Oz arranged the pillows and helped Maria into a sitting position before placing the tray of food on her lap.
The contents of the tray smelled incredible. Oz glanced at Zaureth with a raised eyebrow. “What is all this?”
“Amy and her sister made it for you both. You have baked snapper over a bed of rice, lobster, and steamed shrimp. The food contains certain proteins needed to help Maria heal as well as assist in regaining her strength.”
Oz glanced at the two cups resting on the tray. “And that?”
Zaureth grinned. “That is the strawberry Kool-Aid that you sent back with Vaulcron when Abbie carried Arcanum.”
The corner of Oz’s mouth lifted. “I remember. Vaulcron would come get it by the case.”
Moving to stand, Zaureth stopped next to Maria’s side and extended his hands toward her. “May I?”
At her nod, he cupped the sides of her face and closed his eyes.
Oz could feel the relief Maria experienced at the healer’s touch. He watched in awe as Zaureth’s body began to vibrate, and a pink flush of color immediately stained Maria’s skin.
“You will be well in a very short time,” Zaureth announced, releasing her face. “I will take my leave now.”
“Zaureth?” Maria called as the healer turned to leave. “Thank you for everything you did to help save my life. I’ll never forget it.”
The giant healer stopped at the archway and glanced at Maria over his shoulder. “You are most welcome, mate of Oz. You are a now a Bracadyte, and Bracadytes take care of their own.”
Oz waited until Zaureth left before handing Maria a fork. He didn’t bother to dish up their food onto separate plates. They were both beyond proper etiquette at that point for Oz to care. “He’s right, you know.”
Maria took a bite of the snapper, moaning in obvious pleasure as she chewed. “About?”
“You might not have been born a Bracadyte, but you damn sure have the heart of one.”
“I can’t think of a nicer compliment,” Maria murmured around the next bite she took. “I consider it an honor to be called Bracadyte.”
“I would consider it an honor to be called your husband.”
Maria’s fork fell from her fingers, clattering to the tray on her lap. Moisture sparkled in her beautiful brown eyes. “Was that a proposal?”
“No, but this is.” Oz slid to his knee beside the bed and removed the ring from the necklace that hung around from his neck.
Taking hold of Maria’s hand, Oz slipped the ring onto her finger, happy beyond words that it fit. “Maria Acosta? Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” Maria choked out, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Yes, a thousand times.”
Oz pulled back to look into her eyes. “That ring has been in my family for generations. It belonged to my great-great-great-grandmother, Aiyana. Klause gave it to me not long after my twenty-first birthday as a symbol of my bloodline. He also wanted me to know that I would always have a family here in Aukrabah.”
“How did you find the Bracadytes?”
Oz shrugged. “I didn’t. Klause found me after finding out about my birth from the scrolls in the catacombs. He’d begun seeking a connection with me, entering my dreams, calling to me all hours of the day. For years, I thought I was going crazy. Until one day, I answered the voice in my head.”
“But you stayed with my father anyway.” It wasn’t a question.
“I had to,” Oz softly confessed. “Carlito had taken everything from me the day he killed my mother. I couldn’t walk away without repaying him in kind.”
“Will you be able to grow old with me and not see my father when you look into my eyes?”
Oz studied her for a moment. “Will you be able to look at me and not see the man who took the lives of your father and brother?”
Maria laid her palm against his cheek. “When I look in your eyes, I see strength, honor, and integrity. But most importantly, I see love.”
“And you always will,” Oz assured her, turning his face to kiss her palm. “From this day forth, we’ll make new memories together, creating beautiful children that will grow to become strong, successful adults. You and I can break the legacy of our past and build a future that we can be proud of.”
“Can I get a bath first?”
A deep, booming laugh erupted from Oz. “You can have anything your little heart desires.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Maria held still as Oz gently swung her up into his arms and covered her with the sheet. She held her hand out in front of her, admiring the sparkle of the golden band around her finger. “Who in Aukrabah will we get to marry us?”
