“I will not leave Kaspyn’s side. It is my duty to protect her!” The giant Arkadian’s face turned red with rage.
Kaspyn quickly stepped forward, lifting her hand toward Zyen. “Do as he says. You will swim with the others.”
“But—“
“That is an order,” Kaspyn snapped, her voice brooking no argument.
Zyen growled low in his throat, his gaze shifting to Thrasher. “If you touch her, I will remove your heart and drain it of blood with my fangs.”
“Alrighty then,” Thrasher sarcastically remarked, signaling for the others to mount their ATVs.
Kaspyn followed Thrasher to the human machine, waited for him to secure his bag to the rack and climb on before throwing her leg over to seat herself behind him.
His scent immediately assailed her, reminding her of the kiss they’d shared the night before. She’d barely slept for replaying it over and over in her mind.
No matter how much Kaspyn wanted to deny it, the land walker had gotten under her skin; was under it still.
“Where’s your bag?” Thrasher’s voice penetrated her musing.
“Tied to a loop in my vest.”
He turned his head to peer at her over his shoulder. “What?”
Exasperated, Kaspyn reached into her vest, slipped the small sharkskin bag free, and held it up for his inspection.
Thrasher shook his head. “Just what the hell is in there?”
“Soap and my teeth cleaner.”
“Of course, soap and your teeth cleaner,” came his dry response.
The ATV hummed to life. Kaspyn returned her essentials to her vest as he backed the machine away from the wall and took a left toward the entrance of Aukrabah.
She slid closer, placed her arms around his waist, and inhaled his masculine scent.
A pulsing began in her lower abdomen that quickly spread to the juncture of her thighs. Though, she’d never been intimate with a man before, Kaspyn recognized the sensation for what it was…desire.
* * * *
Light from the entrance shone from up ahead. Kaspyn had never been so glad to see anything in all her life. She’d ridden on the back of that ATV, wrapped tightly around Thrasher’s back, attempting to ignore his presence. An impossible task to say the least. Especially with his warmth seeping into her front.
She could feel a slight dampness in her most secret of places; an obvious result of the close contact with Thrasher.
More than a little disgusted at herself for allowing him to affect her in such a way, Kaspyn eased back as far as she could without slipping off the ATV. It didn’t help. She could still feel his heat, smell his scent. Her vaginal walls clenched in response.
The ATV sailed up the incline and slid to a stop next to a group of land walkers dressed similar to Thrasher.
Kaspyn couldn’t seem to get off the machine fast enough. She needed to put some distance between her and Thrasher before she did something insane like sink her fangs into him.
Thrasher threw his leg over and climbed off as well. His head turned in her direction, but she couldn’t see his eyes for those mirrored lenses.
He gestured toward a huge black machine. “Pyre, Tony, and Brant will ride in there. You will come with me.” Thrasher gripped Kaspyn’s hand and indicated another machine similar to the first.
Kaspyn dug in her heels.
“It’s called a Humvee.” He gave her a slight tug. “It’s like the ATV we just drove up here, only it’s enclosed.”
Understanding his meaning, Kaspyn gave a slight nod and allowed him to guide her to the other Humvee. He opened the back door and waved her inside.
Kaspyn boarded the large Humvee, sliding over to make room for Thrasher. He disappeared for a moment before returning with his bag, tossing it over the seat into the back and climbing in next to her. The door slammed shut behind him.
“It’s a vehicle,” Thrasher pointed out. “They’re really very convenient.”
She glanced at his profile. “But you said it was a Humvee.”
He gave a curt nod. “A vehicle is basically a mode of transportation. And in that general mode, there are different shapes and types. This particular one is a Humvee. There are trucks, cars, semis, tractors, ATVs…etcetera. The list goes on.”
“I believe I understand. You are a land walker. Instead of using your legs, you roll around where you need to go in vehicles because you are too lazy to walk there.”
Thrasher shot her a small smile. “Something like that.”
