With her blood boiling in her veins, Kaspyn turned to the man on his knees behind Thrasher. She zeroed in on his head and pushed every bit of power she had behind her next words. “Mortem!”
No blood trickled from his eyes and nose. Oh no, Kaspyn was far beyond wasting time to kill him slowly. Too many were dying around her. The man’s forehead instantly caved in with a crack, stopping his scream before it could form.
The sound of thunder exploded through the air and Kaspyn accepted it for what it was. She and Zaureth had connected on a level she’d never experienced before and wondered if she ever would again.
She shifted her gaze to the Bracadyte healer in time to watch a giant wave roll up from The Gulf and crash onto the beach in his wake.
“I will get Thrasher,” Zyen called out, running to Thrasher’s side. “Destroy them, Kaspyn. Destroy them all!”
Kaspyn waited for Zyen to reach Thrasher’s side, untie him, and toss him over his shoulder before she ran toward the fence, shielding their bodies with her own.
Gryke, Rykaur, Vaughn, Brant, Oz, and Pyre had already scaled the barrier and were gathering alongside their Bracadyte brothers on the other side to fight.
Once Zyen made it over the fence, Kaspyn vaulted over behind him to join Zaureth on his path of destruction.
Shoulder to shoulder, they moved as one, hands out in front of them, taking out walkers two at a time.
The fence folded under the pressure of the force they’d created. Kaspyn stepped over it, moving steadily forward amidst the bloodcurdling screams of Howell’s men.
Bracadytes began to barrel past her, snapping the necks of any left standing as they stormed through Kerik’s camp in a furious whirlwind of revenge.
Anthony Vaughn abruptly appeared, snatching up the weapon of a dead man as he ran. Kaspyn noticed Naura closing the distance, killing everyone in her path to protect her mate’s back.
Tony bounded up onto the porch of the white structure and jerked the door open. “Come out, Howell. Now!”
The one known as Howell, slowly stepped outside with his hands above his head. “You haven’t won anything, Vaughn. This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more rebels out there just like us. People who refuse to live in a world where those creatures are free to reproduce.”
Tony’s jaw tightened. “Then we will simply eradicate them just as I’ve done you.” Lifting his gun to Howell’s forehead, Tony pulled the trigger.
Kaspyn lowered her arms, briefly meeting Zaureth’s gaze once more. She didn’t need to speak to convey her appreciation for his timely arrival. The look she sent him said everything she felt inside. She turned back toward the beach.
“You have a powerful gift, Kaspyn of Arkadia,” Zaureth sent through her mind. “One that will always be welcome in Aukrabah.”
Kaspyn slowed but didn’t turn back. “As do you, Zaureth the Healer. As do you.”
Thrasher lay on the beach with Zyen hovering over him as Kaspyn hurried to their side. “Is he…?”
“He yet lives,” Zyen assured her. “I do not know how as he has very little blood left in his body.
A shadow appeared over Kaspyn’s shoulder. She lifted her head and met Oz’s gaze.
He dropped down on his haunches next to her. “He needs blood. I’ll have the doctor meet us at my place. We need to move him without causing him too much pain.”
Zyen gently placed his arms beneath Thrasher’s knees and neck. “I will carry him.”
Kaspyn had never been so glad to have Zyen with her as she was in that moment.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Thousands of screams echoed inside Thrasher’s mind. He couldn’t seem to block them out no matter how hard he tried. Kaspyn. Where was Kaspyn? Was she among the screams? Had she been caught and tortured?
A moan of denial left Thrasher’s burning lips. If something had happened to Kaspyn… He couldn’t finish the thought.
“Thrasher? Can you hear me?”
Kaspyn’s beautiful voice. She couldn’t be dead. He wouldn’t hear her so clearly if she were dead.
Unless he himself had died and the voice he heard came from an angel.
“Thrasher? Come back to me.”
Fighting through the pain and darkness, Thrasher strained to crack his eyes open. And there, kneeling above him was his beautiful Kaspyn.
