Page 68 of The Kraken Games

“It sounds like I’m being tried for a crime.”

“No, but there are questions you will need to answer before the elders will divulge anything more.”

Luna’s hand had flown to her mouth, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and relief. She’d get to tell her story. And she’d get to see Kai again. Be able to explain about the photo debacle. Tell him that she’d never, ever maliciously hurt him.

Now, as she closed the box, her mind was whirring. What would happen after that? Would Kai forgive her? Would they find some way to move on? But move on where? How? Was she hoping they’ddate?

Oh, don’t be ridiculous.You’ve never wanted to date anyone, let alone a creature of the deep.

He would forever be unavailable. This stupid old diver’s helmet was proof of that. They wouldn’t even be able to kiss, would they? No wonder she was letting herself get a crush on him. Kai was safe to fantasize about because nothing could ever come of it. Perfect for someone with a terrible fear of intimacy.

“Earth to Luna.” Harper’s green eyes were curious. “What are you thinking?”

Luna figured telling half the truth wasn’t a lie. “Even when I was almost sure Tomas was dead, I never gave up hoping, you know that, Harps. But now I don’t know how I’ll feel if I find out he’s alive. I’m scared either way. Is that crazy?”

“No babe, not crazy at all. This is huge. The culmination of everything you’ve worked toward your whole life.”

Luna slammed the box shut. Finding out what had happened to Tomas, that would be enough. No more yearning for anything else. “I guess tomorrow I’ll know.”

Harper walked her to the door, and they hugged.

Luna felt her eyes welling. Damn annoying things, tears. “Thank you, thank you. You have been the best friend ever. You and Marrick and Noah, all of you in different ways have helped me so much. I don’t feel like I… deserve any of this.”

“Hey babe, where’s this self-doubt coming from?” Harper hugged her tightly.

“It’s always been there, I’ve just chosen to hide it, and now… I guess I can’t anymore,” Luna admitted as she released her friend.

“Well, I think it’s about time.”

As Harper opened the door, a big burly guy was getting kicked out of the bar across the other side of the quay. Harper gave her a horrified look. “Oh shit, it’s Wyatt. I can’t let him see me.”

Luna’s hands tightened around the box. “That fucking bastard,” she muttered. Harper cast her a frown. “Don’t confront him over the phone thing, okay? He’s bigger and stronger than you.”

Luna said nothing, her jaw and fists clenching in unison.

“Go home, please, babe,” Harper pleaded. “When he’s drunk, he can turn nasty.”

Drunk or not, Luna had a score to settle with that scumbag selkie. “Go back inside and lock the door,” she told her friend.

“Hon, let the law deal with him. Promise you won’t go near him?”

“Promise,” Luna said, crossing her fingers. “I’ll get straight in my boat and head home.” Harper nodded and shooed her out with her hand. Once Luna heard the key scrape in the lock, she darted over to her boat. Placing the box inside, she jumped in and crouched down, taking hold of the rope that tethered the boat to the shore.

She positioned herself so she could see Wyatt staggering along the cobbled pathway that circuited the quay, singing and swearing to himself in equal measure. He was coming straight past her boat, she realized with satisfaction. As he got closer, she pulled the mooring line tight on the post, raising it off the cobbled pavers just high enough to trip up a stupid drunk selkie.

“Hey Wyatt,” she called out.

“Egh, who’s there?”

“Over here, you low-life piece of conniving shit.”

Predictably, he veered over, and as he did his foot caught in the rope. Down he went, his big body slamming hard onto the stone walkway.

He hollered out a string of curses. Clearly too wasted to even right himself, he lay there flailing and groaning.

Luna jumped nimbly out of the boat, unwound the rope from the post and gave him a good hard kick in the ribs on her way back. She figured the rules of a fair fight didn’t apply with the bastard who stole your photos and sold them.

Wyatt bellowed in pain. “What the fuck?—”

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