Chapter Twenty-Three
Thrasher spent the next four days avoiding Kaspyn like the plague, which was difficult considering they worked together. So he spoke when he was spoken to and only looked at her when asked a direct question. Of course, she wasn’t doing cartwheels to interact with him either, which bothered him more than he cared to admit.
It had taken every ounce of willpower that Thrasher possessed to walk away from Kaspyn’s bungalow the night she’d offered herself to him. He’d turned around three different times, ready to throw caution to the wind, run back inside her room and make love to her the rest of the night. But he’d somehow managed to make it to his own dwelling without doing something stupid like ruining her life.
Thrasher was more than aware of his feelings for Kaspyn. Those feelings existed and seemed to grow by the day. But her father was the king of Arkadia; a known racist when it came to anyone different than him. Those views had bled over into his only daughter. Kaspyn had arrived in Aukrabah, a spoiled princess who viewed humans as nothing more than bodies to suck up precious oxygen. But she’d changed. Thrasher has seen the transformation as clearly as if he’d experienced it himself.
He moved quietly through the trees, unable to take his mind off Kaspyn. She thought he’d rejected her, when in reality, he’d been trying to protect her. Although, he had to admit to a certain satisfaction in watching her come apart in his arms…and especially on his face. His shaft grew erect with the memory.
“You do realize that I can hear your thoughts,” Tony sarcastically remarked, easing along through the brush next to him.
Thrasher’s jaw tightened, but he remained silent.
“If you want her that much, Thrasher, why don’t you just take her?” Tony continued through their mental link, obviously to keep Zyen from hearing the exchange.
Swiveling his head around to face his most trusted friend, Thrasher sent back. “Because, you moron, she’s a virgin, and the daughter of a king.”
“I realize that, shithead,” Tony retorted, emphasizing the word shithead, “I’m mated to the daughter of a king who was also a virgin.”
The irony of the situation hit Thrasher full in the gut. A laugh burst from his lips, sending birds scattering from the treetops.
Zyen glanced over, unaware of what prompted the humorous outburst.
“Jesus, Vaughn,” Thrasher continued, speaking to his friend through their link. “Is this really happening?”
Tony smirked, his thoughts bleeding through loud and clear. “You’re such an idiot, Escabar. It’s been happening since Kaspyn stepped foot in Aukrabah. Seems like you’re the only one who can’t see it. We all damn sure can.”
Thrasher’s smile faded as quickly as it came. “It can’t happen, Tony. Bracadytes mate for life. I mean, I’ve never committed to anyone on that sort of level before. What if I’m not capable of it?”
“I’m not gonna get all mushy on you,” Tony remarked, “that just ain’t my style. But I will tell you this. If you love her, and you let her go, you’ll live with that regret for the rest of your life.”
Closing off his mind to his closest friend, Thrasher stopped behind a copse of trees, and held up a fist, signaling them to stop. He reached for the portable binoculars tucked in the pocket of his shirt, pushed his Ray-Bans to the top of his head, and brought the binoculars to his eyes.
Kerik’s camp lay just ahead. Thrasher could see dozens of armed men patrolling the fence line. He glanced over his shoulder at Vaughn to see him scanning the surrounding area with his own binoculars.
“Something doesn’t feel right,” Tony murmured in a low tone.
Thrasher had been thinking the same thing. Though no one knew the three of them would be venturing out to look for signs of Howell, that didn’t mean Kerik wouldn’t predict it.
Something suddenly whizzed through the trees to embed itself into Thrasher’s healing shoulder.
“Son of a bitch!” Thrasher snarled, swinging his gaze in Zyen’s direction. “Get Vaughn out of here. Now!”
Zyen didn’t hesitate, he jerked Tony off his feet, burst through the trees and onto the beach before Thrasher dropped to his knees.
The last sight that Thrasher saw before his eyes drifted shut was Zyen sailing headlong into the water, still holding tightly to Tony.
* * * *
Pain ripped through Thrasher’s side, bringing him awake with the white-hot agony that only a burn could create. He bit back a hiss and forced his eyes to open.
He seemed to be bound to a post, his arms tied behind his back and his feet secured together.
“Hello, Escabar. It’s good of you to finally join us. You’ve been asleep for quite some time, and as I’m sure you realize, time isn’t a luxury for you at the moment. My men tell me that you and Vaughn had someone with you in those woods. Now, who could that be, I wonder?”
Thrasher curled his lip.
“What, nothing to say? Perhaps you need some incentive.” Kerik nodded to someone Thrasher couldn’t see, and the pain of that god-awful burning sensation ripped through him once again. He didn’t flinch.
Kerik reached up, gripped Thrasher’s hair and jerked his head back. “I have all night, Escabar. How long do you think you can last? You can tell me what I want to know, and the pain will stop. Your choice. But be advised, it’s going to get a lot worse the longer you delay the inevitable.”
“Go to hell,” Thrasher bit out.
With another nod, Kerik let go of Thrasher’s hair, moved back a step, and lit a cigarette.
A fist slammed into Thrasher’s jaw. Blood sprayed from his mouth to pepper Kerik’s shirt. Thrasher grinned. “Kill me if you must. You’ll never get what you want. And you sure as hell will never get your hands on Vaughn.”
“Really?” Kerik exhaled, a billow of smoke circled his head. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that. I know that Klause is on his way, and I’m fairly certain that his two sons will be in tow as well. I also know that Vaughn plans on leaving by boat in two days. He won’t make it to the pass before we take him out.”
Buying himself some time, Thrasher asked. “Why are you doing this? Howell could give a shit about you.”
“This is about Howell,” Kerik calmly answered. “Those things you fight so hard to protect will be the fall of our great nation. Aliens; creatures that aren’t meant to exist alongside mankind, let alone breed with us. If those freaks of nature aren’t eradicated, and soon, our entire species will be in jeopardy. You’re an intelligent man, Escabar, I would think you’d realize that.”
Listening to Kerik spew his hatred of the Bracadytes did make Thrasher realize one thing. He was falling in love with Kaspyn. And if he made it out of this predicament alive, he would make damn sure that she knew it. “The only thing that will become extinct in this entire situation is you, Kerik.”
Another fist slammed into Thrasher’s jaw, and then another. Kerik’s men continued to beat Thrasher, long after their leader walked away.
Though the pain became unbearable at times, Thrasher closed his eyes, locked his teeth and opened his mind. “Tony?”
“Son of bitch, Thrasher. Hold on, man. I’m on my way.”
Thrasher breathed through the agony of the fist that connected with his stomach. “No! Don’t come here. He’ll be expecting that. Stay the course. He knows about the plan and he intends to attack the boat in two days’ time.”
“Bullshit,” Tony snarled back. “You’ll be dead by then.”
The contents of Thrasher’s stomach came up with the next blow. It took him a minute to respond back. “Do you remember what we were taught by the CIA? Do your damn job, Vaughn. Kill the one to save the thousand. Always, soldier! That’s always the answer…no matter what.”