He opened his mouth to tell her just how beautiful he thought her to be, but his voice didn’t want to cooperate.
“Shhhhh, do not try to speak. Your throat sustained some damage. It will be too painful to form words.”
Thrasher noticed she spoke without moving her lips. He studied her face, sending her a questioning look.
Kaspyn appeared uncomfortable. “You were dying, Thrasher. You needed blood, and the doctor could not administer that blood without knowing your type. So…I offered mine.”
Understanding dawned. He now had Kaspyn’s blood in his veins, which meant that he could hear her thoughts.
“You saved my life,” he mentally sent back.
Kaspyn reached up and brushed his hair away from his forehead. “You would have done the same for me.”
And he would, in a heartbeat. “Does this mean we’re mated?”
“Do you want it to mean that?”
Thrasher opened his mouth, his voice hoarse and gravelly. “Your father will never allow you to be mated to me.
“That is not what I asked.”
A soft knock sounded, setting Thrasher’s teeth on edge. He wanted nothing more than to be alone with Kaspyn.
“You may enter,” Kaspyn called out.
The sound of the door opening could be heard seconds before Zaureth stepped into Kaspyn’s bedroom. “I came to check on Thrasher’s condition.”
“He seems to be growing stronger,” Kaspyn responded, glancing down into Thrasher’s aching face. “The swelling is already leaving his eyes.”
Zaureth gestured toward the bed. “May I?”
“Of course.” Thrasher listened as Zaureth moved around to the other side of the bed and took a seat on his right.
The healer pulled back the sheet, a soft intake of breath echoing inside the room. “How is this possible?”
“What is it?” Kaspyn whispered, leaning in closer.
“His wounds are healing at a rapid rate. I do not understand. He heals as a Bracadyte would.”
Thrasher could feel Kaspyn’s jumbled emotions. “What are you saying?”
“Your blood,” Zaureth breathed in awe. “The transfusion you gave him has altered him somehow.”
“But, how?”
“I do not know for certain,” Zaureth softly admitted. “But this information will need to be kept quiet. If the land walkers find out, none of us will ever be safe again.”
Kaspyn gently ran a fingertip along Thrasher’s upper arm. “I will not speak of it.”
“Klause will need to know, as will Hauke’s mate. Abbie can probably tell us exactly what is going on. Although, I have an idea.”
Thrasher did too. Apparently, Kaspyn’s blood flowing in his veins had altered him, giving him healing abilities. He wondered what other things it could have altered.
Zaureth took a seat on the edge of the bed and laid his palms on either side of Thrasher’s face. A soft humming sound began to vibrate through the room, drawing a moan from Thrasher’s throat.
He slowly turned his head toward Zaureth, his lips attempting a smile. “I always knew you were attracted to me,” Thrasher wheezed, teasing the big Bracadyte.
Zaureth moved his hands down Thrasher’s neck to stop on his chest, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Perhaps Kaspyn’s blood has made you slightly feminine.”
A strangled sound escaped Thrasher’s throat with his attempt at a laugh. “Perhaps. Damn, it’s good to see you, Z.”
“I am grateful to see you as well, my friend. I cannot imagine what you endured at the hands of Kerik and his army. I am only glad that you survived.”
Thrasher blinked with his
partially open eye. “Thanks to you, Kaspyn, and the others. I owe you my life.”
“You owe me nothing,” Zaureth stated quietly. “Now, rest. At the rate you are healing, I would venture to say that you will be on your feet within hours.”
Thrasher tested his arms, marveling at the lack of pain evident there. Even the swelling in his face had receded in the past few minutes. “Did you come alone?”
Zaureth shook his head. “Klause, Naura, Vaulcron, Hauke, and a dozen others are here as well.”
An overwhelming feeling of emotion settled inside Thrasher’s chest. Though he knew that Vaughn had been top priority, he also knew that Vaughn hadn’t been captured. No, the Bracadytes had traveled all the way to Cuba and risked their lives for him, Melvin Escabar…Thrasher.
Zaureth got to his feet. “I will check on you at a later time.”
