Chapter Thirty-Three
Rykaur ambled into the kitchen and took a seat while Mary threw on one of his large shirts and joined him.
His lips twitched as he took in her attire. The giant T-shirt hung past her knees.
She’d never looked more appealing than she did in that moment. “Oz is part Bracadyte. He—”
“Part?” she interrupted. “But I thought Doctor Sutherland’s baby was the Enigma. You mean, he wasn’t the first?”
Rykaur shook his head. “But Arcanum was the first baby born from an Incola-infected human. Apparently, the immunizations Abbie had been given while in medical school, coupled with Arcanum’s forming venom, created an immunity to the virus. It saved her life. And is now saving the lives of countless others.”
Mary’s eyes grew round. “They found a cure?”
“Not a cure, but a vaccine. Abbie works day and night producing as much of the vaccine as she safely can. She then sends it to the CDC where they are now distributing it to the largest cities. Not all will be saved, but a big majority will.”
“Who decides who gets to live or die?” Mary dropped her weight in the chair opposite him.
Rykaur shrugged. “Your government.”
“Great. They’ll make sure the rich get vaccinated first.”
“You and the children will be vaccinated soon. I do not want to risk any of you becoming infected.”
Mary studied him for a moment. “What about the Bracadytes? Have you all been vaccinated?”
“We seem to be immune to the virus. I suppose since our venom was used to create Incola, it does not affect us.”
Mary pushed her hair back from her face. “But I thought your venom was a bacterium. How is it that it was used to create a virus?”
“The CDC attempted to destroy the venom’s effect by attacking it with a human bacterium spliced with viral strains. Which is what created Incola. I think they were simply displaying ignorance. A virus and bacteria are two separate entities. One cannot destroy one with the other.”
A strange foreboding came over Mary. “Unless they did it on purpose.”
Rykaur frowned. “Why would they do such a thing?”
“To thin out the population. I’d be willing to bet that none of them have died from the virus.”
“From what I have seen of your human government,” Rykaur murmured, “I would not be surprised. The Bracadytes would never harm one of their own for personal gain.”
Mary reached across the table and touched his hand. “I know. And I’m happy to be mated to one of them.”
Rykaur sent her a soft smile. “Let us eat and get some rest. I have a big day tomorrow and many plans to make for next week’s journey.”
“I’m coming with you.”
He shook his head. “I am afraid that is not possible, my mate. I will not have you put in Howell’s sight. I have no doubt that he has spies all over Oz’s island. Why he has not made a move on Oz yet puzzles me.”
Mary stood and busied herself making them a sandwich. “You expect me to stay here while you put yourself in danger?”
“I can take care of myself,” Rykaur argued, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. “No harm will befall me.”
“And I can take care of myself as well, Rykaur. I’ve been doing it all my life.”
She had a point, Rykaur thought, watching her mill around in his kitchen. But he wouldn’t tell her that. No matter how smart or tough she was, he would never allow her to be put in danger again. Not after the scare he’d recently had with her in the clutches of Jefferies.
“I do not doubt that you can take care of yourself, Mary. I realize that you are strong and intelligent, but you cannot swim for hundreds of miles. And that is how we will travel. Plus, the children need you here.”
Her back stiffened a moment before she relaxed her shoulders. “You’re right, of course. I couldn’t possibly leave the kids again so soon. They would be devastated.”
Rykaur stood and trailed nude across the kitchen. His arms went around Mary to pull her back against him. “We still have a week before I leave. Let us make the best of it.”
And he meant it. He would do everything in his power to make her happy.
“Rykaur?” Vaulcron’s voice rang out from the hallway.
Backing up a step, Rykaur turned toward the entrance. “You may enter.”
Vaulcron pulled back the curtain and stepped into the foyer. A grin split his lips as his gaze went to Rykaur’s erection. “Did I come at a bad time?”
Mary blushed to the roots of her red hair. “Rykaur! Put on some pants.”
Vaulcron laughed and trailed into the kitchen. “Yes, Rykaur, do get dressed. You are needed in the training room.”
“Tonight?” Rykaur turned and strode off to his bedroom to grab his shorts. He pulled them on, grabbed his vest and boots, and made his way back to the kitchen. “What is going on?”
Vaulcron took a seat at the table and waited for Rykaur to sit before explaining. “Klause has Melvin training the warriors for the trip to Cuba. The Arkadians are there as well.”
Rykaur glanced at the back of Mary’s head. Their first night home, and he had to leave her. “Mary?”
She glanced at him over her shoulder, nothing but love and understanding shining from her gray eyes. “Go ahead. I’ll be perfectly fine. In fact, I think I’ll take a nap while the children are gone.”
Lacing up his boots and vest, Rykaur stood and pulled Mary into his arms. “I will be back as soon as possible. Pull this curtain closed behind me.”
Mary stood on her toes and raised her face. “I love you.”
“And I love you, my mate.” Rykaur bent and brushed a kiss across her lips.
