Thrasher: Science Fiction Romance (Enigma Series Book 9) Read online

  “Really?” Thrasher shot back. “If not for the king’s intervention, I imagine that you and Zyen would have my head on a spike to take back to your father in celebration of my demise. You’re a hypocrite.”

  Thrasher’s words hurt more than Kaspyn wanted to admit. She lifted her chin, not about to back down. “You are probably right about that. And had you not met the Bracadytes and come to know them, I would say the same about you. Only your people wouldn’t take my head until after you had a go at my body.”

  “Whoa,” Tony interjected, dropping his bag onto the porch and holding up his hands. “Look, Kaspyn. There’s obviously fault to be found on both sides here. But change has to start somewhere. It’s already begun in Aukrabah as well as in the states. If we can learn to put our differences aside for the good of man and Bracadyte, then I think you should too.”

  Kaspyn studied the human known as Vaughn, felt the sincerity in his words. “Perhaps you are correct, Anthony Vaughn. I will endeavor to put my feelings aside for the time being. As for the future of our two races living in peace, I suppose that only time will tell.” With that, she turned and strode off toward the dwelling Oz had pointed out.

  It took everything Kaspyn had not to glance back to gauge Thrasher’s reaction to her words. Truth be told, she was more curious about his response than anyone else’s. Although, she couldn’t imagine why.

  She could feel Thrasher’s gaze boring into her back as she bypassed the walkway and traipsed through the shrubs to her dwelling.

  Pyre followed close behind. “Do you think there is any merit to the human’s words?”

  Kaspyn paused at the foot of the porch with her foot on the bottom step. “Of course not. But we are here at Klause’s request. Which means that we must work side by side with the humans to destroy the land walker known as Reuben Howell. Once that has been accomplished, I hope to never see another human as long as I live.”

  Something about her words sounded empty to her own ears.

  “I have been taught to hate the land walker from birth,” Pyre began. “But something about Thrasher does not seem so bad. I sense a strength and character in him that I would not have thought a human could possess.”

  Kaspyn had sensed it too. “Go rest, Pyre. I will see you at sundown.”

  Pyre hesitated. “Are you certain that you feel safe by yourself? I can stay out here to be sure you are not disturbed.”

  “I will be fine. Oz does not strike me as the type who would allow his mate to be in danger. And from what I hear, she is resting up only two dwellings down.”Kaspyn glanced over her shoulder. “Open your senses, Pyre. Can you not feel the eyes upon you? We are being watched from the trees. This is a good location with the water in front of us. The only way to reach us is through those trees behind us. I am sure there is a road into here as well, and I have no doubt that it is heavily guarded.”

  Pyre nodded. “You are right. I will leave you to rest then.”

  Once Pyre turned to leave, Kaspyn climbed the steps and entered the small bungalow.

  Her gaze swept over the place, taking in the floral furnishings and the large television hanging on the wall. She loved the human television and would miss it when she returned home.

  That wasn’t all she would miss, her mind whispered against her will.

  Shaking off her unwanted thoughts, Kaspyn ventured into the bedroom before stepping into a bathroom far more luxurious than the one on the yacht.

  Mindful of being burned, she turned on the water, plugged the drain, and poured some sweet-scented liquid into the tub.

  She turned and looked at herself in the mirror, noticing the tangled mess of her hair.

  A knock sounded, throwing Kaspyn’s senses on alert.

  She inched her way to the front door, careful not to make a sound.

  “Princess Kaspyn? My name is Carmen. Oz sent me.”

  Kaspyn opened the door to find a young, dark-skinned human standing on the porch, smiling and holding a bag in her hands.

  “What do you want?”

  The girl’s smile faltered. “I was told to bring you some things and to assist you in whatever you need.”

  Kaspyn narrowed her eyes, unsure of whether to trust the tiny land walker. “Come inside.”

  The second Carmen stepped over the threshold, Kaspyn had her in her clutches. She gripped the young human’s head in her hands and opened her mind.