“We do not have your vehicles in the water. We simply swim to our destinations.”
“For a race as different as ours,” Thrasher rumbled, “we could learn a lot from each other.”
Kaspyn bit back a nasty retort. She wanted to point out that Bracadytes were far more superior than land walkers, and if anyone needed to learn anything, it would be the humans. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She’d seen how competent Thrasher was, how powerful and quick. But he was still human, and she’d do well to remember that.
“Why do you hate the land walkers so much?”
Thrasher’s question caught her off guard. She waited until the vehicle began moving before answering. “Many centuries ago, my ancestors lived on the shores of Maine. They were a peaceful race, keeping to themselves, killing only what they ate. And then, one day, the land walkers came with their weapons and sadism. They forced themselves on the females after slaying several of our warriors.”
She grew quiet for a moment, reflecting on the stories she’d been told by her father.
“What happened after that?” Thrasher’s softly spoken words, pulled her out of her hypnotic state.
“The men responsible for the attack grew sick and some of them died. They blamed my ancestors for their sickness, of course, and sent a raiding party to burn them out. The Bracadytes that escaped disappeared beneath the sea, swimming for days before discovering Arkadia. That is where my family has been ever since. Though we have happened upon humans occasionally, we have never interacted with them.”
“Happened upon?”
Kaspyn nodded. “In underwater machines or swimming in strange black material.”
“I’m assuming submarines and dive gear. Did they see you?”
Her hand unconsciously went to her right thigh where she’d been shot with a sharp metal object from one of the humans in the strange black material. “I was wounded by one that I got too close to. Several others have been spotted by the sub…?“
“Submarines,” Thrasher finished for her.
“Yes, that. Father says that humans are sadistic and not to be trusted. We are to avoid them at all costs. He would not be happy with me at the moment.”
“I’m sorry,” Thrasher confessed, removing the mirrored lenses from his eyes. “Not all land walkers are sadistic…even though a lot of them are. And I’m sorry they hurt you.”
Kaspyn suddenly regretted opening up to him. No matter how much Bracadyte blood he’d consumed or what ritual he’d participated in, he was still a human, and humans were not to be trusted. “Do not presume to think you know anything about me. I do not want or need your pity, land walker.”
Thrasher replaced his mirrored lenses and turned his face to stare out his window. “Have it your way, Princess.”
Chapter Seven
Thrasher stared out the tinted window of the Humvee, Kaspyn’s story playing through his mind. She’d been shot by a diver.
Anger over her experience rolled through him to settle like lead in his gut. No wonder she disliked his kind. Hell, he was beginning to dislike them as well, had ever since he’d befriended the Bracadytes.
His mind went over everything that Kaspyn had told him, triggering something from his time with the CIA.
Though the world at large had been kept in the dark, and any YouTube videos that surfaced had been removed, Thrasher now realized that the documented mermaid sightings off the coast of Maine hadn’t been mermaids at all, but rather…Bracadytes. And it wouldn’t be long before
Arkadia would be discovered. Especially if the Arkadians’ identity and location become known.
Thrasher’s jaw tightened with the knowledge that if Kaspyn’s home were ever found, she and her people would face the same discrimination, violence, and torment that Aukrabah had endured. Hell, who was he kidding? Aukrabah was far from being in the clear, and would remain in danger as long as Howell drew breath.
The Humvee came to a stop at the Destin harbor. Thrasher exited the vehicle and rounded the back to retrieve his bag while Kaspyn climbed out.
The driver gave him the information he needed before returning to the Humvee and pulling away.
“Where are all the land walkers?” Kaspyn glanced around, her body stiff and alert.
Thrasher answered while Tony, Brant, and Pyre piled out of their vehicle. “Most are afraid to return for fear of the Incola virus. The ones that stayed behind remain indoors for the same reason.”
“But I was told that a serum had been made to stop the virus.”