Oz chuckled, carrying her from the room and down the hall. “Don’t you worry your pretty little head about it. I’ll take care of everything.”
They arrived at the bath house a short time later. Oz removed the sheet covering Maria and lowered her into the warmth of the pool.
Maria’s eyes slid shut in pleasure. “This feels amazing.”
Situating himself on the bench that ran the sides of the pool, Oz pulled Maria onto his lap, her back to his chest. “You feel pretty amazing yourself.”
Thinking about the destruction they’d left in Cuba, Maria leaned her head back against Oz’s shoulder. “Do you think the police are searching for us in connection with the hotel fire?”
“No,” Oz assured her, running his palms up and down her arms. “I made sure of it.”
“How’d you do that?”
“I made sure a couple of the trusted locals called it in to report that Carlito and his mob were shooting up the place. And since I’m off sailing around the gulf for an undisclosed length of time, there’s no way for them to contact me about the fire.”
Maria relaxed in Oz’s arms. “Have I ever told you how incredibly sexy and intelligent you are?”
Oz bent and kissed the side of her face. “I don’t believe you have. But I’m all ears.”
A laugh bubbled up. “Are we ever returning to Cuba?”
She could feel more than see the shrug of Oz’s shoulder. “If that is your desire.”
“I don’t know,” Maria confessed. “I kind of like Aukrabah. No one’s walking around staring at a phone. The children learn how to hunt, cook, and defend themselves instead of being stuck in front of a television all day. Life just feels much simpler down here.”
“I must confess that I’ll miss the ball games,” Oz admitted, adjusting her in his lap to face him. “And the refrigerator, microwave, and mixed drinks.”
Maria leaned forward and kissed his chin. “As long as we’re confessing. I suppose I’ll miss ice cream and blow dryers.”
Oz ran his fingers through her hair. “You don’t need a blow dryer. Your hair is beautiful the way it is.”
“You say that now,” Maria teased, enjoying the warm water swirling around her waist.
“You’ll always be beautiful to me.”
Maria stared into his gorgeous eyes and knew he spoke the truth. The love shining from their green depths assured her of that.
The next thirty minutes passed by quickly with Oz washing Maria’s hair and cleansing her body before taking care of his own needs.
Covered in towels, he carried her back to their room and laid her in the center of the bed.
Maria freed herself of the towel and adjusted the sheet around her nude form. “Are we going to finish our food?”
“Absolutely,” Oz chuckled, grabbing the tray and placing it on her lap. He donned a pair of shorts and a T-shirt before settling on the bed to join her.
Happier than she’d ever been, Maria ate with as much gusto as her cracked lips would allow. After everything she’d been through in her life, her dreams were finally coming true.
She lifted her gaze to Oz’s handsome face, smiling as he ate like a man starved. “I’d like to name our first daughter Lola.”
Oz paused in his eating, his eyes shining with love. “I don’t know what I did to deserve someone like you. I love y
ou, Maria.”
“I love you too, Oz.”
Epilogue
One Week Later
Oz dressed in the Bracadyte attire that had been delivered to his room, loving the feel of the stretchy sharkskin shorts and vest.
He shifted his gaze to Maria, now glowing with color in her cheeks. “I’m not sure if I want anyone to see you in that outfit.”
She wore the same sharkskin material as Oz. Only, her clothing happened to be fashioned into pants that clung to her every curve, and her vest laced up the front, showing far too much cleavage for Oz’s peace of mind.
“Are you jealous, Nicho?” Maria teased, twirling around to give him the full view of her body.
Oz growled low in his throat. “Damn right I am. I don’t think you realize just how incredibly sexy you really are.”
Maria chuckled and sashayed to his side. “There’s no need to flatter me, my love. I’m a sure thing.”
His lips twitched. “Oh? In that case, maybe we should skip dinner.”
“May we enter?” Vaulcron called out from the hall, interrupting Oz’s attempt at getting Maria out of her clothes.