  Kaspyn immediately saw an older man holding a strap in his hands while he lashed the young girl’s back. A female’s tears as she held a baby’s in her arms. Several male faces with lust in their eyes. Carmen’s fear, her desolation…her pain. Oz with an attractive woman by his side. A little girl’s hunger, finally filled. Happiness, devastation, and peace all melded together, slamming into Kaspyn at once, but none of them hinted at trickery.

  Kaspyn pulled from Carmen’s mind, trying to piece together the scenes she’d witnessed there. The girl had been abused by someone she knew well. “You may sit.”

  Closing the door, Kaspyn gestured toward the bag. “What is it that you have there?”

  Carmen’s smile returned, but her eyes remained leery. Kaspyn supposed she would be a bit leery also if someone twice her size had accosted her the way she had Carmen.

  “Some clothes, a brush, toothbrush, perfume, and—“

  “Perfume?” Kaspyn interrupted. “What means perfume?”

  Carmen’s shoulders relaxed. “Here, I’ll show you.”

  Setting the bag on the table in front of the couch, Carmen pulled out a small bottle filled with liquid. “Hold out your hand.”

  Kaspyn did as instructed, watching as the girl pushed the gold tip and a cool liquid sprayed along Kaspyn’s wrist.

  And then the most amazing scent filled the air.

  “Magic,” Kaspyn whispered, realizing her eyes were probably as big as sand dollars.

  Carmen chuckled. “It’s not magic. It’s perfume. You put it on your pulse points after you get out of the shower.

  Kaspyn started at the mention of shower. She’d left the water running in the tub.

  Rushing to the bathroom, Kaspyn turned off the faucet, grateful the water hadn’t run over and wet the floor.

  “Is everything all right?” Carmen called from the bedroom.

  Kaspyn pushed open the bathroom door and waved the little human inside. “I am going to bathe. You may sit over there.” She indicated towards the toilet.

  Once Kaspyn had undressed, she stepped over into the bath, noticing Carmen’s blush. “It offends you to see me naked?”

  “Oh no,” Carmen assured her. “I’ve just never seen anyone without um…hair on their body.”

  Kaspyn frowned. “We have hair on our bodies.”

  Carmen turned another shade of pink. “That’s not what I meant. It doesn’t matter.”

  Going about the business of washing her hair, Kaspyn kept an eye on the human female, wondering about her lack of hair comment.

  Kaspyn finished her bath, grabbed a towel hanging from a rack and stepped from the tub.

  “Oz’s mate, Maria, sent you some clothes to wear. I hope they fit.”

  “I have clothes to wear,” Kaspyn argued, nodding toward her sharkskin vest and shorts.

  Carmen slowly got to her feet and began pulling some items from the bag she held. She laid a pink top and matching bottoms on the counter next to the sink. “Maria thought this would be more comfortable, and it would also give you a chance to wash your own clothes if you so desire.”

  Kaspyn grudgingly plucked up the top, drawn to the beautiful color of the material. “I suppose it would do no harm to wear them for a day.”

  “It’s called a running suit,” Carmen advised her. “It was the only thing Maria had that would fall beyond your knees. How tall are you, anyway?”

  Surprised by the human’s question, Kaspyn countered with one of her own. “How tall are you?”

  “Five feet one.”

  Kaspyn laughed, something she hadn’t done in a lon
g time. “My, but you are a small one. I am six feet six inches tall.”

  Carmen’s mouth fell open. “Hollywood would kill to have you.”

  “I do not know this Hollywood, but he would have to kill me before he could have me.”

  It was Carmen’s turn to laugh. “Hollywood is a place, not a person.”

  Once Kaspyn had the running suit on, she turned to face the human. “It is rather comfortable.”

  Carmen smiled. “Good. Now, if you’ll sit here, I will fix you right up.”

  “Fix me right up?” Kaspyn traded places with the tiny land walker and took a seat on the toilet lid.

  “You just close your eyes and relax. I will work my magic.”

  Kaspyn narrowed her eyes. She’d known the female possessed some sort of magic.

  “It’s a figure of speech,” Carmen assured her. “I’m only going to enhance your natural beauty.”

