Brant: Science Fiction Romance (Enigma Series Book 11)

by Ditter Kellen

  Brant

  Enigma-Book Eleven

  By Ditter Kellen

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  Copyright © by Ditter Kellen

  All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the original purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without prior written permission from Ditter Kellen. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  Image/art disclaimer: Licensed material is being used for illustrative purposes only. Any person depicted in the licensed material is a model.

  Published in the United States of America.

  This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.

  Warning

  This e-book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. This e-book is for sale to adults ONLY as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

  Dedication

  For my sweet and beautiful friend, Dee Sherriece Wag. She has been waiting a long time for Brant’s story, and I hope I did him justice. Here’s to your happily ever after, lovely Dee…

  Acknowledgement

  A special thanks to Cathe Green and Amy Bingham for everything you do to keep me afloat. Two of the best friends I could ever ask for. I love you both and couldn’t imagine doing this without you by my side.

  My tribe…thank you for the encouragement, shares, and endless laughs. I adore you ladies and hope you enjoy Brant and Syrina’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it!

  My husband…my heart. I love you more than air.

  Chapter One

  Syrina listened to the sounds of footsteps drawing ever closer to the room she lay in. She knew what the footsteps meant for her… They were coming for more of her blood.

  She had been strapped to a bed for the past two days without food or drink. She hadn’t even been allowed free to relieve herself. Instead, she’d been forced to use what the humans referred to as a bedpan.

  Humiliated and angrier than she’d ever been in her life, she could do nothing but endure it.

  Her mind drifted to Brant Henagar. Syrina had heard her captors speak of him on more than one occasion. They didn’t expect him to live.

  A strange sensation overcame her with the thought of Brant’s impending death. She assumed the feeling had to do with the fact that Brant was Fiona’s brother. And Syrina had come to care for the fiery-haired human female.

  The door opened, and an older man Syrina had never seen before stepped into the room. Two armed guards followed him inside.

  The guards approached the bed first, checking Syrina’s bonds before the elderly man sidled up next to her. “Ah, what a magnificent creature you are. I am President Ramone Mendoza. I apologize for having you tied down in such a manner, but I honestly do not relish having my throat ripped out by a pair of sharp teeth.”

  Though Syrina had no trouble understanding the Spanish language normally spoken by the Cubans, she was surprised to hear their president speak English.

  Ignoring his reference to her fangs, she asked, “What of the human I was with? Does he still live?”

  “For the moment. He will either die, or the blood given to him will save his life. Only time will tell at this point.”

  Syrina’s heart stuttered. Though she somehow knew the blood they were giving Brant was hers without having to ask…ask, she did. “The blood given to him?”

  Mendoza nodded. His face remained devoid of expression, yet his eyes appeared apologetic. “According to Dr. Gomez, Nicho Ozele’s personal physician, three of the humans he cared for at Playa Pilar were given the blood of one of your kind. Not only did they all survive life-threatening injuries, they seem to have healed completely within forty-eight hours. I am not sure how much of that I believe, but we have given your friend some of your blood to test that theory.”

  The Cuban president continued to speak, but Syrina barely heard him. Her mind had zeroed in on the fact that her blood now flowed through Brant’s veins. If he survived his injuries, and he very well could, she would be connected to him for life.

  She stared at the president’s continuously moving lips, horrified by his admission. He had no idea what he’d done by forcing her blood into Brant’s human body.

  On the one hand, Syrina hoped Fiona’s brother would survive. But in her heart of hearts, she knew that if he did, he would eventually be destroyed by her father.

  “Zyen?” Syrina mentally implored, shifting her gaze to the white ceiling above her. “Zyen, you must make haste.”

  She suddenly felt Zyen’s helpless anxiety slip into her mind. “We are coming, Syrina. Hold fast to your strength and submit to their demands. You must stay alive at any cost. Do not provoke them into injuring you. They have kept you alive for a reason, and—”

  “They have kept me alive to experiment with my blood,” she quickly sent back, cutting off the rest of his words. “Oz’s physician gave them information on Thrasher and Carmen’s rapid healing from Bracadyte blood.”

  A brief pause ensued, and then, “We are aware. The doctor has paid for his deceit with his life.”

  “It matters not, Zyen. They have already begun testing the healing properties of my blood.”

  A flurry of emotions could be felt from Zyen, and then he calmly stated, “Do not fret, Syrina. The recipients of your blood will not live to tell of it. This, I vow.”

  “There has only been one human they have tested it on, Zyen. And that human is…Brant.”

  Zyen’s growl could be felt more than heard. “All will be well once we get you out of there. You are not mated to the human, you are only connected to him. I will take you home soon, back to Arkadia. The greater the distance between the land walker and you, the better.”

  Syrina wholeheartedly agreed. “Please hurry before they begin experimenting with others. I will go mad, Zyen.”

