Page 86 of The Kraken Games

“Let’s just say we have an understanding. And a huge net of the best tuna each year to sweeten them up.”

“Ah, right.”

“And in return, they keep humans well away from us. Beast Hunter Tours have tried to come here, but we made it clear, high-breed humans are not welcome. All they get to see of us is our monthly visits to the Faery Bazaar to sell our wares. Though our jewelry is getting into some trendy shops in The Hole in the Wall District these days.”

With that, she took him into a rocky, low-ceilinged cave and Kai gasped. “Oysters.”

“More importantly, pearls. Lots and lots of pearls.” Brooke grinned. “This is our main industry now. We ship them over themountain range, they give us a good price. Gods, would valley humans love to get their greedy mitts on these.”

Kai was impressed. These Mer folk were canny and entrepreneurial.

They swam through the workshops, meeting the artisans, who willingly explained their work to Kai. And finally, Brooke took him back to the cabana, ordered them both a cocktail and eyed him out of luminous eyes, like sea glass.

“So, you and Luna. You’re lovers, right?”

“Nope.”

“I wasn’t born yesterday, Kai. You’re mad about the girl.”

Kai didn’t say a word. But when he glanced at her over his cocktail glass, he knew he was blushing as bright as the Blue Lagoon he was sipping.

Brooke gave him a playful thump on one tentacle.

“So how d’you plan to sort this out?”

Kai’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t. She doesn’t feel as strongly about me, and even if she did, I’ve agreed with the clan elders that it can’t go any further.”

Brooke frowned at him. “That’s not champion talk. What, you’d give up that easily?”

“Well, I didn’t win the games… so.” He laughed hollowly, sipping his drink. “It’s complicated.”

“Oh, sweetheart, interspecies love always is. Doesn’t make it impossible.” He glanced at her, a little seed of hope lodging in his heart at her confidence. “Maybe you need a consult with Waldo.”

He startled. “You know Waldo?”

“Yeah, sure I know him. I did his training in how to administer ocean herbs to treat my people.” She looked hard at his scarred tentacles. “Seems to me, you might have had need of his healing powers yourself once.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Them scars wouldn’t have healed without magic.”

Kai leaned into her. “No one knows that I got treatment from Waldo, Brooke, it’s secret.”

She chuckled. “I get it. You krakens have a reputation for being tough as barnacles, and you don’t want those bastard humans knowing you’ve been on land to garner help. Here in Merinda, we’re not too proud to seek help. We live more simply, making art and music, eating well, loving well. We don’t have some grand image to uphold, just a good lifestyle that we are wise enough to maintain.” She gave him a tap on the arm with one long pearlized fingernail. “Don’t let macho kraken pride spoil what you have with that human, is all I say.” She slurped at her cocktail, then, to Kai’s surprise, slammed it down, hooked her big tail over her arm and with a yip of joy somersaulted into the water. When she surfaced, she winked up at him. “Life’s short, kiddo. Go talk to Waldo.”

“C’mon,” Tom said, “I’ll show you my room.”

“Is it in the water?”

“No, it’s in a dry cave higher up the beach. One concession to me being human. Mer folks’ caves are partially under the water, but my skin goes all wrinkly if I sleep in sea water. When I’m crafting, my cave is the shallowest too, but it’s never completely dry.”

“Hence the boots?” she queried.

“Yeah. Cool, aren’t they? Brooke’s dad made them for me, he’s a cobbler. They also help me when I swim, it’s my equivalent of a tail. Hey, do you fancy a dip? I’ve been working all day finishing off that piece for you. I was so worried you wouldn’t like it. And phew, now I need to let off some steam.”

Before Luna could answer, he’d dived off a rock. She watched in amazement the way his boots behaved just like a tail. He was as lithe and speedy as Torqua, twisting and turning in the clear blue water and poking his head up to beckon to her. “Jump in,” he called. Needing no further encouragement, Luna stripped down to her underwear and dived in.

It was soon pretty evident she couldn’t keep up. Even though she was a great swimmer by human standards, she felt like an ungainly land animal flailing around as Tom zoomed between rocks and sea grass and kept returning to her and grinning.

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