  For some reason, Kaspyn trusted Carmen. She’d seen into her mind, experienced the hardships the girl had survived in her young life. There had been no malice in her heart, no evil lurking inside. Yeah, Kaspyn kind of liked her. Kind of.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Thrasher stepped from his dwelling with Tony in tow. They’d both showered, had a bite to eat, and paced the small bungalow like caged rats. Thrasher wasn’t sure what Vaughn had on his mind, but he couldn’t seem to get Kaspyn off his. “Howell is near, Tony. I can feel him.”

  “So can I,” Tony muttered, jumping from the porch while Thrasher took the steps. “Something is off. I can’t figure out what it is, I just know something is.”

  Glancing back, Thrasher noticed Gryke, Rykaur, Brant and the two Arkadian males heading in their direction. He wanted to ask about Kaspyn, but decided against it.

  Just then, a young native girl stuck her head out the door of Kaspyn’s bungalow. “We will be right there.”

  Thrasher sent the girl a two-finger salute and headed off toward Oz’s home.

  “Down there,” Oz informed them, nodding toward a door that lead to a basement. “Maria is sleeping, and I’d rather not wake her if I can help it.”

  Everyone filed inside, keeping their voices low and taking the stairs to the room below ground.

  Thrasher glanced around with a low whistle. “Impressive.”

  “Thanks,” Oz responded. “I had to do some remodeling after what went down here with the cartel, but it’s stronger now than ever before.”

  Monitors and weapons lined one wall. A large desk sat across the room that held a CB radio, satellite phone, and a computer. A bar ran along the opposite wall with a bathroom to the right of it, and in the back corner of the room rested a huge, red-canopied bed.

  The corner of Thrasher’s mouth lifted. “I always took you for a freak.”

  “Rykaur’s the freak,” Oz shot back. “I merely have good taste.”

  A grunt came from Rykaur but he didn’t deny the accusation.

  Thrasher sauntered over to the wall of weapons, admiring the vast assortment on display when a low whistle sounded from behind him.

  He turned in time to see Kaspyn make her way down the stairs and nearly swallowed his tongue.

  She wore a pink top with matching bottoms that were tucked into her sharkskin boots. A hint of her stomach showed where the shirt didn’t quite reach her waist. But that wasn’t what held his attention the most. Her incredible amber-colored eyes were lined with black eyeliner that seemed to make them glow. Her lips and cheeks were the same color pink as her outfit, and her hair had been curled, falling over her shoulders in a billow of white silk. Thrasher had never seen anything more beautiful in his life. And he’d thought her gorgeous before.

  The vision that was Kaspyn, stopped at the bottom of the stairs. “What is your problem, human?”

  Thrasher found his voice. “I don’t have a problem, but you will, walking around looking like a painted-up hooker.”

  If Thrasher had ever wished he could take some words back…it was in that moment. The hurt that flashed in her eyes immediately sent regret slamming through him.

  “I do not know what a hooker is, but from the sound of your voice, I will assume it is not good.”

  “Kaspyn, I—“

  “Your opinion of my attire matters not, land walker.”

  Brant leaned his hip against the desk Thrasher stood next to. “Well, I think you look fantastic, Kaspyn. You could definitely grace the cover of any major magazine in publication.”

  Jealousy, strong and true came to life inside Thrasher. He bit back a snarl, forcing himself to turn away before he knocked out a couple of Henagar’s teeth.

  Tony cleared his throat. “Okay then…now that we got that out of the way, let’s figure out what we’re going to do about Howell.”

  “Kerik was last seen by some of my spies about twenty miles east of here. Which tells me that Howell is definitely close by.”

  “I say we go there tonight and kill Kerik in his sleep,” Rykaur growled while running his palm along the red covering of the bed.

  Thrasher shook his head. “I can guarantee that it’s a trap. Gerald Kerik used to be the secretary of defense. He’s smart, cunning and dangerous. You can bet your ass that he knows we’re here. You can also count on knowing that he is more than aware that we know where he is also.”

  “Then what is he waiting for?” Gryke rumbled, anger sparking in his eyes.

  Thrasher met Tony’s gaze. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

  “Probably.”

  Oz threw up his hands. “Care to fill us in?”

