—”

  The rest of Oz’s words were lost as Gryke moved with lightning speed, grabbed onto Fiona’s wrist, spun her around with her back to his chest, and forced the knife up to her own throat.

  Gryke leaned down close to her ear. “Do not ever pull a weapon on me unless you intend to use it. Else you will find yourself without a head.”

  “Easy, Gryke,” Vaulcron murmured, coming to stand behind the enraged Bracadyte. “Do not kill her, my friend. Father would not be pleased.”

  Gryke continued to hold the blade against Fiona’s neck for long moments before finally pushing her away from him. “Like I said. Not one wrong move.”

  Fiona staggered forward, grabbing onto the wall to keep from falling. She stopped at the door and glanced back over her shoulder. Though her face remained red with rage, her voice came out calm and clear. “Had I intended to use that knife on you, Bracadyte” —she put emphasis on the word Bracadyte— “you would be lying in a pool of your own blood right now. Don’t ever forget that.”

  “Well, then,” Oz remarked as Fiona disappeared through the doorway. “Now that we got that out of the way.”

  Oz could see the pulse beating in Gryke’s temples. A true testament of his rage.

  “How many weapons do we have on board?” Vaulcron inquired with a raised eyebrow.

  Oz nodded toward a locked hatch in the floor. “I have a pretty good arsenal down there, but not enough to fight off the military. Especially if they have called in for reinforcements.”

  Vaulcron nodded. “If they decide to attack, our safest route will be to return to Aukrabah.”

  “No can do,” Oz returned, moving to unlock the hatch. “We’ll never make it with Maria and Fiona in tow.”

  Gryke gripped Oz’s wrist, forcing Oz to face him. “You are willing to die for the two land walkers? If memory serves me, that female in your room is the sister of the man who tried to kill you.”

  Oz jerked free of Gryke’s hold. “She is not responsible for her brother’s actions. And I’ll be damned if I’ll leave her behind to die. You can go if you want. No one is stopping you.”

  Gryke spun toward the door. “I will not run from a fight. If you are determined to stay and fight, then I will stay and fight beside you. But I do it for you and Vaulcron. Not the humans.”

  “Fair enough,” Oz muttered as Gryke disappeared down the hall.

  Vaulcron touched Oz on the shoulder. “Do not take offense to Gryke’s actions. He is not fond of the land walkers.”

  “I can see that,” Oz remarked. “I just don’t understand his reasoning.”

  Vaulcron sighed. “His reasons are valid to him. But they are not mine to tell.”

  “Did something happen between him and the humans?”

  “That is something you will have to ask him, Oz. Gryke is a very private individual. He does not open up to many.”

  Oz flipped open the hatch and retrieved several handguns and a few rifles.

  Tossing one to Vaulcron, he began checking for ammunition. “You should probably be getting back. You have a baby on the way.”

  Vaulcron shook his head. “I will not leave you here to fight alone. Reinforcements are coming.”

  Surprised by his words, Oz met his gaze. “You sent for—”

  The sound of gunfire erupting on deck cut off the rest of Oz’s words. He ran toward the door leading into the hall before stopping at Maria’s room.

  Her eyes were huge in her face as Oz jerked the door open and stuck his head inside. “Lock this behind me, and don’t come out for any reason. Do you understand?”

  She nodded and ran across the room to do as he’d instructed.

  Racing up onto the deck, Oz emerged in time to see Fiona lying face down with Gryke’s big body covering her.

  Oz slid two handguns in their direction before taking cover behind a wall.

  Gryke snatched up the weapons and rolled off Fiona, taking her with him to join Oz against the wall.

  Vaulcron appeared. “Why have they fired upon us?”

  “They’re Jefferies’s men!” Fiona shouted over the sounds of gunfire. “I recognize two of them.”

  “We have to get below,” Oz growled, shielding his eyes from debris as bullets peppered the wood near his head.

  Turning back the way he’d come, Oz kept his head low and rushed back into the hall. He waited for the others to catch up before speaking. “How the hell did they find us?”

  Gryke swiveled his head in Fiona’s direction.

  “You think I told them?” Fiona threw her hands out to her sides. “How? I have no radio. No way of communicating with them. Besides, if I worked for them, then why are they firing on us with me on board?”

  “It doesn’t matter right now,” Oz snarled, running toward the wheelhouse stairs. “Let’s worry about staying alive. We can figure the rest out later, when we’re not being shot at.”

  Chapter Six

  Maria held her breath in fear as the sounds of gunshots exploded from above her.

  She could hear the shouts of men giving orders before more rounds of bullets were fired at the yacht.

  After everything she’d survived over the past week, she was going to die anyway.

  Crawling from the bed, Maria ran across the room and pressed her ear up against the door. Unable to hear anything above the insistent firing of weapons, she reached down, released the lock, and slowly turned the knob.

  The door cracked open a few inches, allowing her to see into the hall. There was no sign of Oz or the Bracadytes that had been with him.

  Had they been shot? she wondered, straining to listen.

  More gunfire ensued, closer this time, telling Maria that someone from the yacht had retaliated.