“Hey, Z?” Thrasher stared up at the healer for several heartbeats.
“I know,” Zaureth murmured, saving Thrasher from speaking the words. “Now, rest.”
And with that, he left the room.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Kaspyn glanced up as Thrasher exited her bedroom, his hair still damp from his recent shower. It had been two days since their harrowing victory, two days since he’d nearly died in her arms.
The past forty-eight hours had been spent with Kaspyn staying by Thrasher’s side, feeding him, caring for him, and just being with him. Looking at him now, she could hardly tell that he’d had a near-death experience.
His swelling had disappeared, and his wounds had all scabbed over. The only evidence that remained of his ordeal were a few yellowing bruises.
He tossed the towel draped over his shoulders to the back of a chair. It took all Kaspyn could do not to stare at his bare chest.
“You have almost completely healed.”
Stalking closer, Thrasher stopped in front of where she sat on the couch. “I’ve healed enough.”
Flutters erupted in Kaspyn’s stomach. “Are you certain?”
He took hold of her hand, tugging her to her feet. “I’m sure.”
“What are you doing?” she whispered, loving the feel of his body heat as he pulled her closer.
He turned toward the bedroom, keeping hold of her hand. “What I’ve wanted to do since the moment I met you.”
Kaspyn followed him to the bedroom, her body coming alive with every step that took her toward that bed.
“Close the door,” Thrasher ordered, letting go of her hand to free the button on his pants.
She shut the door behind her, watching in anticipation as he dragged the zipper slowly down and hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his boxer briefs.
His incredible erection sprang free the second he inched his briefs and pants down his thighs.
Desire slammed into her. She couldn’t seem to take her gaze off his aroused manhood. “You are the most beautiful male I have ever beheld.”
A deep, throaty sound came from him. He stepped out of his pants and sauntered toward her. “And you are the most beautiful female I have ever seen. Let me see you.”
With her heart slamming against her ribs, Kaspyn brought her fingers up to the ties of her vest and pulled them loose, freeing her heavy breasts.
Thrasher’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t move. He only stood there, naked, achingly gorgeous, and watching her with his hooded gaze.
Kaspyn dropped the vest to the floor and unlaced her shorts before stepping out of them.
His hand slowly lifted, palm up.
Accepting his outstretched hand, Kaspyn’s body came alive with anticipation. She wanted him to put his tongue on her as he did before he’d been captured.
Thrasher must have read her thoughts. His eyes grew even darker and his hold tightened on her hand. “I will put my tongue anywhere you want it.” His mouth covered hers.
Kaspyn’s eyes slid closed with the feel of Thrasher’s lips moving on hers. She stepped in closer, aligning her body with his. His scent invaded her senses, sending nerves traveling through her body to settle between her thighs.
She could feel herself growing wet, swelling with need for him. She wrapped her free hand around him, gripped his muscular backside and ground against him.
Thrasher groaned into her mouth, his lips breaking free to slide along her cheek. He growled into her ear, “I need you to trust me, Kaspyn. Completely.”
“I do,” she breathed, the rumbling of his voice creating a need in her that bordered on torment.
“Then, lie back on the bed with your arms out to your sides.”
Kaspyn didn’t hesitate. She sat on the edge of the mattress and moved over until she lay in the bed’s center.
Thrasher disappeared into the bathroom, returning a moment later holding a clear container in his hand. He set it on the nightstand.
“What is that?” Kaspyn glanced at the clear container, curious as to what he had planned.
“Baby oil.”
She briefly wondered where it came from, but decided to ask him about it later when her body wasn’t on fire for his touch.
He suddenly gave her his back, reached into the small closet in front of him, and pulled a sheet free.
Kaspyn couldn’t look away from his backside. What do the humans call it? Oh yes, ass. Thrasher had the sexiest ass imaginable.
Turning back to face her, he held up the sheet and ripped it down the center.
Kaspyn watched in fascination as he set about tearing strips of the sheet away from the center.
