Somewhere in the far reaches of his mind, Hauke knew he had to pull back, but he couldn’t seem to stop. Her blood resurrected him, and his body demanded more of the coveted liquid.
The first beat of his heart kicked off a chain reaction inside him. Oxygen expanded his lungs, sealing the gills. Moisture flooded his eyes, pain faded from the wound in his side, and the barbs on his wrists and ankles tingled with life as rejuvenating cells invaded his damaged tissue.
Recent memories suddenly crashed into him. His stomach muscles locked up with the power of it. “Leave it be, Naura. It is too dangerous for you. We go alone.”
His sister’s anger was strong enough, he’d felt her emotions without their mental link.
“I am more intelligent than most of the males you think to take with you.”
“I cannot risk you being seen. Or worse, captured.”
“Vaulcron allows me to accompany him on occasion to study the humans.”
“Our brother has no regard for the laws. They are in place for our protection as well as the surface dwellers.”
An explosion. The shout of his sister’s name dying on his lips.
Foreign sounds blended with strange accents in a confusing series of events too difficult to piece together.
A different kind of energy emerged. Pleasure, tingling warmth.
Images of Abbie as a child interrupted his flashback to swirl through his psyche in a whirlwind of madness.
“Happy birthday, Mama.” Pride was evident on her face as she stumbled along, holding a colorful square with small sticks of fire burning on top.
“Go to your room, young lady.” Her father’s scolding was met with rebellion.
Abbie’s memories danced around without direction. “Go get the stick, Spot. Good boy.”
“I can’t accept a gift this extravagant, Bruce.” An older Abbie stared up at a man standing over her.
“Nonsense. Nothing is too good for my girl.” Hauke watched the guy bend and pull Abbie to her feet before wrapping her in his arms and kissing her.
Jealousy consumed him. He wanted to tear the man’s lips from his face for daring to touch her.
The gulf. A young Abbie’s pain as she swam toward the sandbar. Her grief at the loss of her mother.
A wave took her under. Something about her called to him…a pull too powerful to deny.
He couldn’t allow her to expire, no matter the cost. With his heart in his throat, he sprang into action. The wiry muscles of his teenage body sliced through the water with expert skill.
Gone was the fear of being seen. Nothing mattered but reaching the tiny human before the gulf claimed her life.
Palm to palm. Warmth. Hauke groaned with the release of energy that left his body. It seemed wrenched from his very soul as it poured through his hands into hers.
A spasm racked her small frame. Her lids lifted slowly to reveal hazel-colored eyes. He felt her curiosity as she stared up at him in wonder.
He knew he could never see her again after this day, but her memory would remain with him, always.
Hauke wasn’t sure how much time had passed before Abbie’s moan penetrated his madness. He forced his fangs to retract and released the death grip on her wrists. The urge to take more blood gripped him, but he resisted. Barely.
* * * *
Abbie gazed down at Hauke in more than a little awe. She had just experienced the memory of her drowning all those years ago, through his eyes. It was remarkable seeing it from his point of view with his feelings riding the surface.
“Hauke?”
She felt the instant he closed off from her. The lingering essence of him in her mind disappeared, leaving a void in its wake.
Rejection reared its ugly head, and Abbie’s chest constricted with the knowledge that he didn’t want her. What if giving him her blood had harmed him or disgusted him in some way?
“I’m sorry.” Her voice came out husky with unshed tears. “I only wanted to help you.”
Abbie moved to slide off him. She needed to get to the phone her uncle Tony had left on the kitchen counter.
She could think of only one person to call on besides Tony that had the power to move mountains and hopefully get them out of the mess they were in. Bruce Ortega.
The snarl that suddenly burst from Hauke startled her. She found herself flat on her back with him looming over her before she could suck in a breath.
“I will end his life, Abbie. Do not think to bring him here.”
Abbie stared up at Hauke without blinking. His protective lenses were in place, making his eyes appear black as onyx. He looked wild and more than a little scary with his fangs peeking out and his bottom lip smeared with her blood.
She wasn’t sure she liked him reading her every thought. “You don’t know him. He can help us, Hauke.”
His gaze dropped to her breasts, and he bared his teeth “Cover yourself and do not speak of him again.”
Humiliation was swift, mocking her with its heat as it spread across her skin in an unwelcome blush.
Turning her head to the side, Abbie crossed her arms over her chest. Shame made speaking difficult, but she managed a whisper. “Get off me.”
She could feel his gaze on her skin, the weight of his body pressing her into the mattress.
“I cannot risk infecting you.” Hauke rolled away from her and stood, not bothering to cover his nudity.
Abbie had a hard time focusing on his face. “What do you mean, infecting me?”
He ran a hand through his long, silky hair. “I have not personally witnessed the infection’s destruction, and I do not believe my father before me has either. We were educated at a young age on the adverse effect of our venom on humans.”
Abbie grabbed her clothes and pulled the sheet over her body to dress in a modicum of privacy. “Adverse, as in negative?”
Sorrow swam in his beautiful green eyes. “Yes.”
