Vaulcron (Enigma Series Book 3) (6 page)

Chapter Eleven

Vaulcron walked along the corridor in front of Jefferies, fighting back the urge to snap the human’s neck. He couldn’t, of course. Not until Zaureth arrived to retrieve Amy. After that, Jefferies would die. Along with anyone else that dared to touch Mallory.

“In there.” Jefferies indicated a room to his left with a wave of his weapon.

Vaulcron did as he was ordered, stopping next to a narrow bed against the wall.

Jefferies stayed in the hall. “Doctor Lambert will be along shortly. You do exactly as he says, and Miss Cahill won’t get hurt.”

The barbs on Vaulcron’s wrists and ankles burned with the sudden burst of blood rushing into them. His protective lenses slid into place, and his fangs itched to rip out Jefferies’s throat. “If you touch her, no amount of weapons will stop me from carving out your black heart.”

Fear sprang to Jefferies eyes, but he didn’t back down. “I won’t have to touch her as long as you do exactly as you’re told.”

Jefferies took a step back and waved someone forward.

A short, gray-haired man wearing a white coat entered the room, holding a bag in his hand. He stopped when he got a look at Vaulcron.

“He’s not a threat,” Jefferies assured the man, obviously afraid to get any closer. “I have insurance that assures me he’ll behave.”

“This is barbaric,” Lambert snapped, inching closer to Vaulcron. Pity swam in the doctor’s friendly brown eyes.

“I agree.” Jefferies began to pull the door closed. “Unfortunately, it’s necessary.”

Vaulcron studied the nervous doctor as he rummaged through his bag, pulling items free and sitting them on a small table.

He looked up, peering at Vaulcron over the rim of his glasses. “You’re not going to stab me with those, are you?” He indicated the slightly erect barbs on Vaulcron’s wrists.

Vaulcron shook his head, forcing his barbs to relax and his protective lenses to slide back. “I will not harm you.”

Lambert nodded. “I will do my best not to hurt you either. Would you mind sitting on the bed? You’ll be less intimidating that way.”

Vaulcron sat on the edge of the narrow bed, watching the doctor pick up an object and a blue flimsy band.

Lambert hesitated a moment and then stepped in close. “I’m going to wrap this around your arm. It’s going to be tight, but I need to take blood from a vein.”

“I understand the concept,” Vaulcron growled. “Be done with it.”

He noticed the doctor’s hands trembled as he secured the band around Vaulcron’s upper arm.

Vaulcron held still, allowing Lambert to prick his arm and fill several glass tubes with his life’s blood.

“That should do it.”

Tucking the glass tubes into his coat pocket, Lambert retrieved a small cup, unscrewed the lid, and handed it to Vaulcron. “I’m going to step out of the room while you produce a sample. There’s a sink over there to clean yourself up when you’re finished.”

Vaulcron accepted the cup with a frown. “I do not understand.”

The doctor cleared his throat. “You are to ejaculate into the cup and replace the cap when you’re done.”

Vaulcron knew he gaped. He couldn’t have heard the doctor right. “You want me to expel my seed into this tiny container?”

Lambert nodded, glancing from Vaulcron to the cup. “That’s how it’s done.”

“I do not understand the purpose of obtaining my seed.”

The doctor’s anxiety filled the room to the point, Vaulcron could almost taste it.

“Look. I am only doing what I’ve been ordered to do. If you don’t give me the sample, they will only send someone else in here to get it. After they’ve hurt the reporter, that is.”

Vaulcron’s muscles tensed at the mention of someone hurting Mallory. He’d never ejaculated under duress before, and he wasn’t certain he could do it now. But he had to try. Mallory’s life depended on it. “Get out.”

Lambert jumped, and scurried through the door, pulling it shut behind him. His muffled voice echoed from the hall. “I’ll be back in fifteen minutes.”

Grinding his teeth in rage, Vaulcron laid the cup on the bed, stood, and pulled his shorts down to his knees.

