Zaureth: A SciFi Alien Romance (Enigma Series Book 4) (5 page)

Chapter Nine

Zaureth emerged in the lobby to find dozens of Bracadytes pacing the room. Klause stood in the center with Vaulcron on one side and Hauke on the other.

The king raised his hand for silence. “The human president, William Pratt, has requested a meeting on neutral grounds.”

Murmurs erupted throughout the room.

“Silence!” Klause barked, slicing a hand through the air. “The decision has been made. I have spoken in great length with Vaulcron and Hauke. We have decided to hold the meeting in a place that will not endanger the Bracadytes or the humans.”

Oz leaned a hip against a high-backed couch and crossed his feet at the ankles. “In the gulf, I’m guessing?”

Klause nodded. “Would you be able to procure us a large boat?”

“Does Pinocchio have a wooden dick?”

When met with a room full of blank stares, Oz continued. “I will ready the yacht.”

“Very good,” Klause muttered, scanning the crowd. “Oz, Braum, Gryke, Faultor, and Uradius will go with me.”

“I’d like to accompany you as well,” Tony insisted.

Naura followed suit. “As would I.”

The king shook his head. “The human military would take great pleasure in your head, Anthony Vaughn. And they would use my daughter to obtain it. No. You both will stay here and see to the safety of the island in Nicho’s absence.”

“What about me, sire?” Zaureth murmured, shifting his gaze to the king.

Klause studied Zaureth for a long moment. “You will remain behind. I trust no human healer with Arcanum’s wellbeing, nor the life of Vaulcron’s unborn child.”

“What if this is a trap?” Abbie asked, pushing her way through the crowd to stand before the king.

Klause smiled. “Abbie, brave mate of my son. I have considered that possibility. Which is why I have decided to meet on the open gulf. It is a Bracadyte’s best defense.”

Abbie looked relieved. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

Clapping Vaulcron on the back, Klause glanced at Oz and jerked his head toward the door. “We sail out at midnight.”

Zaureth slipped out through the side door and strode unseen toward the shoreline. He needed a quiet place to collect his thoughts and seek divine guidance. What better place than the water?

Sailing headlong into the choppy waves of the gulf, Zaureth leisurely swam toward the second sandbar. He rolled to his back on the gulf’s floor and stared up at the sparkling light, reflecting off the waves above him. His eyes slid shut.

A feeling of calm overtook him as he closed off his mind to the outside world. “
Forgive me, creator of my soul. My heart is heavy with confusion and grief. The human female has weakened me, yet I continue to be drawn to her. Show me the way, that I may follow the path you have set out before me.”

Warmth radiated from Zaureth’s chest to escape through the tips of his fingers. Energy hummed inside him, awakening a force he would never get used to. It crackled to life, growing in intensity until it exploded around him in a pulse of power that rocked the gulf, shifting the sand beneath him.

Zaureth allowed the energy to control him, consume him, until his body floated in a blissful state of euphoria, surrounded by a peace that surpassed anything he’d ever known. Besides Amy, his mind whispered, jerking him out of his trance.

The energy he’d been so caught up in ricocheted around him like a band of elastic, snapping around his chest in a tight knot of sorrow.

Zaureth laid on the sandbar for what seemed like hours, staring up at the surface in disbelief and more than a little shame. He’d put the female above his beliefs. Allowed her into his time of meditation, to penetrate his safe place.

Rising from the sandy bottom, Zaureth realized he’d been beneath the water for quite some time. The sun had set, and lights flickered on the banks of Playa Pilar. He slowly made his way to shore.

“Something troubles you, my son?”

Zaureth’s gaze sought out Laurel’s form standing in the shadows of the tree line.

The king’s mate had always referred to Zaureth as her son, since the moment she’d brought him home as a baby.

Many of the Bracadyte mothers had taken turns feeding him and caring for him until he’d begun moving objects with his mind.

Laurel had arranged for Zaureth to train with the guards until his thirteenth summer before moving him to the south end of Aukrabah, away from the others.