“Okay, negative in what way? Like run a fever and vomit for a week?”
“Would that it be that simple.”
Her heart began to pound. She pulled her jeans up and bounded from the bed to face him. “You’re starting to scare me.”
He took hold of her hand and laid it against his chest while gently brushing her hair behind her ear with the tips of his fingers. “Many centuries ago, my ancestors inhabited this island.”
“You mean Destin?”
He nodded and continued. “South, east, and west of here also for many miles before the land walkers built bridges and constructed towns. The natives were sparse yet friendly for the most part, keeping to themselves. Until our king developed an affection for a beautiful young maiden, Aiyana, and took her for his own. She became infected not long after the mating ceremony.”
“Mating ceremony?
“The humans refer to it as a wedding night.”
Understanding dawned on her. “What happened to her?”
“The fever settled in first, then the blisters took over, covering her body until the pain grew too great to live.”
“She died?” Abbie asked incredulously.
“Her father grew suspicious when she was not seen after many days and demanded to see her.”
Hauke let go of Abbie’s hand and ran a palm down his face. His eyes appeared weary beyond his years.
Abbie gently touched his arm. “Go on. What happened after seeing his daughter?”
“The elders tell us that her father attempted to care for her, eventually contracting the sickness and taking it back to his people, infecting others in his camp until the remaining land walkers declared war and rose up against my ancestors.”
“Oh, my God. What was the outcome?”
“The elders advised the king to return home beneath the water. We have remained there for hundreds of years in peace, until…”
“Until you washed up on shore,” Abbie finished for him. “What happened to the king’s mate. Did she die?”
Hauke took a deep breath and lifted a powerful shoulder.
“I do not know. Stories were told to me as a child, but I am not sure of the amount of truth in them.”
Abbie patted the mattress. “Sit and tell me.”
Chapter Ten
Abbie’s insides were weak, and her legs felt as if they would give way at any moment. If what Hauke told her was true, then she ran the risk of becoming infected by the very virus he spoke of.
She sat on the edge of the bed and pulled him down with her. “Tell me of the stories you were told.”
“It was said the king attempted to take Aiyana with all remaining Bracadytes back to Aukrabah.”
Abbie held up a hand to stop him. “What is a Bracadyte and where is Aukrabah?”
“A Bracadyte is a cave dweller. The name was given to us centuries ago by a local shaman of the natives. Aukrabah is my home in the gulf.”
“So, you—you live in the water?”
“Beneath it. I do not know how we came to be, or how long we existed in the deep before land walkers were discovered. Our scrolls date back to the great flood when we first encountered humans.”
“When you say great flood, do you mean when Noah built the ark?”
“The scrolls do not mention Noah or an ark. They tell us of a flood that destroyed the land, obliterating the four-legged creatures and many inhabitants of the sea as well.”
“Do you realize what you are saying? Your people were around long before God’s infinite cleansing.”
He cocked his head to the side. “You practice the human religion? Perhaps you are an angel after all.”
“You know about our religion?”
“I am aware of the human beliefs.”
”That’s interesting. As for your question about me practicing religion? I wouldn’t go so far as to say I practice it, and I’m certainly no angel. I believe in God. I believe he created us all, including you. I’m just not sure of what he expects from us on a day-to-day basis.”
Growing uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation, she changed the subject. “You said that you live beneath the water. Explain it to me. Do you swim around in pods like dolphins and sharks? Also, I want to know why you have both lungs and gills.”
A smile touched his lips, transforming him from beautiful to breathtaking. Abbie couldn’t speak. She could only stare in wonder and nod for him to continue.
“You have many questions,” he teased. “We do not live in the water. We dwell beneath.”
Abbie finally found her voice. “How does one live beneath the water?”
“There are many places under the land and seas that have not been explored by humans, Abbie.”
“Okay. Are you referring to caves and caverns that exist in the water?”
He covered her hand with his. “Some are shallow and cold, while others are warm and go on for great distances.”
“So you live in a cave then?”
At his affirmation, she continued. Questions began spilling out unabashed. “Aren’t they full of water? How do you eat and sleep? Is it dark down there? And— ”
“Slow down, Abbie. I will answer any questions you may have once I return from the gulf.”
Abbie’s stomach flipped. “You’re leaving me?”
At any other time, the look on Hauke’s face would have been comical. He gripped the hand he held and pulled her against his chest. “I will not leave you. I must immerse myself in the water for my body to properly heal.”
“Oh,” she mumbled, feeling ashamed that she’d questioned him continuously since he’d awakened. “I’ll come with you.”
Hauke kissed the top of her head and stood. “You should stay inside. There will be less chance of being seen if I go alone.”
“No way. I’m coming with you.”
“I will not endanger your life, Abbie. It is better for you to remain indoors. You would be alone on the beach while I am in the water.”
Abbie knew he spoke the truth. She couldn’t risk being seen or questioned by one of the neighbors. “Okay. I’ll wait here. But please hurry. And, Hauke?” She touched his arm as he moved to step around her. “Be careful.”