“Damn their timing.” Oz reluctantly turned toward the door and motioned them inside.
Vaulcron strode into the room with Zaureth and Gryke on his heels. The trio stopped near the archway in the kitchen.
“How are you feeling?” Zaureth asked, his hands clasped behind his back.
Maria sent the healer a soft smile. “I feel like a new person, thanks to you.”
Zaureth appeared uncomfortable with the praise. “No need to thank me. Had it not been for Abbie’s quick thinking, my skills alone would not have been sufficient.”
“No matter,” Maria continued, stepping forward to give Zaureth a quick hug. “You helped more than you realize.”
Oz’s stomach tightened as Maria’s body briefly pressed against the healer’s.
I have got to get a handle my jealousy, Oz thought, taking a calming breath. I’m becoming obsessed.
Vaulcron grinned as if reading Oz’s mind. “Is something amiss, old friend? You do not look so good.”
Oz’s narrowed gaze quickly sliced in Vaulcron’s direction, telling him without words to put a cork in it.
A deep, booming laugh rumbled from Vaulcron. He took a seat in one of the two chairs at the table and stretched his legs out in front of him, crossing his feet at the ankles. “I am going to enjoy watching you in the coming weeks.”
Oz ignored Vaulcron’s taunt, instead focusing his attention on Zaureth. “Any news from Hauke and Abbie?”
Zaureth nodded. “Since Maria is the first human that we know of to survive the Incola virus, Abbie is now assured that a vaccine can be created from using her blood. Arcanum’s blood will not be needed. She is working tirelessly with the CDC to make that happen.”
“Damn, that’s great news,” Oz rumbled, taking Maria by the hand and tugging her in close to his side.
Zaureth ran a hand down his face. “Once a working vaccine has been created, the government can begin the long journey of saving what is left of their people.”
“What’s the death toll up to?” Maria’s question hung in the air for several heartbeats before Zaureth finally answered.
“Nearly five hundred thousand souls in the United States. They are unsure of the numbers in other countries.”
Oz briefly closed his eyes as the reality of the situation on land sank in. “The numbers will continue to grow until they can perfect a vaccine and get it distributed. The world’s not out of the danger zone yet.”
“Far from it,” Maria softly agreed.
A distant shout could be heard coming from down the hall.
Vaulcron shot to his feet, nearly mowing Gryke down in his haste to get to the doorway.
Zaureth followed suit with Oz and Maria bringing up the rear.
“What’s going on?” Oz demanded of Zaureth as he watched Gryke throw someone against the rock wall.
Zaureth scowled, rushing to the fallen Bracadyte’s side to offer him a hand. “What has happened?”
More Bracadytes began filing into the massive area near the great hall, their anxious voices ricocheting around them.
“Someone has gone into the catacombs and taken the ancient scrolls of the old ones.”
“Amy!” Zaureth roared, breaking into a run.
Oz ran after him, his heart beating in his throat. If something had happened to Amy, he knew that Zaureth would never come back from it.
Arriving at the catacombs, Oz sailed down the steps, nearly slamming into Zaureth’s broad back.
The healer stood in the center of the foyer, his arms wrapped around Amy, and his face buried against her neck. His massive hands cupped the back of her head, his huge body vibrating with energy.
Oz noticed that Amy’s feet dangled near Zaureth’s knees as she hung suspended in his hold. Oz had never realized how much taller the giant healer was than his tiny human mate until that moment.
“Is she okay?” Oz quietly asked, hating to break the spell surrounding the two newlyweds.
Zaureth held onto Amy for a minute longer before setting her feet on the floor. He kept his arm around her shoulders, keeping her close to his side.
Amy sent a small smile in Oz’s direction. “I’m fine, Oz. Had I known that she was going to take something from the catacombs, I would have tried to stop her.”
“Her?” Oz had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
“Fiona,” Amy responded. “Why would she take something that doesn’t belong to her?”
Why, indeed? Oz wondered, staring into the innocent blue eyes of Zaureth’s wife. “I don’t know. Did she say anything to you?”