Then he placed a knee on the mattress. “I need you to completely relax for me. No matter what I do, you have to trust that I know what I’m doing. I won’t hurt you. I would never hurt you.”
She did trust him. She trusted him with her life. “I do.”
He gently took hold of her left hand, dragged it outward, and secured it to the bedpost with a strip of the cloth. “Too tight?”
Kaspyn’s heart was pounding so loud, she thought for sure he would hear it. She shook her head.
“Good.” He then secured her right hand in the same fashion as her left before sliding down the bed to anchor her feet to the posts there.
“Remember, this is about trust, beautiful Kaspyn.”
Kaspyn held her breath, waiting to see what he would do next. She didn’t have long to wait. He crawled up her body, straddled her waist and covered her eyes with the last strip of cloth before tying it off behind her head.
“Is that too tight?”
“No,” she answered, her senses coming alive from the darkness.
There was something extremely erotic about hearing his breathing, feeling his gaze on her body, and anticipating where he would touch her first.
And then a warm liquid suddenly dripped onto her breasts, trickling down to pool between them. Her nipples hardened from the sensation.
But nothing felt quite as intoxicating as Thrasher’s calloused palms skating over the hardened tips.
Kaspyn moaned low in her throat, basking in the sensation of his rough skin caressing her softer one.
She knew he lowered his head when his breath fanned out over her chest.
“So damn beautiful,” he rumbled, flicking his tongue over her nipple and then taking it into his mouth.
Kaspyn arched her back, attempting to force herself deeper into his hot, wet mouth.
He sucked her hard, sending unimaginable sensations from the point of contact straight to the pulsing flesh between her thighs.
The erotic torture continued for long moments before he released her sensitive nipple and moved to the other one. The throbbing started anew.
Kaspyn squirmed beneath Thrasher’s roaming hands and insistent mouth, her body unable to find the relief it sought. “I ache…”
Thrasher continued his torment on her breast, more of the warm oil now spilling along her stomach. Lower it trickled, until the pads of his fingers soon slid a path to where she wanted them most.
His oiled-up fingers gently parted her, slip
ping through to her opening and back up. They coasted along the sides of her swollen flesh, teasing her raised bundle of nerves until Kaspyn could stand it no more.
“Please,” she begged, unsure of what she wanted, only knowing that she needed him to relieve her of the continuous ache building inside.
The mattress dipped with his weight, telling her that he’d moved, and his tongue suddenly took the place of his fingers.
Kaspyn strained against her bonds, fighting to follow the tip of his ever-moving tongue.
And then he sucked her into his mouth and carefully pressed a finger inside her.
The nerves that had been circling her abdomen abruptly flew apart, racing up her spine in an earth-shattering orgasm that wrenched a cry from her throat.
Her body convulsed, trembling with a force she had no control over.
Kaspyn wasn’t sure how much time had passed before the feel of Thrasher’s fingers were back to their torturous caressing.
The bed dipped again and his breath fanned her cheek. “You like that, beautiful Kaspyn?”
“Yes,” she moaned, attempting to turn her face toward him.
His fingers continued to move, but his chin pressed along her jaw, preventing her lips from touching his. “Do you know what you do to me, Kaspyn?”
A shuddering breath expelled from her lungs. “Tell me.”
He dipped a finger inside her. “You consume me.” Another finger entered her. “You torment me with your scent…your nearness.” He curled them inward. “I can barely eat or sleep for obsessing over you.”
Kaspyn’s heart was pounding so hard it rivaled the pulsing in her sex.
“I love you, Kaspyn. I’ve never loved anything in my entire life like I love you.” He slid up, pressed his neck against her lips and growled, “Mate with me.”
Kaspyn’s heart summersaulted. Her fangs descended and she licked along his neck in search of the main artery there. Without hesitation, she sank deep, locking onto his throat as he eased down on top of her to settle between her open legs.
She could feel his hand move between their bodies, gripping his enormous shaft. “This will be uncomfortable for a moment. Try not to tense up.”
Thrasher: Science Fiction Romance (Enigma Series Book 9) Page 11