* * * *
Hauke recognized Abbie’s reluctance to let him go alone. She feared he would leave her behind to face the laws of her people.
She had saved his life, and as long as he lived, he would do everything in his power to keep her from harm’s way. “I will be back. I give you my word.”
He left the room with Abbie following close behind him. He could feel her gaze touching on his naked body with every step he took.
It took tremendous effort not to turn around and crush her to him, press his lips to hers, and profess his growing feelings for her, but the evidence of his lust propelled him forward.
The last thing she needed at the moment was a giant, injured Bracadyte standing over her, wielding an erection.
Hauke understood how sex worked with the humans. He knew it to be similar to the mating ritual of the Bracadyte. Only, the human sexual connection ended with a physical climax, whereas the Bracadyte had a dual release—mind as well as body.
He shook off his thoughts and reached for the odd-looking glass perched in front of him.
“It’s a sliding glass door. Let me show you.” Abbie moved to his side and touched something to the right of the door. It slid open with barely a sound. “I’ll be waiting right here for you. Please hurry back.”
With a short nod, Hauke stepped through the opening as quickly and quietly as possible.
The smell of salt hit him long before he arrived at the water’s edge. One word played over and over inside his mind as he stepped into the soothing waves of the gulf.
Home.
Hauke engaged his protective lenses and dove beneath the surface, swimming with the speed of a dolphin until he reached the second sandbar.
He could feel his body soaking up the necessary nutrients it needed for healing as he gazed longingly toward home.
But he couldn’t go home. Not yet. He had to locate his sister, Naura; his second in command, Braum; and the other three members of the team he had been with before the explosion happened.
Hauke feasted off various fish, pleased with the feeling of his strength rapidly returning. He would need every ounce of it to find his team members and keep Abbie safe until he could make arrangements to have her brought to Aukrabah.
Moving her to Aukrabah was not going to be an easy task. Hauke knew she would not be received well by the Bracadytes. Especially the elders.
Bringing a human below meant a risk of exposure for Hauke’s kind, but what choice did he have?
He could remain on land with her, he reasoned, biting into a delicious red snapper. But it would only be a matter of time before they were caught and ultimately destroyed. No, he refused to risk Abbie’s life.
Another thought struck as he finished his meal and turned toward shore. Abbie’s body would not tolerate the altitude of Aukrabah’s entrance, even with him breathing for her. The pressure would kill her.
The second his feet touched the gulf floor, Hauke stood and strode from the water toward the safety of the house. If he could not find a way to take Abbie below, he had no choice but to remain above.
He ran a hand through his wet hair in an attempt to expel some of the saltwater dripping from the ends.
Now that his strength had returned, it was time to talk to Abbie about his sister and the other group members that had been with him during the explosion. If they yet live.
Pain nearly doubled him over at the possibility they did not make it out alive. Or worse, were found and transported to the place Abbie’s father had mentioned. Area 51.
From Abbie’s reaction to Area 51, Hauke had no doubt that torture would somehow be involved before death. If Naura had been abused or… He couldn’t finish the thought.
Abbie stood at the big glass door as Hauke rushed across the sandy beach into her waiting arms.
She quickly wrapped a soft, colorful cloth around his waist. “Oh, thank God you’re all
right. I’ve been worried sick.”
He stepped over the threshold. “Humans have strange expressions.”
“What do you mean?” She slid the door closed and took hold of his elbow, guiding him toward a brightly lit room to his left.
“Words such as thank God and worried sick. I understand the meaning, only not the reasoning.”
“Humans pray to God. It’s a simple statement of thanking him for bringing you back safely. And some people worry until they become sick.”
“Yes, but your God did not bring me from the water, Abbie. I walked out on my own limbs.”
“I know that. I just… Never mind. I suppose we do use that phrase a bit too loosely. I imagine God raises an eyebrow on more than one occasion during each day.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“To wash the salt from your skin.” She quickly ran through the mechanics of the knobs in the shower, laid out a washcloth, towel, and soap before turning toward the door.
She glanced back over her shoulder. “Can you read as well as you speak?”
“I read and write in many languages.”
“After you wash your hair with the one that says shampoo, rinse it, and use a little of the conditioner. It will make your hair more manageable.”
“I’m sure I can manage. Thank you, Abbie.”
Chapter Eleven
Abbie rushed from the bathroom, leaving the door cracked open a bit in case Hauke needed her for anything.
Truth be told, she could have sat on the edge of the tub and watched him shower for hours.
He had one of the most incredible bodies she’d ever seen.
The last seven hours had been a blur of excitement, adrenaline, and near heart attack moments that would last her a lifetime.
With one last look at the partially closed door, she trailed off to the den and sank down into the cushiony softness of the sofa.
Her mind immediately drifted to Henry and the two dead men. How could three guards have died last night when only two had been shot? And that had been out of self-defense.
She jerked up the remote and switched on the television, hoping to see something about the lab shootings. Maybe they would release the names of the deceased.
Enigma:What Lies Beneath (Enigma Series Book 1) Page 6