Amy shook her head. “I recognized her scent right off. When I called out to her, she hit me in the back of the head with something. Mallory found me unconscious when she arrived to have lunch with me.”
Oz could hear the growl rumbling in Zaureth’s chest and see the muscle bunching along his jaw.
Gryke came barreling into the room, his gaze seeking out Oz. “I need you to show me how to operate the human device with wheels.”
With a nod to Zaureth, Oz rushed off after Gryke, neither of them stopping until they reached the alcove that housed Abbie’s and Hauke’s four-wheelers. Only one was in attendance.
“Let me guess,” Oz bit out sarcastically, “Fiona took the other one?”
Gryke’s eyes glittered with rage. “Show me.”
“It’ll take too long to teach you,” Tony announced, striding into the room. He quickly checked the gas can strapped to the back before throwing his leg over the seat. “Get on.”
Oz stepped to the side as Tony fired up the ATV and backed it from the alcove.
The added weight of Gryke’s big body as he climbed onto the back, strained the chassis, but the large camouflaged four-wheeler shot off down the corridor, kicking up small rocks in its wake.
Maria rounded the corner, her eyes huge with worry. “What’s happening here, Oz?”
“It looks like Fiona has stolen some ancient scrolls from the catacombs and escaped with them. But not before knocking Amy unconscious first.”
“What?” Maria breathed, studying Oz’s gaze. “Why the hell would she do that? I mean, she helped us, Oz. She killed for us.”
Oz had wondered the same thing. “I don’t know, but Gryke and Tony have gone after her. I hate to think of what Gryke will do to her when he finds her. And he will find her.”
Noticing Klause pacing up ahead, Oz took hold of Maria’s hand and tugged her forward. “Come on.”
Nodding her understanding, Maria held tightly to Oz’s palm, allowing him to guide her to Klause’s side.
The king looked up at Oz’s approach. “I do not understand, Nicho. I trusted the human president. And this is how he repays me?”
“What are you going to do?” Oz inquired, attempting to keep his tone low and even.
Klause’s gaze became hooded with barely s
uppressed rage. He stared at Oz for a brief moment before answering. “I have ordered Hauke to return to Aukrabah with his mate and Braum. It has become obvious that President Pratt is not the man I thought him to be. He has taken something from me. I want it back. If it is a war that he seeks, then I will give him one.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Oz calmly stated. Though calm was the last thing Oz felt on the inside. “Gryke and Tony have gone after Fiona. If they can catch up to her before she reaches the surface, we can get the scrolls back and rethink going to war.”
The rage swimming in the king’s eyes told Oz all he needed to know. Klause was like a lit fuse, slowly burning his way toward an inevitable explosion that was sure to come. It was only a matter of time…
~The End~
Enigma continues with Gryke-Book 6 in the Series.
The Incola virus continues to run rampant through the world, while the Bracadytes fight a battle of their own in Aukrabah. Be sure to watch for Gryke and Fiona’s story. Coming Soon!
Read below for a peek into the pages of Turn the Page-A Time Travel Romance.
Turn the Page
A Time Travel Romance
Chapter One
Catherine Grier buttoned her coat and slipped on a pair of worn green gloves she’d gotten for Christmas some years back. The forecast was calling for sleet that morning, and she had a six-block walk to work ahead of her. She dreaded the cold almost as much as she dreaded her birthday.
An image of her college sweetheart’s laughing face floated through her mind. “Come on, Cathe. It’s your birthday…it’ll be fun. I’ll be careful.” If only she’d said no and insisted they wait for the storm to pass before climbing on the back of his motorcycle, maybe he’d still be alive…as would their unborn child.
Jeff and Cathe had been inseparable as only first loves could be, and not a day went by that she didn’t miss him. The unplanned pregnancy had been a shock, but they’d been determined to keep the baby and had even begun picking out names.
Oz: A SciFi Alien Romance (Enigma Series Book 5) Page 14