Naura Read Free Page B

gray-streaked hair. “I am thirty years old in human terms, Anthony Vaughn. No one is held accountable for my actions but me.”
    He appeared surprised by her confession. “You’re thirty?”
    “Yes.” She nodded. “What age are you?”
    “I’m forty-two going on sixty,” he replied in a sarcastic tone.
    “I do not understand.”
    “It’s a figure of speech. I’m forty-two.”
    “Why then is your hair gray with age?”
    A shadow passed through his eyes. He averted his gaze and went back to cleaning the handgun he held. “It’s probably hereditary. There’s food in the fridge if you’re hungry.”
    She was hungry, Naura thought with a glance toward the kitchen. She’d consumed the land walker’s delicious food on several occasions since Abbie’s move to Aukrabah.
    After being raised on a diet of saltwater creatures, she found the humans’ cooked food had been a welcome treat. “Are there any of the crunchy circles with salt stuck to them?”
    Tony raised an eyebrow. “You mean potato chips?”
    “Yes. Potato chips. They are my favorite.” She bounded off the couch and made a beeline for the kitchen.
    “You should eat more than chips. The salt will dehydrate you,” Tony announced, entering the room behind her.
    Ignoring him, Naura grabbed up a bag of chips and rolled it in her hands in search of an opening.
    Tony stepped in close. “Here, let me.” His hand brushed against hers, sending goose bumps along her flesh.
    He plucked the bag from her grasp and pulled, opening the top to reveal the coveted chips.
    “Thank you,” Naura whispered, relishing the feel of him standing so close. He smelled of salt water and man.
    Food suddenly took a back seat to desire. She wanted him to touch her again, if only for a brief moment. “Tony?”
    He stilled, his hand hovering above hers. His breath tickled her cheek as he spoke. “You’re playing with fire, little girl.”
    “Is it so wrong for me to find you curious, Anthony Vaughn?”
    “Curiosity killed the cat,” he growled, spinning on his heel and leaving the room before she could ask him what cats had to do with anything.
    Naura stared down at her trembling hands in disappointment. Did Tony truly find her repulsive? Perhaps if she’d been born human instead of Bracadyte, he would show an interest in her.
    She glanced back toward the living room to see that he’d returned to the couch to clean his weapons once again.
    A vision of his dead wife passed through her mind. The woman had been lovely, with her blonde hair and tiny frame. The complete opposite of Naura.
    “Are you going to eat or just stare at it all night?” Tony questioned from the couch.
    Naura took a seat at the table with her bag of chips and closed off her mind to him for fear he would read her thoughts. She could never compete with Tony’s deceased wife, no matter how hard she tried.
    With a sigh of defeat, Naura did what Abbie would do in her situation… She ate.

Chapter Five
     
    Hauke paced the length of his bedroom, ignoring Abbie’s attempt at calming him. “I will throw Naura in the dungeon when I get my hands on her.”
    “Keep your voice down. Arcanum is finally sleeping,” Abbie scolded in a soft tone.
    “I am sorry, soul of my soul, but I fear you do not understand the ramifications of such insolence. Father will punish her severely.”
    Abbie came around the bed and wrapped her arms around his waist, effectively stopping his pacing. “Then he must never find out.”
    Hauke pulled back enough to study his mate’s beautiful face. “How do you propose we prevent him from learning of her departure?”
    “You and I will go to Cuba to trade. We will leave word that Naura has gone with us.”
    “Have you lost your wits, my love? He is the king of Aukrabah, not merely my father. If he found out that we covered up her escape, he would be forced to punish us as well. And I would never allow you to be whipped.”
    Abbie softly smiled. “He is not going to have me