Following Vaulcron into the hall, Rykaur glanced back to make sure Mary closed the curtain.
Satisfied that no one would disturb her, he got it in gear and strode off in the direction of the training room. “How many are in attendance?”
“Eight warriors, Melvin, Gryke, Braum, Brant, and the Arkadians.”
Rykaur thought about that for a moment. “And Fiona?”
“Oh, she is there. As is Syrina. It seems the two of them have become great friends. Though, I must admit, Syrina is by far the friendliest of the Arkadians.”
Rykaur grinned. “I am surprised that Kaspyn has not challenged Melvin. She did not seem to appreciate his earlier insult.”
“It may happen yet,” Vaulcron admitted, the corner of his eyes crinkling. “They are circling one another like sharks.”
Changing the subject, Rykaur touched Vaulcron on the arm. “Speaking of sharks, how is your mate handling motherhood?”
Vaulcron chuckled. “Mallory is a great mother. She is very overprotective and hovers quite a bit, but I believe that is the human’s way.”
“And you?”
A proud look entered Vaulcron’s eyes. “It is the most incredible feeling to be a father. The sight of our son at his mother’s breast does something to my heart that is difficult to describe.”
“I imagine that it would be,” Rykaur murmured, imagining Mary holding a babe in her arms.
A voice called out from up ahead, interrupting Rykaur’s musing. “Hurry! You do not want to miss this.”
Vaulcron and Rykaur picked up their pace, rushing toward the training room and entering shoulder to shoulder.
Melvin stood in the arena, shirtless and confident. He waved two Bracadytes forward.
Rykaur’s gaze sliced to Kaspyn to gauge her reaction. She stood against the wall, a guarded look on her face.
“One more,” Melvin commanded, causing jaws to drop throughout the room.
Kaspyn pushed away from the wall. “You think to fight three of Aukrabah’s best warriors?”
Melvin gave her his full attention. “I’m not here to fight anyone. I’m here to train them.”
Her chin lifted. “A warrior does not use deceit to fight. Leave your human’s trickery in the hall and fight like a warrior.”
A challenging light entered Melvin’s eyes. “It’s not trickery, Sasquatch, it’s called skill. Something that your man over there is sorely lacking in.” He nodded toward Zyen. “But if you think I’m not capable of hand-to-hand combat? Think again.”
Kaspyn crossed her arms over her chest and stood with her feet apart. “Prove it.”
All eyes swung back in Melvin’s direction, obviously to see what he would do next.
Melvin rolled his shoulders, scanned the room, and crooked his finger at Zyen. “You.”
Murmurs erupted from the small crowd that had moved in closer.
A huge grin appeared on Zyen’s face. He stepped into the arena and spat at Melvin’s feet. “I have been waiting for this moment.”
The giant Bracadyte swung, his fist connecting with Melvin’s jaw.
Rykaur watched in dread as Melvin’s body flew through the air to connect with the stone floor of the arena.
Melvin sprang up like the rubber band Rykaur used in his hair. He wiped the back of his hand over his bloodied mouth and grinned. “Not bad, Goliath. That was a freebie. I’d enjoy it if I were you.”
Zyen swung again, his massive arm flying through the air with enough force that Rykaur felt the wind from it.
Melvin ducked and came up with a quick uppercut, nailing the Bracadyte beneath his chin.
To Rykaur’s surprise, Melvin didn’t stop there. He slammed his fist into Zyen’s face again and again, walking him backward with each powerful blow.
The sound of bones cracking and shattering echoed off the training room walls as Melvin continued to beat the blond Bracadyte to a bloodied mess.
“Next!” Melvin barked, never once letting up on Zyen’s face.
Another Arkadian male stepped into the arena, crouching low and circling Melvin.
Melvin slammed a hard right against Zyen’s jaw, spun around, and kicked the crouching Bracadyte hard in the chin.
The newcomer staggered back, but held his footing.
Zyen took the opportunity to grab Melvin from behind, wrapping his powerful arms around the man. He snarled, lifting Melvin off his feet. The veins popped out in Zyen’s neck as he squeezed with the power of a Bracadyte.
The newcomer charged, drawing back his fist as he ran toward Melvin.
And then the unthinkable happened. With lightning speed, Melvin slammed the back of his head into Zyen’s nose, lifted his knees, and kicked the charging newcomer in the face.
Zyen released Melvin with a roar, staggering back as blood poured from his shattered nose.
Rykaur watched in amazement as Melvin spun around the arena like a Tasmanian devil, until neither Bracadyte was left standing.
Gryke stepped forward, dodging an accidental blow from Melvin, gripped the man’s wrist, and raised his arm in the air. “Thrasher!”
Cheers exploded from the crowd. Even Kaspyn gave a quick nod of approval.
Rykaur grinned at Melvin’s look of annoyance and jogged forward to lift his other arm. In a voice loud enough to be heard in the lab, Rykaur repeated Gryke’s word. “Thrasher!”