  “I will not allow that to happen. Trust me.”

  The president departed a short time later, leaving Syrina alone with her thoughts. She needed to get out of here before Mendoza began doing the unthinkable.

  Chapter Two

  Brant cracked his eyelids open and squinted up at the bright lights above his head. Beeping noises came from somewhere behind him, keeping time with the painful throbbing inside his skull.

  It took him a second to realize his wrists were restrained, and another to sense that he wasn’t alone.

  “His wounds appear to be healing,” a heavily accented voice announced from nearby. “He should have awoken by now.”

  Keeping his breathing as even as the pain in his head and side would allow, Brant slowly closed his eyes. If the Marines had taught him one thing in the years he’d spent in service, it was to keep quiet and learn what he could about his enemy. And whoever stood directly to his left was definitely the enemy. A friendly wouldn’t have trussed him up like a Thanksgiving turkey.

  “Brant…can you hear me?”

  Startled by the sound of Syrina’s voice inside his head, Brant swallowed back a curse. The fact that sh
e was able to speak to him telepathically meant only one thing… Her blood somehow flowed through his veins.

  Brant ground his teeth as the reality of that settled in. Not only was Syrina an Arkadian whose people hated anything resembling a human, but Brant had no desire to mate with anyone. And she would expect him to mate with her. It was their way.

  Syrina’s indignation quickly flew through their connection. “How presumptuous of you. You assume because I am Bracadyte that I must mate with the first male to take my blood? I did not freely give it, nor have I taken you inside my body. So, you can rest easy, land walker, I have no interest in a mate. Especially not a human one.”

  It angered Brant that Syrina was able to read his unguarded thoughts, but considering the situation he currently found himself in, he decided not to voice that. Instead, he sent back, “Do you have any idea where we are and why?”

  Some of the ire seemed to calm in her mental presence. “I do not know where they are holding us, but we are definitely still in Cuba. I was visited by the Cuban president.”

  Brant had figured as much by the heavily accented men in the room with him. “What else did you learn?”

  “After learning from Oz’s physician about the healing properties of the Bracadyte blood, President Mendoza is experimenting with it on you.”

  It only took a second for Brant to surmise Mendoza’s intentions. The minute the Cuban president realized that Brant would live, he wouldn’t stop taking from Syrina until she had nothing left to give. A vision of Melinda floated through his mind, but he quickly pushed it aside.

  Locking his teeth in helpless fury, Brant sent back, “You have to get out of here, Syrina. Once they realize what your blood is actually capable of, they will begin experimenting with it on others. If they don’t drain you completely dry or torture you to death, you will go mad from the mental invasion of all the recipients.”

  “They have me restrained, Brant. I have repeatedly attempted to break my bonds without success.” She paused. “Who is Melinda?”

  Brant’s heart stuttered. Melinda was a memory he had no intention of sharing. Not with his sister or any of the Bracadytes for that matter. And especially not Syrina. “It doesn’t matter. You just hang tight. I’ll get us out of here.”

  “Someone approaches,” Syrina rushed out.

  More anxiety flooded their connection. Brant could feel Syrina’s frustration as if it were his own. “What’s happening?”

  Silence.

  “Syrina?”

  When no answer came, Brant closed his fists and strained against his own bonds. The helpless feeling he’d experienced in Afghanistan when the enemy soldiers had tortured Melinda overtook him. His chest constricted painfully and breathing became nearly impossible.

  “He’s awake,” a voice announced, coming to stand at the foot of Brant’s bed.

  Brant lifted his eyelids to lock gazes with a short, dark-haired man wearing black-rimmed glasses. He forced his breathing to calm enough to speak. “If you hurt her, I will take great pleasure in killing you slowly.”

  The man cocked his head to the side. “I assume you mean the creature you were with when we found you?”

  It infuriated Brant to hear Syrina referred to as a creature. Though the Bracadytes were not completely human, they had far more humanity than the man standing before him. “Where is she?”

  “She is sleeping comfortably,” the guy lied, inching closer to the bed. His gaze traveled over Brant’s body. “Remarkable…”

  Brant didn’t have to be a genius to know what he meant. Apparently, Brant had sustained serious injuries in the plane crash he’d been involved in, and Syrina’s blood had saved his life. “Let me see her.”

  Ignoring his request, the guy pushed his glasses up on his nose. “I am Doctor Garcia. According to the identification we found on your person, you are Brant Henagar, former Marine in the United States military.”

  In a calm, deadly soft voice, Brant responded. “I meant what I said. If she is harmed in any way—”

  “We have not harmed the creature,” Garcia interrupted, tugging a syringe from his coat pocket. “Nor do we intend to.” He removed the cap and held it up to the light while thumping the side. “Besides, she is far too valuable to us alive and healthy.”