“Abbie and Arcanum’s blood are what is being used to create the vaccine. Mostly Abbie’s since Arcanum is so young. And she can only donate so much. Vaccines are being given to everyone who qualifies, the rest have to wait for new batches to be made.”
Kaspyn frowned at his explanation. “How do they determine who qualifies?”
Thrasher shifted his bag to the other hand. “The women, children, and elderly get vaccinated first. Then the men. After that, more of the serum is shipped from state to state.”
“Perhaps we have some similarities after all.”
“What does that mean?” Thrasher pressed when she grew quiet.
She shrugged. “Only that Bracadytes put their females, children, and elderly above the others as well.”
“As it should be,” he remarked. “The bad news is, the vaccine hasn’t reached Cuba, which is probably why President Mendoza has such a hard-on for the United States. A lot of people are dying over there.”
Kaspyn met his mirrored gaze. “How is it that you are not afraid of the virus?”
“I’ve been vaccinated, as has Tony and Brant.”
“If Incola was created by your government as Klause has told us, how is it that the Bracadytes do not contract it?”
Thrasher explained how Incola had started with the Bracadyte bacteria, manipulated with human bacteria and eventually different viruses, mutating it into what it is now. “From what I’ve been told, human viruses apparently don’t affect the Bracadyte as we’d once thought it might. Plus, you carry the venom, the original bacteria that started it all. It would seem that you’re immune to Incola.”
Tony, Pyre, and Brant approached before Kaspyn could respond.
“Which one is ours?” Tony asked, shielding his eyes against the rising sun.
Thrasher nodded toward a large yacht with dark tinted windows.
A whistle left Brant’s lips. “Damn, that’s sweet. Pratt went all out on this one.”
“He wanted us to blend in as much as possible.”
Pyre stepped up. “How are we to enter Cuban waters undetected?”
“Klause has contacted Oz,” Thrasher informed him. “We will anchor in American waters and Oz will pick us up there. His yacht is registered in Cuba.”
The big Arkadian didn’t look convinced. “And if we are stopped and searched regardless?”
“Then you and Kaspyn will discreetly slip overboard and swim the rest of the way to Playa Pilar.”
Tony began walking forward. “Sounds like a plan. Let’s move out.”
* * * *
The yacht had been underway for a good hour before Tony joined Thrasher at the helm. “I just spoke to Oz. He’s not happy about all this.”
Thrasher glanced at Tony before returning his gaze to the water. “And we are?”
“That’s not what I meant. He’s pissed that we’re putting ourselves in danger for him.”
“Not just for him,” Thrasher corrected. “Howell is in Cuba. We would be going whether Oz was there or not.”
Tony ran a hand down his face. “I know.”
“I still think you should have stayed with your mate. If something happens to you, she’ll live a long, miserable life. Alone.”
“Nothing is going to happen to me,” Tony growled. “I will return to her and Tauren.”
Thrasher could feel Tony’s anger as if it were his own. “Why don’t you go get some rest. I’ll take the first few hours.”
Clapping Thrasher on the shoulder, Tony turned and made his way toward the stairs. “You’re a good man, Escabar. I don’t care what Kaspyn says.”
Thrasher’s head swiveled in Vaughn’s direction. “What did she say?”
Tony’s laugh echoed throughout the cabin as he hurried down the steps, disappearing from sight.
Chapter Eight
Kaspyn had never seen anything as luxurious as the cabin she now stood in. She’d stripped out of her clothes and removed her soap from the small bag attached to her vest. Figuring out the water system had been difficult to say the least. She’d burned her hand twice before understanding the concept. Ah, but once she did.
She’d found the most amazing scented soap lying on the side of the tub. And another incredible smelling liquid to wash her hair with.
Hating to don her salty smelling clothes, she’d opted for the long, white robe that hung on the back of the bathroom door and made her way into the hallway.
Kaspyn padded barefoot toward the place she’d seen Thrasher disappear to after showing her to her room. She climbed up the wooden steps and strolled over to where he stood. “I am going for a swim to search for food. Do not worry for me, I will catch up with you shortly.”
