Page 96 of The Kraken Games

“Through your suffering Kai, you have developed deep compassion and humility, as well as inner strength. Your grandfather was not fully aware of the forces that made him choose you for the games, but he too was influenced by the changes that are sweeping through the universe. You are the bridge Kai, to lead your people into a new era. The females of your species will support you, and their time to lead will come, not so far from now.”

“Does this mean the end of the Kraken Games?”

“I cannot tell you if the games should continue. That is for your people to decide.” The mage stroked his beard. “But I can fitgills to you, Luna. Cells will need to be taken from the lining of your ears, along with the DNA from a Thedakian female.”

Luna frowned. “But… what if the Kraken don’t agree?”

“Kai has attained Metan with you, Luna. Humans and kraken bonding again was written about in ancient Kraken texts. That time has come. Now all you have to do is weave the future by taking the right steps in the present. Are you ready for the challenge, Kai?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And Luna,” Waldo’s eyes were serious as they rested on her, “Stand proud and strong in the circle of Kai’s love. No more doubts. No more running.” His eyes bore into hers. “Do I have your promise?”

Luna nodded. “I promise.”

CHAPTER 32

As Kai got closer to the gates of Thedaka he felt himself transforming into full kraken. Strangely, even though kraken usually felt at their best in their ancient form down in the deep, he missed his shifting self, because that self was the one he had shared with Luna. He had courted her on land as human and kraken, and that had made his shift state very special to him. Except for the other night in the warm pools when he had attained Metan. No mistaking he was fully kraken then. And she had not shied away from his kraken form, instead embracing the change in him with awe and love in her eyes. He had still been himself, after all.

Steeling himself, he sped closer to the arched gateway. This was not the moment for romantic daydreams. He had a job to do.

As he entered through the gate, the guard stopped him, then smiled and waved him through. “Kai. Welcome home again.”

“Good to be here.”

As he made his way through the bustling main thoroughfare, toward the markets, he greeted the many kraken he knew tending their shops, chatting among the coral and busy schools of fish, the wobbegongs and stingrays. Already a bar was open. Agroup of young kraken were gathered, playing backgammon and laughing.

“Hey there, loser,” someone called out. Acha. Of course, he should have suspected he’d be here, drinking Fash, the sweet sticky liquor favored by kraken, often consumed with strong coffee even early in the day. Like now.

Kai swam over, certain that Acha was already half-cut.

“You’ve joined an elite club.” Acha smirked and brought up several tentacles in the kraken equivalent of a high five.

Kai stood his ground, tentacles at his side.

“Please yourself, asshole.” Acha lazed against the rocky couch, his smirk widening. He represented everything about the young males here that was wrong. They needed to do some work on themselves, step up. It wasn’t just up to his parents’ generation to put this city to rights.

“I may have brought disrepute to the games last year, but cuz, you fucking annihilated them. Congratulations. let’s celebrate.” Acha raised his glass in Kai’s direction and the other young kraken smirked.

“It’s not even midday,” Kai said pointedly. “So, no thanks.”

Acha shrugged, sinking the drink and slamming down the glass. “RIP to the Kraken Games.”

“Maybe that’s a good thing,” Kai said quietly.

“Sour grapes, eh?”

Kai shook his head. “Do you think the games do any real good? For our people? Really?”

Acha’s lip curled.“You’re only saying that because you lost. Defeated by a little bitch human.”

Kai saw red. He pulled Acha up by the ruff of skin around his neck. “Don’t you ever call her that. You hear me? Not ever.”

“Back off, dude, it was a joke.”

“Yeah, everything’s a joke to you. And that’s the problem.” With a shake, Kai let Acha drop into the sand. He wasn’t goingto fight him here in the town square. He remembered Waldo’s words—he was a warrior, but not that kind. “Why are you all just sitting here gambling when you could be doing something productive? Is that what we males are reduced to here?”

He watched Acha trying to climb back into his seat, obviously drunk. His tentacles slid from under him, and he fell face first on the sea bottom, sand flurrying around him.

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