  Brant didn’t believe a word he said. He eyed the syringe in the doctor’s hand. “What is that?”

  “Something to help you sleep while we run some more tests.” He inserted the needle into Brant’s arm.

  Unable to do anything but accept the inevitable, Brant kept his gaze locked on the doctor’s face, memorizing every detail he could until sleep overcame him, and his world turned to black.

  Chapter Three

  “Tell me your name,” the doctor murmured, holding a small light above Syrina’s eyes.

  Syrina stared up at the ceiling, blinking against the bright invasion. “My name is not your concern.”

  The doctor shrugged. “No matter. I will simply remove pieces of your friend’s skin until he tells me.”

  “I am Syrina, daughter of Vyken,” she rushed out, fear of what they would do to Brant squeezing her chest.

  “Vyken? What an odd name. I am Doctor Garcia. I’ve been taking care of you since your arrival.”

  Slicing her gaze to the doctor’s eyes, Syrina bit out, “Since my arrival? I did not arrive here voluntarily. I have been brought here against my will.”

  “Yes, well, I doubt very seriously that you would have offered to come peacefully. We did what we had to do in order to ensure our safety as well as our survival.”

  Syrina hardened her expression. “I do not believe that. Doctor Sutherland had a large shipment of the Incola vaccine sent to Cuba to help your people. Taking me had nothing to do with your survival.”

  “From what I have observed,” the doctor countered, “there is more to your blood than a mere vaccine. You have the ability to heal the sick…the dying.”

  Anxiety replaced her anger. “You do not know what you speak of. My blood is not able to create a vaccine.”

  “We shall see.”

  “You cannot do this, Doctor. My blood might be able to heal the sick and the dying, but it is not part of the vaccine, and it is not without consequences. Grave consequences.”

  A small indention appeared between the doctor’s eyes. “What sort of consequences?”

  Syrina clamped her mouth shut. There was no way she would tell the doctor of the Bracadyte’s telepathic abilities…among other things. If he found out that by transfusing her blood into human bodies, they would have the ability to communicate with her or know her innermost thoughts and secrets. No Bracadyte would ever be safe again. “It matters not. What of Brant?”

  Doctor Garcia continued to watch her closely, obviously hoping for more information.

  When she refused to elaborate, he blew out a breath. “I can see that you are concerned with the welfare of Mr. Henagar. You tell me what I want to know, and I will consider sparing his life.”

  Syrina’s stomach tightened. The doctor had casually threatened Brant’s life as if he were discussing the weather. “You are a healer, yet you would take the life of an innocent?”

  “I didn’t say I would enjoy it. But if you have information that could help us, then I will do what needs to be done in order to obtain that information. Even if it means taking a life to get it.”

  He turned to go. “I’ll give you some time to think it over.”

  “I want to see Brant.” Syrina lifted her head from the pillow to watch the doctor walk away.

  He stopped at the door, glancing back at her over his shoulder. “Think about what I said.”

  And with that, he left the room.

  Syrina dropped her head back to the pillow and opened her mind. “Zyen?”

  “I am here, my kin. We are outside the city now. Have they harmed you?”

  “I am unharmed. You must hurry, Zyen. They seek information from me about the Bracadytes, and they have threatened Brant’s lif
e if I do not tell them what they want to know.”

  Zyen grew quiet for a moment. “What kind of information?”

  “The consequences of transfusing a Bracadyte’s blood into human bodies,” she sent back.

  “You did well in not telling them. The Bracadytes would be forever hunted…hunted into extinction. You must stay strong until we arrive.”

  Syrina felt a spark of hope at Zyen’s words. “But Brant—”

  “They will not kill Henagar,” Zyen interrupted. “He is a former Marine and the brother to an American CIA agent. The Cuban government would not risk war with the United States over the life of one man. No, they will keep Brant alive.”

  “Are you certain?”

  “I am. Have you learned anything about where they are holding you?”

  Syrina mentally went over everything she knew of her prison. “It is similar to Abbie’s clinic in Aukrabah, with its high ceiling and bright lights. Only there are no other beds or medical equipment in my room.”

  “Fiona wants to know about windows. Do you see any windows?”

  “I will show you what I see.” Syrina opened her mind to Zyen. She slowly glanced around the room, giving him ample time to take in her surroundings. She tilted her head back as far as possible to find a window covered in bars along the wall behind her.

  “I have seen enough, my kin. Hold fast. We will be there as soon as possible.”

  Syrina felt the moment Zyen left her mind. She closed her eyes, relaxed her body, and then reached out to Fiona’s brother. “Brant?”

  When no answer came, she tried again. “Brant, can you hear me?”

  “Syrina….” came his weak reply. “No matter what they do to me, tell them nothing.”

  More than a little worried by his words, she sent back, “You would sacrifice yourself for us, a race that is not your own?”