  Tony blew out a breath. “It’s a classic poker move. He wants us to go charging in, guns blazing, so they can surround us…trap us. Kerik knows that Klause would have sent me as well as Thrasher. He also knows that I’m mated to the king’s daughter and that Klause would do everything possible to see me safely return.”

  Understanding dawned in everyone’s eyes.

  “What do you suggest we do?” The question came from Zyen, strange as that was.

  Thrasher met the giant’s eyes, noticing that even though a touch of malice lingered in their depths, it was shared by determination. Zyen would do whatever was asked of him.

  “Kerik knows we’re here,” Thrasher began. “I say we wait him out, make him come to us.”

  Oz ran a hand down his face. “But if the Cuban military finds out that you’re here, they’ll likely blow us off the map. How do we know that Howell won’t send a little birdie to chirp in Mendoza’s ear?”

  “We don’t know.” Thrasher glanced at every face in the room, including Kaspyn’s heart-stopping one. “But I have an idea.”

  Tony narrowed his eyes. “I know where you’re going with this, and it could very well work.”

  “Are you planning on telling us?” Though Kaspyn’s words were softly spoken, there was no mistaking the underlying anger in her voice. And it was directed at Thrasher.

  Thrasher gave her his full attention. “We will stay in Playa Pilar for seven days. On the morning of the eighth day, we’ll board the boat that brought us in and head back toward the yacht we left anchored in The Gulf. It must be during daylight hours so we are sure to be seen leaving.”

  “You mean to run from him?” Kaspyn’s indignation was palpable.

  Shaking his head, Thrasher continued, “It will look as if we’ve left, but once the boat circles the port, we swim back, come around behind the ruins of the hotel, and take them out.”

  Kaspyn ran a fingertip along her chin. “By take them out, I am assuming that means to destroy them?”

  “It does.”

  She held Thrasher’s gaze. “How can you be certain that this Kerik will be there?”

  “I know that he’ll be there because there’s a spy in our midst, and they’ll make sure Kerik knows of our plans to leave.” He paused when murmurs erupted throughout the room.

  “You’re sure about that?” Oz asked in a deadly soft voice.

  Thrasher nodded. “That’s why he hasn’t a
ttacked you yet. He knew we were coming. How many have you spoken with about our impending arrival?”

  Oz narrowed his eyes. “A few, but it’s men I would trust with my life. You’re certain they’ll wait until you’re on the boat before they attack?”

  “I am,” Thrasher stated before returning his attention to the room at large. “Kerik and his men will attack the boat they think we are leaving on. They’ll plan to disable it, board it, and take the Bracadytes prisoner, including Tony. It’s the safest way to ensure that Klause will come, and the easiest way to apprehend us.”

  “And you? What of you?” Kaspyn raised an eyebrow.

  “I’m nothing to them,” Thrasher admitted. “They’ll likely kill me immediately.” Was that fear that flashed in Kaspyn’s eyes?

  Brant held up a hand. “Where will Howell be during all this?”

  “He’ll be close. You can bet your ass on it. After everything he’s already lost and is now running from, he has nothing left to live for but revenge. And that revenge won’t taste nearly as sweet if he’s not there to witness it. No, he’ll be there.”

  Oz nodded his agreement. “It’s settled then. On the morning of the eighth day, everyone will be packed and ready to go. Once you’ve boarded, I will move Maria down here where she’ll be safe. And then it’s on.”

  “Call a meeting with a few of your men,” Thrasher advised Oz. “Tell them to keep scouting the area, and that if Howell isn’t located within the week, we will be heading back to Aukrabah on the king’s orders.”

  Oz gave a sharp nod. “Sounds like a good plan. Whoever the spy is in our midst, they will make sure that Kerik knows your plan to leave on the eighth day.”

  “If you will bring your men to me,” Kaspyn offered, “I will tell you who it is that cannot be trusted.”

  Thrasher shook his head. “Not until after Kerik and Howell have been destroyed. We need a certain amount of information to be leaked to them.”

  “Once I know who the spy is,” Oz growled, “I will take great pleasure in removing his tongue.”

  Chapter Fourteen