They expected him to give them his seed in less than fifteen minutes. How was he supposed to ejaculate when he wanted nothing more than to slaughter everyone in the building?

He returned to a sitting position on the bed, propped himself against the wall and fisted his flaccid sex. Pumping his hand up and down its length, he fought back a growl as his shaft remained limp.

There would be no way Vaulcron would be able to expel into that cup. He couldn’t even grow erect.

The thought of Mallory, being held down the hall, counting on his cooperation to keep her alive, drove Vaulcron insane with torment. He had to do this for her.

“Zaureth?”

“I saw. You do not have to do this, Vaulcron. Stall them until we arrive.”

“I cannot hold them off. Mallory’s life is at stake.”

“Then do what you must. Gryke and Braum are with me. As is Tony and Oz.”

“Tony knows this place. You get to Amy. The others can free us from here.”

“Oz could not arrange for a plane that would go unnoticed by the human government. We are coming by boat. Stay strong until we get there.”

“Safe travels, my friend.”
Vaulcron severed the connection.

Dropping his head back against the wall, Vaulcron closed his eyes and conjured up a vision of Mallory beneath him on her couch. He could feel her arching against him, her mouth on his, her arms around him, holding him, pulling him tightly against her.

He fisted his now erect shaft, his hand rising and falling with each thrust of his hips.

Vaulcron had never wanted another as much as he wanted Mallory Cahill. He could only imagine her soft, wet walls gripping him tightly, milking him, draining him until he had nothing left to give.

Pumping himself faster, harder, his feet dug into the bed, his entire body began to shake with the force of his seed suddenly rushing into his engorged erection.

He snatched up the cup and held it over the head of his sex. His neck strained, and he locked his teeth together to keep from shouting out Mallory’s name as his seed exploded from his body in a force that staggered him.

Long moments passed before Vaulcron could move. His breathing was still uneven, and his legs felt too weak to stand.

He took several deep breaths, astonished that he’d come in such a violent manner.

Capping the now full cup, Vaulcron set it on the table next to the bed, got to his feet, and stumbled over to the sink to clean himself up.

A knock sounded on the door seconds after he finished lacing up his shorts.

Doctor Lambert stuck his head inside. “Were you able to get the sample?”

Vaulcron handed him the cup, too ashamed to look into the doctor’s eyes. “Take me back to Mallory.”

Chapter Twelve

Mallory paced the room with nervous steps. Vaulcron had been gone for nearly an hour. What were they doing to him?

The door opened, and a pale-faced Vaulcron entered with an elder man wearing a white coat and holding a black bag following close behind him.

“Are you all right?” Mallory blurted, hurrying across the room to wrap him in her arms. “I was so worried. I thought they’d killed you.”

Vaulcron hugged her back, holding her tightly in his arms. “I am fine. Were you harmed?”

Mallory shook her head, stepping back far enough to gaze into his incredible eyes. “No one’s been in here since you left. What did they do to you?”

“It does not matter. I will tell you about it later.”

“Miss Cahill?” the man behind Vaulcron muttered. “I’m Doctor Lambert. I need to ask you some questions.”

Mallory reluctantly turned Vaulcron loose to face the short doctor. “Questions?”

“If you would have a seat, please?” the doctor suggested, waving toward the bed.

Mallory’s chin lifted. “I’d rather stand. Ask your questions.”

“Very well.” Lambert pushed his glasses up on his nose and pulled a clipboard free from his bag. “Your full name?”

“Mallory Cahill.”

“Birthdate?”

Mallory rattled off her date of birth along with several more personal details he inquired about.

“When was your last menstrual cycle?”

Anger boiled up inside her so strong she couldn’t prevent the words that slipped past her lips. “Go screw yourself, Elmer Fudd.”

The doctor looked up from his clipboard, compassion evident on his face. “You are not the only one with loved ones that you fear for, Miss Cahill. As I told your friend there” —he nodded toward Vaulcron— “I don’t like this any more than you do.”