Zaureth didn’t blame her for separating him from his peers. He’d been a dangerous adolescent until he’d learned to hone his skills.

After nearly killing a young warrior during practice, Zaureth had taken a vow to never again raise his hand in anger to another. He’d broken that vow with Oz.

“What are you doing out here alone, my queen?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” she quipped, striding toward him. She stopped in front of him and took hold of his hand. “Something troubles you.”

Zaureth shook his head. “I simply needed to meditate.”

“It does not look to me as if you have been meditating. You have a tortured look in your eyes.”

Zaureth glanced away, but a tug on his hand brought his gaze back to Laurel. “I would appreciate the truth.”

He hesitated. “I am fighting a battle I fear I cannot win,” he confessed.

“Ah,” Laurel murmured. “Does this have to do with a female?”

Surprised by her question, Zaureth stared at her in silence.

“It is all right, Zaureth. I was young once myself.”

“I do not have the freedom to entertain feelings for a female. My vows—”

“Vows you made as a child,” Laurel interrupted. “You, of all Bracadytes, deserve love, my son. You have dedicated your entire life to helping others.”

“But the laws—”

“Are merely laws,” she insisted, cutting him off once again. “Laws are only as good as the ones who create them.”

Zaureth tilted his head to the side. “I doubt that King Klause would agree with you.”

“Klause is responsible for half the new laws that have been written, Zaureth. Everything is not etched in stone. Sometimes exceptions can be made.”

“Healers are born to be celibate, my queen. We serve a much higher power than ourselves.”

“Just because you have the power to heal, my son, does not make you a healer,” Laurel quietly pointed out.

Zaureth’s stomach tightened. “I do not understand.”

“Take Hauke, for instance. He has a certain amount of healing energy. Not to the extent that you have, but it is there. You do not see him sulking about. He is happily mated with a son of his own.”

“Healers are not born with the knowledge to heal,” Laurel continued. “Only the power to do so. Have you not studied about the human priests?”

Zaureth slowly nodded. “They do not have the power to heal the sick.”

“Some of them do, even if indirectly,” Laurel stated. “The decision to remain celibate is not a requirement by their God. It is a choice. The Bracadyte laws remove that choice, leaving the healer with no other option but to abstain.”

“I cannot break my king’s laws,” Zaureth reiterated. “Nor my vows.”

Laurel gently squeezed his fingers before letting go. “Do not be too hasty, my son. Every creature on this planet has a path to walk. Just because you hold the power to heal does not mean it is your destiny. I will use Naura, for an example. She has a unique gift as well. She might not hold the power to heal the sick, but she can heal the mind.”

“Not without risking her own health,” Zaureth pointed out. “Naura’s gift is a double-edged sword. She cannot use it without bringing harm to herself.”

Laurel’s gaze softened. “It is still a gift that very few possess. I am only asking that you think about your options. You are different than any healer I have ever known. And I have known a few in my time. Perhaps you are not meant to be alone.”

“What if I
am
meant to walk alone?”

Laurel released her hold on his hand and turned to go. “Only you can decide that.”

Zaureth stood rooted to that spot, staring at Laurel’s retreating back, her words ringing in his ears. “
Perhaps you are not meant to be alone…”

Chapter Ten

It had been two days since Amy had heard from Zaureth. She’d tried calling out to him with her mind but was met only with silence.

Prowling her room, she’d bumped her shin into the damnable coffee table more than once before pushing it against the wall and out of her pacing path.

A knock sounded on the door.

“Zaureth?” she whispered, hurrying across the room with her arms extended.

Finding the knob, she jerked the door open.

“May I come in?” Glenn inquired, smelling of cologne and food.

Disappointment was swift, but she kept it hidden. “Sure.”

“I wasn’t sure if you’d be hungry, so I brought you something eat, just in case.”

Amy’s stomach growled on cue. “Actually, I haven’t eaten today. Thank you, Glenn.”