She turned to go, stopping as his hand gripped her wrist.
He tugged her around to face him, the mirrored lenses resting atop his head. “Why are you walking around in…that? And we have plenty of food on the yacht. You don’t have to go fishing for it.”
Kaspyn noticed his gaze drift down her body. “This is all that I could find to wear. Besides, I will not need it while I swim.”
“You were planning to swim in the nude?” A muscle bunched along his jaw. “And it looks as if you recently showered.”
Not understanding where his anger came from, Kaspyn jerked her wrist free of his hold. “I did not come up here for your permission. I did bathe, and I can bathe again once I have eaten.”
Thrasher was suddenly in her path as she spun to go. “I’ll take you to the kitchen and show you where the food is kept after I find you some clothes to put on.”
Frowning, Kaspyn studied his sky-blue eyes. “Does the robe belong to someone else?”
“No,” he bit out, his hands going to his hips. “But it’s a bath robe. You can’t just parade around in it on a boat full of males.”
And then it dawned on her. “You are jealous.”
“I’m not jealous!” Thrasher snapped, spinning toward steps. He yelled for Brant.
The younger human male came striding up to the bottom step, his eyebrows raised in question.
Thrasher moved to the side, and waved his arm toward the controls. “Will you take the wheel for a bit? I’ll be back shortly.”
The human known as Brant nodded and ascended the steps, his eyes widening slightly as he passed Kaspyn.
“Let’s go,” Thrasher hissed, jerking his chin toward the steps.
Kaspyn inched around him and made her way to the hallway below. She could feel him close to her back as she strode toward the kitchen. “I do not understand the source of your anger, land walker, but if you lay your hands on me again, I will put you on your back.”
“You can try.” He rounded a small, rectangular table in the center of the room and jerked open a silver door. “There are many things to eat in here. Help yourself to whatever you want while I go in search of something for you to put on.”
He glanced back at her. “Where are the clothes you had on when you boarded?”
“They are in my cabin. I pla
nned on washing them after I had something to eat.”
Thrasher backed up a step. “I’ll go get them and throw them in the washing machine, while you find something to eat. By the time you’ve finished your meal, I’ll have you something clean to wear until your clothes have been washed and dried.”
He took off before she could answer.
Left standing in front of the open silver door, Kaspyn stared into the brightly lit box, marveling at the cold air blowing against her face.
She reached inside and plucked up a jar of white substance, reading the words aloud, “Mayonnaise.”
Wrinkling her brow in concertation, Kaspyn turned the container over in her hands, sniffing at the sides. How does one eat this?
She returned the strange container and snagged a yellow one similar in shape. Once more she sniffed it before replacing it as well.
Minutes passed without any luck of finding something edible. With a growl of annoyance, she closed the door and marched toward the deck of the yacht.
Humans were a strange breed, Kaspyn thought, approaching the empty deck. Their foods were impossible to consume, and had no smell to them.
The beautiful blue-green water, slapped the sides of the yacht as it made its way toward Cuba. Kaspyn untied the sash of the robe she wore, staring longingly at The Gulf below.
She slipped the material from her shoulders, draped it over the back of a chair and stepped up to the railing. Her stomach growled in anticipation of a Florida grouper like the one she’d tried back in Aukrabah.
“What the hell?” Thrasher growled from behind her.
Chapter Nine
Thrasher stared in shock at the nude form of Kaspyn standing on the deck of the yacht.
He’d gone to her cabin to locate the clothing she’d divested before her bath and found himself lost in her incredible scent. Even with the salt water soaked into her clothing, they smelled feminine and, well…like Kaspyn, if that made sense, which it didn’t.
Tossing them into the washing machine, he’d hurried back to his own cabin to grab her a T-shirt and a pair of running shorts to wear and returned to the kitchen to find her gone.
Thrasher: Science Fiction Romance (Enigma Series Book 9) Page 3