Mallory understood instantly. Lambert’s family had obviously been threatened also.

She blew out a despairing breath. “My last period was approximately two weeks ago.”

Gratefulness echoed in his eyes. “What type of birth control are you on?”

Mallory wanted to lie, but she knew it would do no good. A simple blood test would tell them what they needed to know. “I have an IUD.”

“And when was it inserted?”

“About a year ago,” Mallory quipped, rubbing her palms up and down her arms.

The doctor continued questioning her for several minutes more before pulling a syringe and several vials from his coat pocket.

He uncapped the syringe and wrapped a blue rubber tie around her forearm.” I’ll try to be gentle.”

Mallory watched as he inserted the needle into her arm and filled his necessary vials. He returned them to his pocket, recapped the needle, and left the room without another word.

“What is an IUD?”

Vaulcron’s innocent question caught Mallory off guard. “It’s a small device, inserted inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy.”

His head tilted to the side. “I do not understand the need to prevent pregnancy. Our females do not conceive often. It is considered a great gift to bear a child.”

Mallory would have been fascinated by his confession at any other time. Not tonight. “Well, human women sure don’t have that problem.”

Vaulcron glanced toward the door before meeting her gaze once more. “I spoke with Zaureth. They are coming by boat and should arrive at Amy’s apartment in a matter of hours.”

Joy soared inside Mallory’s heart. “When you say they, how many are you referring to?”

“As far as I know, there are five souls on the boat.”

“Five?” Mallory hissed. “Five people can’t take on an army, Vaulcron. No matter how big they are.”

“You do not realize what we are capable of. We are not people, Mallory. We are Bracadytes.”

Mallory’s stomach fluttered at the passion in his voice. It was obvious he held great pride for his species. “We are going to get out of here, aren’t we?”

Vaulcron nodded. “You have my word.”

Mallory’s shoulders relaxed some. She trusted the giant Bracadyte to get them out of the mess they were in. And one of them was on his way to rescue Amy as well.

Vaulcron walked over to the tray resting on top of the small table and lifted the lid. “You need to eat. You did not finish your dinner tonight.”

“I’m not hungry,” Mallory assured him, taking a seat on the foot of the bed. “I just want to close my eyes and wake up to find this was all a bad dream.”

Bringing the tray over to the bed, Vaulcron took a seat next to her and set the food on her lap. “If you will not eat for yourself, eat for me. I will only worry for you.”

Mallory peered down at the now cold meatloaf and mashed potatoes. “Maybe just a little.”

Ten minutes later, she’d eaten all she could stand. She pushed the tray toward Vaulcron, which he readily accepted. “You are finished?”

“Yes. I had to force down that last bite.”

Vaulcron picked up her fork and proceeded to consume the remaining meal. “I do love your human food.”

Placing the tray on a nearby table, Vaulcron returned to his seat and took hold of Mallory’s hand. “The land walkers do not know of the Bracadytes’ ability to communicate without words. That will give us the advantage once Tony arrives.”

“I’ve thought about that too. It’s just that…”

“Tell me,” Vaulcron prompted, gently squeezing her hand.

“Where am I going to go once we get out of here?”

“Back to Cuba, with me.”

“And after that? I mean, what happens after Cuba? My career, my life is here in Destin. I’ll never be able to return home once I run.”

Sadness filled Vaulcron’s eyes. “I am sorry, Mallory. Perhaps one day when the military threat is behind us, you can come back.”

Mallory shook her head. “They will never let me live after they get what they want. I know too much.”

“Then do not return to this place. Stay in Cuba with me.”

“I can’t expect you to take care of me. And what about my sister? How is she supposed to survive in a strange place without her sight?”

Vaulcron slowly leaned in and rested his forehead against hers. “I do not have all the answers you seek, but I will do everything in my power to keep you safe.”