He brushed against her as he entered the room. “Where’s your coffee table?”

“Over against the wall. I kept bumping into it.”

Sounds of the table being dragged across the carpet reached her ears. “Sorry about that, Glenn.”

“It’s okay,” he laughed, nudging her toward the couch. “Sit. I’ll get you all fixed up.”

Amy sat, her mouth watering from the delicious smells. “Mmmm, what is it?”

“One is a turkey club and one is a Caesar salad. Oh, and let’s not forget your vanilla shake.”

“You’re the best, Glenn.”

“So, I’ve been told,” he teased, taking a seat next to her. “I had to beat the ladies off me out in the hall.”

Amy chuckled, accepting the vanilla shake Glenn put in her hand.

It felt good to laugh after the last couple of days she’d had. “How come you’re not married with a couple of kids running around?”

She felt Glenn’s shrug before he placed a sandwich in her hand. “I was married once, but it didn’t work out. No children though.”

“I’m sorry,” Amy murmured, setting her shake on the coffee table.

Glenn bumped her playfully with his shoulder. “I’m not. Although, I do miss my dog.”

“She took your dog?” Amy took a bite of the delicious sandwich while fighting another chuckle.

Glenn’s presence helped keep Amy’s mind off Zaureth. If only for a short time. She enjoyed his company and considered him a friend. He had saved her life, after all.

“Technically, the dog belonged to her, but he didn’t like her any more than I did.”

Amy slapped a hand over her mouth as more laughter bubbled up. She swallowed the bite she’d taken and felt around for a napkin.

“Here you go,” Glenn offered, handing her a napkin. “What about you? You ever been married?”

Amy wiped her mouth. “You’re kidding, right? Who would want to be saddled with me?”

“Why would you say such a thing?” Glenn scolded, brushing his arm against hers once more. “You have a lot going for you. You’re beautiful and funny. And—”

“I’m blind,” Amy blurted, effectively cutting him off. “I have nothing to offer. I can’t cook or drive. I can’t even clean my home without assistance. I mean, I can do some of it, but I’m certain dust bunnies have no fear of my skills.”

“Housecleaning is way overrated, if you ask me.”

Amy grinned at Glenn’s response. “That’s what I’ve been saying for years.”

“See? We do have something in common.”

A knock sounded on the door.

“I’ll get it,” Glenn insisted, getting to his feet. “Finish your lunch.”

Amy listened as Glenn moved across the room and opened the door. “Can I help you?”

There was no mistaking Zaureth’s voice. “I am here to see Amy.”

“We’re in the middle of lunch,” Glenn answered in a low tone.

Amy’s heart skipped a beat. “It’s okay, Glenn. He can come in.”

“I would speak with you alone, if I may?” The deep rumble of Zaureth’s voice did strange things to Amy’s insides.

She stood on trembling legs and wiped her hands on the napkin she held. “Glenn? Would you mind giving us a moment?”

“Sure thing,” Glenn muttered. “I’ll be down in the lobby if you need me.”

“Thank you for lunch, Glenn. I really appreciate it.”

Amy waited for the door to close behind Glenn before turning to face Zaureth, who now stood next to her. It took everything she had not to throw herself into his arms. “What brings you here?”

His hand brushed her cheek. “You.”

Butterflies erupted inside her stomach. “M-me?”

“I need to tell you some things about myself. Things that will hopefully help you to understand why I am the way that I am.”

“I’m listening,” Amy replied in a soft voice. She didn’t care what he talked about as long as he didn’t leave.

Zaureth took a seat on the couch and tugged her down beside him. “I was found in the gulf, as an infant, by King Klause’s mate, Laurel. When my parents were unable to be located, the royal family took me in and saw to my needs.”

Amy listened with rapt attention as Zaureth laid out the details of his life. “Saw to your needs? You mean, they raised you?”

“In a manner of speaking. They arranged for my food, shelter, and education. I was trained with the best of the Bracadyte warriors and given free reign of the catacombs.”