  After all the years she’d prayed for Oz’s demise, there was a possibility he’d been hit in the crossfire.

  Why was her heart pounding in dread that she’d find him gunned down?

  Slipping into the hall, Maria kept her head down and raced toward the steps that led to the wheelhouse.

  “Get down,” Oz growled as she rushed inside, nearly collapsing in relief to find him alive.

  Maria dropped to her knees next to Oz and glanced around at the room’s occupants.

  The two giant Bracadytes and a female military officer were crouched low, holding weapons in their hands and returning fire through the busted glass of the wheelhouse.

  “What’s going on?” Maria shouted above the chaos surrounding her.

  Oz rose up and unloaded a round through the opening before answering. “We’re under attack from the American military.”

  Maria nearly swallowed her tongue. “What the hell for?”

  “I don’t know,” Oz sarcastically snapped, reloading his weapon. “Why don’t you go out there and ask them?”

  The female soldier suddenly turned and glared at Oz. “Why don’t you leave her alone? She’s just scared, asshole.”

  Indignation flared to life. Maria hated more than a
nything to appear weak. “I’m not scared. I just don’t like not being able to defend myself. A gun would be nice.”

  A bullet whizzed past Maria’s head to embed in the wall behind her.

  “Point taken,” the female soldier admitted, tossing Maria a handgun.

  Oz abruptly snatched it from her before glaring at the uniformed female. “What the hell are you doing, G.I. Jane? She’s a prisoner here. You can’t hand her a weapon that she can use against me.”

  The shots grew closer as did the orders being barked from the enemy.

  Fear settled in Maria’s gut. “Give me the damn gun, Oz. I’m not going to kill you and risk one of those things” —she emphasized things, jerking her head in the Bracadytes’ direction— “turning on me.”

  Oz studied her for a heartbeat before handing her the weapon handle first. “If you shoot me, those two Bracadytes will rip your limbs from your body. Understand?”

  Maria accepted the gun with a nod. “Perfectly.”

  Something flew through the busted glass of the wheelhouse, filling the room with smoke.

  Maria’s eyes began to burn instantly, and breathing became impossible.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Oz shouted, grabbing Maria by the back of the shirt and dragging her along with him as he crawled for the door.

  The gunfire suddenly stopped, giving way to bloodcurdling screams.

  Maria’s heart felt as if it would burst from her chest at any moment.

  She crawled alongside Oz until they reached the safety of the hall.

  “What the hell?” Fiona whispered, glancing from face to face as the small crew staggered to their feet.

  Oz poked his head out onto the deck, his mouth hanging open in shock before descending the steps.

  Maria followed suit. As did the two Bracadytes and the female soldier.

  What Maria saw would forever be burned into her memory.

  Men, gripping the sides of their heads, were scattered around the boat that had attacked Oz’s yacht. Their military attire ran red with the blood coming from every orifice they possessed. Their backs were bowed and their mouths open in agony.

  “Holy shit,” Oz breathed, jerking his gaze to the right.

  There, not three feet from the side of the yacht stood the most unusual Bracadyte Maria had seen yet.

  His eyes were the color of the water he stood in, and white streaks ran from his temples to disappear into his dark black ponytail. His hands were stretched out in front of him, and his lips were pulled back over his teeth.

  Maria could almost see his body vibrating in the water from the sheer power he exuded.

  “Zaureth,” Vaulcron called out in a calm voice. “Do not kill them. You will only torment yourself if you do.”

  Something flickered in Zaureth’s eyes, but his arms remained extended, and his pale green gaze locked on to the military boat.

  Suddenly moving to the railing, Oz held out his hand toward the massive creature. “Zaureth?” he snapped, his voice rising. “Enough.”

  The one known as Zaureth lowered his arms to his side, a great shudder passing through him, and shifted his gaze to Oz. “They would have destroyed you without a second thought.”

  “I know,” Oz admitted, waving Zaureth over to the ladder. “But you’re not like them, Z. You’re a healer, not a killer. How did you know we were in trouble?”

  Zaureth climbed the ladder and stepped onto the yacht’s deck. “Mallory sent me to make sure that Vaulcron did not accompany you back to Cuba. I happened to be nearby when the weapons began to fire upon you.”

  “Thank God for that,” Oz stated, glancing toward the men now writhing in pain on deck of the military boat. “You have got to teach me that trick.”

  Maria stood frozen, unable to take her gaze from the powerful creature that had nearly killed a dozen men with only his mind. The same creature that had taken the life of one of her brother’s men in the same way only a week before.

  Oz stepped in front of her, blocking her vision of the intimidating Bracadyte. “You should get below.”

  She noticed a muscle flexing along his jaw. “Is that an order, Ozele?”

  “Does it need to be?” Oz murmured low enough that only she could hear.

  Maria turned and strode back toward the hall, stopping at the door to Oz’s room.

  With her hand on the knob, she glanced back in time to see Oz watching her with a strange look in his eyes.

  Maria stared back at him for a moment before letting herself inside and closing the door behind her.

