Vaulcron (Enigma Series Book 3) (16 page)

Chapter Thirty-Two

Mallory paced the front room of the cabin, stopping to check the windows every thirty seconds. Vaulcron should have been here by now.

The sound of a vehicle coming up the gravel road sent her nerves into overdrive. It could be one of two people. Vaulcron…or someone sent to kill her.

“
Vaulcron?”

“I am here, my love.”

Mallory unlocked the door with trembling fingers. She jerked it open and ran the short distance across the yard, into Vaulcron’s waiting arms. “Oh God, you’re here. You’re really here.”

Vaulcron crushed her against him, holding her with a force that was nearly suffocating. She didn’t care. It wouldn’t matter of she ever breathed again, as long as he never let her go. “I can’t believe you came, after what I did.”

He pulled back enough to look into her eyes. “You are my mate, Mallory. Nothing you do will ever change that.” His lips twitched with humor. “Not even your hair.”

Mallory laughed through the tears that threatened to fall. “I had to change it to keep from being recognized.”

“I would recognize you anywhere, my love.” His mouth came down over hers in a kiss that stole her breath. She never wanted it to end.

“Far be it from me to interrupt, but I’d rather not die while witnessing a
Gone with the Wind
episode.”

Mallory broke off the kiss and swung her gaze to the owner of the voice. A tall Antonio Banderas lookalike stood there with amusement dancing in his eyes.

“That is Oz,” Vaulcron offered, loosening his grip and allowing her to slide down his body. “He is here to help.”

Mallory nodded to the handsome stranger, taking note of his great height. The man had to be at least six foot seven. “Nice to meet you.”

“The pleasure is mine. Now let’s get you out of here before we’re discovered.”

Vaulcron quickly scooped Mallory up into his arms and turned toward the waiting car.

Mallory rested her head on his massive shoulder. “How are we going to get out of here with the checkpoints in place?”

“The same way we came in,” Oz answered for him. “Very carefully.”

Vaulcron stopped next to the vehicle, opened the backdoor, and ducked inside before pulling Mallory down onto his lap.

She pulled the door closed behind her, situating herself against his body.

Oz got in on the other side and fished a wad of cash out of his shirt pocket. He tapped the driver on the shoulder and handed him the money. “Take us back to where you picked us up.”

The driver stared down at the money in his hand. “I can’t accept this. I am doing this on Melvin’s orders. I couldn’t accept payment for it.”

“Consider it a tip,” Oz, asserted, leaning back against the seat. “You’ve earned it.”

The driver hesitated a second more before stuffing the cash inside his shirt pocket. “Much obliged.”

Vaulcron’s scent surrounded Mallory, pulling her into a haze of desire that almost overrode the threat of being caught. Almost. “Could you hurry, please? Vice President Pratt said the GPS on his car might have led them to me. If that’s the case, they could be here any minute now.”

The vehicle suddenly lurched forward as the driver sped out of the drive, kicking up gravel and leaving the cabin behind in a cloud of dust.

“You are certain that you are not hurt?” Vaulcron’s deep voice rumbled in her ear.

Mallory basked in the feel of his hands running up and down her arms. “I’m sure.” She laid her head against his shoulder once more. “I had to do it, Vaulcron.”

His hands slowed their movement. “Had to do what, my mate?”

“Make you think I didn’t want you. It was the only way I could think to stop you from following me.”

Vaulcron pulled her tightly against him. “I understand your motives, Mallory. I only wish that you trusted me enough to tell me.”

She lifted her head. “I couldn’t tell you. You would have insisted on coming with me. I wasn’t going to risk your life again. I had taken you into the lion’s den once before, and we both know how that turned out.”

“I would give my life for yours,” came his whispered response.

Mallory’s heart twisted with emotion. “Exactly.”

The rest of the trip was driven in silence, with Mallory basking in the feel of being in Vaulcron’s embrace.

“We have arrived,” the driver announced. “The woman will have to swim as well. We can’t risk her being seen after the interview that aired earlier tonight. There could already be an APB out on her.”

Mallory sat up straight as the car pulled off the side of the road. “I have to swim the length of the Mid-Bay Bridge?”

Vaulcron opened his door and set her on her feet. “I will take you across.”

He closed the door, and the car took off before she could object. “How are you going to swim that distance with me on your back?”

He lifted her into his arms once again. “You will not be on my back.” He took off in a run, leaving her to hold on for dear life.

Stopping at the water’s edge, Vaulcron allowed Mallory to slide down his body, but kept his arms around her back. “Wrap your legs around my waist and hold on tightly to my neck.”

