That caught Oz off guard. “Your father deserved what he got. He murdered my mother.”
Something flickered in Maria’s eyes. “I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t really give a damn what you believe, Miss Acosta.” He emphasized her last name with disdain lining his tone. “It’s the truth.”
Maria pushed her plate back and stood. “I’m no longer hungry. May I return to my room, please?”
Oz could tell that it took enormous effort for her to ask his permission for anything. He also picked up on the confusion in her expression. Could she really be in the dark about her father’s past? He didn’t think so.
With an inward sigh, he got to his feet and nodded toward the hall. “After you.”
She didn’t look at him as she strode off toward her temporary prison.
Oz entered the room behind her, snatching up the material he’d used to bind her hands. “If you need to use the bathroom, now is the time.”
“You’re going to tie me up again? I’m going to be locked in a room with no windows. What do you think I’m going to do, hang myself from the ceiling fan with a sheet?”
Oz didn’t trust her for a second. He eyed the ceiling fan suspiciously. “On second thought, come with me.”
Taking her by the arm, he led her back to the hall and directed her toward his room.
Maria resisted as he pushed her through the open doorway. “This is your room.”
“How perceptive of you,” Oz murmured sarcastically. “Now get over there.”
Maria stumbled forward before spinning around to face him. “I’m not getting in your bed.”
Oz removed the elastic tie from his wrist and pulled his hair back in a ponytail. “We’ll see about that.”
He suddenly jerked her up and tossed her onto the bed, straddling her waist as he followed her down.
“Get off me,” she seethed, fighting his hold on her wrists.
He yanked her hands over her head and attempted to secure her wrists to his headboard with the material he still held.
Maria stared up at him in rage and something that resembled panic. “Don’t do this. Please.”
Oz tilted his head to the side, curiosity outweighing his common sense. And that was when he noticed them. Faded scars, barely visible, encircling her wrists.
“What is this?” He brought her hands up closer to the light.
“It’s nothing,” she bit out, pulling at his hold. “Tie me if you’re going to do it, and get out.”
She turned her head to the side as Oz wrapped the material around her wrists and secured them to the headboard. He felt no satisfaction in doing so.
Pushing off from the bed, Oz spun toward the door, stopping at the threshold. “I’m going to finish my lunch and take a shower. I’ll check on you shortly.”
He pulled the door closed and locked it from the outside before returning to the kitchen and what was left of his sandwich.
Vaulcron’s voice whispered through his mind. “We have arrived.”
“Come on aboard. I’m in the kitchen.”
Oz finished off his lunch, listening to the sounds of his newly arriving guests.
Footsteps could be heard coming up the hall. “I see that we are in time for lunch,” Vaulcron announced, entering the kitchen with exhaustion lining his face.
Oz nodded toward the fridge. “Help yourself.”
A bearded Gryke shouldered his way past Vaulcron and set about making himself at home.
“Hello, Fiona,” Oz greeted her in a smooth voice as she followed behind Gryke. “Are you hungry?”
She grinned and pulled out a stool to sit. “I’m famished. That was one hell of a swim.”
Oz frowned. “Gryke didn’t help you out here?”
Fiona shrugged. “He offered.”
Oz took a drink of water before he choked on his food. “You swam all the way out here without any help?”
At her nod, he continued. “It’s over a mile from here to shore. Swimming against the current couldn’t have been easy. Even for a man.”
“Even for a man?” she murmured, indignation evident in her tone.
“I only meant…” Oz cleared his throat and changed the subject. “Gryke, are you sure you want to do this?”
“He is sure,” Vaulcron answered for him. “I do not trust him with the human military camped at the entrance of Aukrabah. One wrong move on their part, and I fear Gryke will start a war that we cannot win.”
Gryke stiffened but remained quiet. The look in his eyes could only be described as psychotic.
Oz studied him for a moment, understanding Vaulcron’s reluctance to leave him at Aukrabah.
“So, Gryke,” Oz began, pushing his plate to the side. “Do you know how to use the human firearms?”
“Would you like for me to demonstrate?” Gryke returned in a low tone.
Vaulcron intervened. “He has become quite the weapons expert. I would not concern myself with his shooting abilities. Gryke is the best that we have.”
“And if the military decides to invade Aukrabah?” Oz queried. “Don’t you think his help would be greatly needed?”
Vaulcron shook his head. “I do not believe that President Pratt will go back on his word. And if he does, they outnumber us fifty-to-one. Whether Gryke is there or not will make no difference.”
“I see your point,” Oz remarked, glancing at Fiona in time to notice a muscle tightening in her jaw.
Something was amiss with the female soldier, Oz decided, taking note of her body language. Though he couldn’t put his finger on it, he would definitely keep an eye on her.
Titles by Ditter Kellen
The Seeker Series
Ember Burns
Ember Learns
Ember Yearns
Ember Discerns
Ember Turns
Five Book Box Set available
Shon
The Rise of Vlad
Scruples Series
Finding Carly
Cassandra
Fully Engulfed-Coming Soon
Secret Series
Lydia’s Secret
Midnight Secrets-Coming Soon
Time Travel Series
Turn the Page
Worlds Apart-Coming Soon
Enigma Series
Enigma: What Lies Beneath
Naura
Vaulcron
Zaureth
Oz
Gryke
Braum
Rykaur
Eyes Without a Face
A Novel – Coming Soon
Ruby and the Beast
A Novel
Ditter Kellen
Ditter Kellen has been in love with romance for over twenty years. To say she's addicted to reading is an understatement. Her eBook reader is an extension of her and holds many of her fantasies and secrets. It's filled with dragons, shifters, vampires, ghosts and many more jaw-dropping characters who keep her entertained on a daily basis.
Ditter's love of paranormal and outrageous imagination have conspired together to bring her where she is today...sitting in front of her computer allowing them free rein. Writing is her passion, what she was born to do. I hope you will enjoy reading her stories as much as she loves spinning them.
Ditter resides in Florida with her husband and many unique farm animals. She adores French fries and her phone is permanently attached to her ear. You can contact Ditter by email: [email protected]
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