Amy held up a hand. “Catacombs? Isn’t that a cemetery or underground tombs?”

“It is where the Bracadytes entomb their dead. It also holds the ancient scrolls of our ancestors. Our entire history is held there.”

“Wow,” Amy acknowledged, her heart fluttering in excitement. “Go on.”

“Once I began to mature, it became increasingly obvious that I had certain gifts. Gifts that other Bracadytes did not possess. I was able to heal with a touch, move objects with a thought. One day during training, I was bested by a kid that did not play fair. I harmed him out of anger.”

“What did you do?” Amy questioned, hanging on Zaureth’s every word.

“I lifted him into the air, using only my mind, and threw him against the rock wall. His head took most of the impact, nearly causing his death.”

“Oh my God, Zaureth. I’m so sorry.”

“Thankfully, he lived. Word spread quickly throughout Aukrabah of the orphaned child’s curse.”

Amy’s heart ached for the child Zaureth had been. “What happened after that?”

“Out of fear for my safety, the king sent me to study in the catacombs. It was there that I learned of the old ones, the healers, and the land walkers. And while in the catacombs, I discovered a higher power than myself. I learned of our creator and found forgiveness as well as acceptance. That is where I vowed to serve my fellow Bracadytes. I pledged to heal. To comfort, and to never place myself above another.”

Amy couldn’t wrap her mind around Zaureth’s words. “So, you gave up ever having a life of your own? I don’t know what higher power it is that you serve, but I can’t imagine a god that would make you a slave to your guilt.”

Zaureth shifted in his seat. “I do not know what to feel any longer. I am tormented with confusion and doubt.”

The emotions coming from Zaureth were raw and unsettling. Amy decided to lighten the subject. “I would give anything to be able to see your home.” Her lips twitched. “To see anything for that matter.”

“I can show you,” Zaureth whispered, his hands coming up to rest on either side of her head.

Amy’s breathing accelerated at his touch. “Show me, how?”

“Will you trust me?” he rumbled, caressing her face. “I will not harm you.”

Amy took a deep breath, inhaling the masculine scent of Zaureth. “I’m not afraid of you.”

Zaureth stood, tugging her up with him. “Then come with me.”

Amy allowed Zaureth to lead her across the room. “Where are we going?”

He suddenly stopped and positioned her in front of him, her back to his stomach. “
Amy
?”

Zaureth’s voice inside her head pulled her in, lulling her into a dreamlike state.

“
Look at me,”
he gently coaxed. “
See through my eyes.”

Amy focused on Zaureth’s voice as it slid through her psyche in a soft, seductive pull.

Something bright flashed behind her eyes, and Amy bit back a gasp.

“
Do not fear it, little one. Embrace it. Seek it out.”

Amy squeezed her eyes shut, pushing through the darkness in search of the light she’d caught a brief glimpse of. And she knew it to be light. It was the complete opposite of the never-ending darkness she lived in.

The flash came again, brighter this time, and with it a swirl of colors that Amy had no name for.

Zaureth’s arms came around her to hold her tight. “
Look at me.”

Amy’s heart beat so fast she thought for sure it would explode inside her chest. She slowly lifted her eyelids to a sight she would cherish beyond the grave.

Tears filled her eyes, and her entire body began to shake. If not for Zaureth’s arms holding her up, she feared her legs would collapse.

“
Is this what I think it is
?” Amy mentally cried, not caring if Zaureth witnessed her fall apart.

“
Do you see how utterly beautiful you are, little one?”

The images in front of her came into focus. Tears of joy slid down Amy’s cheeks as she stared in wonder at herself through Zaureth's eyes.

She reached out to touch herself.

“
You cannot touch it, sweet Amy. For you are seeing through my eyes.”

Amy didn’t care how she saw it; she only knew that she did. And the emotions consuming her in that moment surpassed anything she’d ever imagined in her wildest dreams.

And then she saw Zaureth…