“What are you going to do?”

Instead of answering, he covered her mouth with his and dove beneath the water. “
Breathe through your mouth,”
he mentally instructed her, shooting forward with the speed of a shark.

Mallory’s heart pounded painfully fast. She gripped his body with her arms and legs in a hold that couldn’t be broken and held her breath.

“
Breathe
,” Vaulcron demanded, fitting his mouth more firmly over hers.

Mallory’s lungs began to burn from the need of oxygen. Just as she thought she would surely pass out, she instinctively inhaled.

Blessed oxygen entered her lungs. She kept her eyes squeezed shut and concentrated on breathing through Vaulcron’s mouth.

A warm sensation swirled through her mind, and she recognized Vaulcron’s attempt to soothe her. She held onto him in amazement as his breath sustained her through the dark waters of the causeway.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Vaulcron held on to Mallory’s hand as the crowd continued to grow in the lobby of Oz’s hotel.

Everyone began to speak at once, gathering around to ask questions and give hugs and hardy pats on the back.

“Hold on, please,” Vaulcron demanded, effectively shutting down the display of excitement from the group. “Mallory and I are both exhausted. We have been through a lot in the last twenty-four hours. We are now in need of a shower and a bed. Once we have cleaned up and rested, we will be happy to answer all of your questions.”

Oz clapped him on the back. “Well said, my friend. Same goes for me. I do not wish to be disturbed for any reason.”

A pretty native woman wearing a floral skirt and a tight red top stepped forward. “Does that include me?”

The corner of Oz’s mouth lifted. “I suppose I can make an exception for you, Veronica.”

Vaulcron shook his head in humor as Oz sent him a wink and strolled off toward the elevators with Veronica on his arm.

Guiding Mallory toward the stairs, Vaulcron picked her up and carried her to the third floor, only to find the door to his room standing ajar.

With a finger to his mouth for silence, he slowly set Mallory on her feet and eased the door open.

“I see you made it back alive.”

Vaulcron bit back a growl as his gaze landed on his parents seated on his sofa. “What are you doing in my room?”

“We heard you had returned,” Klause explained, rising to his full height. “Your mother and I did not want to wade through the crowd downstairs to speak with you.”

“Can it not wait until the morrow? Mallory has been through a lot and is in much need of rest. As am I.”

Klause’s gaze shifted to Mallory. “So, this is your mate?”

“She is,” Vaulcron confessed, placing an arm around Mallory and leading her into the center of the room.

Klause returned his attention to his son. “She is not suited for you, fili mi.”

“Why? Because she is human? This
human
” —he emphasized by pulling her closer to his side— “saved my life. All of our lives! You do not have to approve of her, Father, but you
will
show her the respect that she is due. And if you cannot bring yourself to do that, then I am no longer your son. Give your crown to Hauke. He deserves it more than I do.”

Klause’s face turned red with rage. “You dare speak to me in this manner?”

Laurel jumped up and rushed to their side. “Klause! That is enough. I have stood by and watched you put our children second for far too long. You expect them to live up to your standards, and yet you treat with disdain.

“Had it not been for a human,” Laurel continued. “We would not have our precious grandson, Arcanum. Just look how happy Hauke is since mating with Abbie.”

Klause slowly turned to face his mate. “I have never treated our children with disdain. If I have been overly hard on them, it was only to make them stronger. To make them leaders.”

“Being a good leader is not always about ruling with an iron fist, Klause. It’s about compassion and understanding as well. Which is something you seem to sorely lack.”

The king’s gaze suddenly softened. “Am I truly so bad?”

“You are not bad, Father,” Vaulcron interceded. “You are merely set in your ways. Times are changing, and I think that we need to change with it.”

Klause returned his attention to his son. “Perhaps you are right, fili mi. I am not certain how to accomplish it, but I will give it some thought.”

“You could start by offering my mate an apology,” Vaulcron suggested. “For she is going to be in my life no matter what you say.”

Klause stepped forward and rested his hand on Vaulcron’s arm. “You will make a fine king someday.”

“Thank you, Father.”

Extending his other hand to Mallory, Klause sent her a soft smile. “My apologies, Miss Cahill. Welcome to our family.”

Mallory accepted his outstretched palm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Please, call me Mallory.”

“Very well, Mallory.”

“Let us go, and let them rest,” Laurel suggested, giving Klause a gentle nudge.

Vaulcron kissed his mother on the cheek. “Thank you for being the wonderful queen that you are. I love you, Mother.”