  Chapter Seven

  Oz shook off the strange feeling he’d experienced after witnessing Maria’s obvious desire for Zaureth.

  What did it matter to Oz if she wanted the healer? She was nothing to him besides the aggravating sister of his enemy.

  Gryke strode over, stopping at Oz’s side. “If we do not destroy the humans on that boat, I fear we will only fight them again in the future. We might not be so lucky the next time we run into them.”

  “I agree,” Oz admitted, glancing across the deck at Vaulcron. “They want to keep peace, and I get that. But the men on that boat are traitors. Traitors hell bent on murdering us.”

  Gryke nodded, his eyes becoming hooded. “Then, we kill them after Vaulcron and Zaureth have gone.”

  An earsplitting blast suddenly exploded close by, rocking the yacht and nearly throwing Oz off his feet. He grabbed onto the banister of the steps for support, his gaze seeking out the source of the destruction.

  Fiona stood against the railing, staring out over the water at the flames shooting up from what was left of the military boat.

  Oz fought a grin as Gryke stormed across the deck to Fiona’s side. The Bracadyte guard was in for a rude awakening if he thought to control the female soldier, Oz mused, watching a different kind of flame fan to life. Fiona Henagar was a force to be reckoned with, and Gryke would do well to remember that.

  Vaulcron sauntered over, weariness evident in his every step. “It looks as if the female soldier has taken care of your problem.”

  Oz continued to watch the flames licking toward the sky. “It does. But I’m still curious as to how they knew where we were to begin with.”

  “That is a legitimate question,” Vaulcron mused aloud. “And one that needs to be investigated.”

  A strange suspicion overcame Oz. He shifted his gaze to Fiona, noticing the relaxed set to her shoulders. The American military was on that boat, Oz pondered, watching Fiona’s body language. And if he wasn’t mistaken, she seemed almost relieved that they were dead.

  “I must return to my mate. You will be all right from here?” Vaulcron muttered, interrupting Oz’s mental assessment of the situation.

  Oz clasped Vaulcron’s forearm in a friendly grip and nodded toward Fiona. “It appears we have Cersei Lannister on board. I’m quite confident we’ll be fine.”

  A small indention appeared between Vaulcron’s eyes. “I do not know of whom you speak, but I assume it is a good thing.”

  “Depends on whose side you’re on,” Oz quipped, grinning at Vaulcron’s expression.

  Zaureth appeared and touched Vaulcron on the arm. “Let us depart, my friend. Your mate has threatened to do me bodily harm if I do not have you back in time for dinner.”

  Vaulcron shook his head before turning to go. He stopped at the ladder and waited for Zaureth to descend into the water before following him down.

  Glancing at Oz one last time, Vaulcron disappeared beneath the water alongside Zaureth.

  Oz trailed off toward the wheelhouse, suddenly in a hurry to get as far from the burning boat as possible. Who knew if the military had called for backup before Fiona tossed that grenade onto their boat? Oz wasn’t planning on sticking around to find out.

  * * * *

  Oz had been keeping the yacht at a steady pace for the past two hours without incident.

  Thunder rolled in the distance, and lightning streaked across the now darkening sky.

  Gryke
stepped into the wheelhouse and leaned against the wall. “The storm rolling in will be a big one.”

  “I’m aware,” Oz admitted, nodding toward the radio situated in the dash. “I’ve been listening to the weather reports.”

  Gryke crossed his arms over his chest. “How much longer before we reach your home?”

  “Under normal circumstances, approximately seven hours. But depending on the severity of the storm, it could take quite a bit longer.”

  “If this vessel cannot withstand the angry waves of the gulf, the human women will be in danger.”

  “I know.” Oz had thought about nothing else since hearing of the impending weather.

  Changing the subject, Oz pinned Gryke with a serious look. “What is your take on Fiona?”

  Gryke cocked his head to the side. “My take?”

  “Your feelings about her. Your Bracadyte intuition. I mean, she blew up that boat without a second thought. Seems a ballsy thing for a woman to do. Military training or not.”

  “I do not trust her,” Gryke confessed, holding Oz’s gaze. “She is hiding something. I can sense it.”

  “Can’t you find out the same way Vaulcron found the truth in Maria?”

  Gryke shook his head. “I do not have the same abilities as Vaulcron. I would need her blood flowing through my veins to connect with her.”

  “So, take some of her blood,” Oz suggested as if they were discussing the weather.

  “I would never allow myself to be mentally connected to a human. Especially one such as Fiona.”

  Oz thought about Maria and what it would be like to know her thoughts, to see into her soul.

  “I’m going to check in on Maria,” Oz informed Gryke. “Will you stay here and keep us on course until I return?”

  Gryke pushed off from the wall and trailed over to the helm. “How will I know I am on the correct course?”

  Oz pointed to a digital display above the wheel. “See that green wedge-shaped light in between the red and blue ones?”

  At Gryke’s nod, Oz continued. “Keep the black arrow in the green, and you’ll be fine.”

  “I understand.” Gryke rested his hands on the wheel and stood with his feet spread apart, foregoing the stool situated behind him.