Page 83 of The Kraken Games

Kai turned away and looked out to sea instead. Toward his home. The home that held no joy for him without Luna.

They waited until their skin had dried off, each of them studiously not looking at the other as they put on their clothes. The air was tense. It was hard to believe that they’d fallen apart keening each other’s names under the stars last night.

He steeled himself and kept his distance as they alternately walked and swam along the coastline.

As they neared their destination, Kai sensed the tension growing in her. It was late afternoon now, the heat from the sun rising off the beach in a haze. Ahead, he could make out the rock-formed walls and gateway that heralded the Mer community.

He’d never been near this place, and no wonder, with the secret his people had been harboring for fifteen years.

He should be happy. At least baby Tomas had been saved. But the sordid truth was, the revered head of their fleet was losing his mind when he attacked that boat.

What a hideous error.

And then there were his dad’s words. What was it his father had been trying to say?Their tragic deaths were our gain.Was his father going mad too? How could any good come from murdering innocent humans? Kai trudged on, deep in thought. The elders were still holding information back, and it kept niggling at him. It was all very well for his grandfather to say he’d find out when he reached Metan, but that would be too late.

Suddenly Luna drew to an abrupt halt next to him. He stopped, cocked his head.

“Luna?”

Her eyes were huge as she gazed back at him. “I—I?—”

She looked so small and pale, like one puff of wind and she would blow away.

“Are you okay?”

She shook her head. “No. I’m fucking terrified.”

“Hey, hey,” he said softly. “I’m nervous too, and it’s not my long-lost brother that we’re about to meet.”

Now she was trembling from head to foot. “All my life I’ve longed for this, and now… now… I just want to turn and run away.”

Kai let out a soft whoosh of air. He was going to break their agreement. But stuff it. She needed to be held. To be soothed and comforted.

He stepped forward and she didn’t retreat. His arms came around her, and so did his tentacles. He wound himself around her like a big blue blanket and pulled her gently to him. She curled into him, her hands on his chest, yielding to him, her ear against his hearts.

He kissed the top of her head, along her temple, across her forehead. He stroked her with tentacles and hands. And gradually, he felt the tension ease out of her body.

She looked up suddenly, her lips trembling, her eyes swimming with unshed tears. “It’ll be okay, won’t it?”

“It will be more than okay. It will be wonderful.”

She didn’t answer, just gently untangled herself and, with a tremulous smile, started moving resolutely toward the Mer community.

He kept one tentacle loosely looped around her waist. No way was he going to remove it unless she asked him to, and she didn’t.

As they got closer, he could see the wordsMerinda—home of Mer folk Artisans, inscribed in shells and sea glass on a driftwood sign above the gateway.

They waded through the rocky arches that formed a natural pathway toward it.

“Hey, who goes there?”

A large turtle guarded the gate. Well-fed and lazy, he’d obviously been asleep. He struggled to right himself, and his thick neck shot forward.

“Luna Storm and Kai Ganlan,” Kai said. ”Your community leader is expecting us.”

“Oh right, yeah. That’s it. I was told to expect a guy and a girl.” The turtle rocked on his shell, yawned. “Sign here please.” He brought out a book and pen. “Can’t let any old humans in. There’ve been a few attempts to infiltrate the community under the pretense of tourism.” He sniffed and appraised Luna. “Humans are getting everywhere these days. Should never had knocked that hole in the Motham wall if you ask me.”

“I’m not one of those humans,” Luna said defensively.

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