“I love you as well, fili mi. Now rest and enjoy your time alone with your mate.”

Vaulcron waited until the door closed behind him before facing Mallory. “I am truly sorry for my sire’s words. He can be stubborn and offensive at times, but he is a good leader.”

Mallory reached up and cupped his face. “You don’t have to apologize to me. My being with you is going to take some getting used to. Acceptance isn’t always an easy thing to give. If the shoe was on the other foot, I can imagine how my father would react. So, I get it.”

“When are you planning on telling your sire about us?”

“Once the danger of your existence has passed. We have all the time in the world. For now, I just want to enjoy being with you.”

“I am glad to hear you say that.” Vaulcron backed her toward the bathroom. “Because being with you is exactly what I want.”

Mallory chuckled. “Are you going to shower with me?”

“I am.”

Once in the bathroom, Vaulcron turned on the shower and quickly stripped out of his sharkskin vest and shorts before divesting Mallory of her own clothes.

The sight of her naked body set his blood boiling with need. He stepped under the spray, pulling her in with him.

Vaulcron spent the next hour washing every inch of Mallory’s body, beginning with her short dark hair and ending with her feet.

After soaping up his own large frame, he quickly rinsed and shut off the water, anxious to have her beneath him.

A knock sounded on the door, and Vaulcron ground his teeth.

“I’ll get it,” Mallory informed him, stepping from the shower and donning one of the white robes hanging from the bathroom door.

Vaulcron shook his head. “Let them wait.”

“Don’t be silly. As much as I want to be alone with you, it could be important.” She breezed from the bathroom before he could talk her out of it.

Grabbing the other robe, Vaulcron shrugged it on and followed her to the door.

She pulled it open before he reached her. “Amy!”

Mallory’s sister stood in the hall, holding onto Zaureth’s arm.

Without preamble, Mallory threw her arms around Amy, hugging her tightly before ushering her inside.

Zaureth followed suit since Amy still clung to his arm.

“Are you okay?” Amy anxiously asked.

“I’m better than okay. How about you? Cuba seems to agree with you. Your face seems more relaxed. And you even got some sun, I see.”

“Zaureth has been taking good care of me.” Amy beamed, a light shining in her sightless eyes.

Zaureth appeared uncomfortable but didn’t expound on Amy’s comment. He reached up and gave Mallory’s hand a gentle squeeze. “I am relieved that you are safe. Your sister has expressed an enormous amount of concern for your welfare.”

A strange expression passed over the healer’s face, but it was gone so fast Vaulcron thought maybe he’d imagined it.

“Might I have a word with you?” Zaureth questioned, staring into Vaulcron’s eyes.

“Of course, but I would wish to hurry. I have not been alone with my mate in days.”

Zaureth disengaged from Amy’s hold and trailed back out into the hall.

Vaulcron followed close behind, pulling the door closed after them. “What is it, my friend?”

“I think it best if you find another to assist your mate’s sister.”

An indention formed between Vaulcron’s brows. “Is something wrong?”

Zaureth shook his head. “Nothing is wrong. I merely feel that I am not the most suitable candidate to assist her.”

“All right,” Vaulcron conceded. “But you’ll have to give me a day or two to find someone willing to look after her. It is not going to be easy, Zaureth. She trusts you.”

“I am sorry to add more stress to your life. Being newly mated and with a child on the way cannot be easy. Especially with the king’s—”

“What did you say?” Vaulcron interrupted in a low tone.

“About the king?”

“No, before that.”

Understanding dawned. “You did not know about the babe.”

The floor tilted beneath Vaulcron’s feet. “Mallory is carrying my baby?”

Zaureth nodded. “I sensed it the moment I touched her.”

Sheer joy suddenly erupted inside Vaulcron’s chest. He gripped the back of Zaureth’s neck and jerked him forward, hugging him with the enthusiasm of a father to be. “I must tell Mallory.”

“Then I will collect Amy and return her to her room.”

“Thank you, Zaureth. Do not worry; I will find someone to look after Mallory’s sister.”

“A female would be the best choice,” Zaureth pointed out, opening the door and stepping back inside the room.

Vaulcron stared at the healer’s back for several seconds. If he didn’t know any better, he would think Zaureth had just displayed a spark of jealousy.

Impossible, Vaulcron decided, striding into the room as well. Zaureth had never shown interest in a female before. In fact, healers were spiritual creatures, usually deciding to remain chaste throughout their lives to hone their energy. And Zaureth was one of the most powerful healers Vaulcron knew.