Page 63 of The Kraken Games

Suddenly a weed twisted around Luna’s foot. In struggling to free herself she slipped under the water, coming up gasping and spluttering.

Torqua helped her with a strong flipper, his lips quirking. “Rather drown than admit it, right?”

She couldn’t help a weak smirk in return. “It’s new to me, Torqua, I’m not used to…” Wow, what was it about this dolphin? He was so easy to talk to. “To having feelings for someone.”

“He’s a great guy. The best. With two deep kind hearts.”

“I know,” she said in a small voice. “He let me win. There’s no way I could have beaten him.”

“I know that too.”

Luna huffed a sigh, and for a few moments there was silence, broken only by the sound of Luna’s teeth chattering.

“How do we go about this, Torqua? Will the clan leaders listen to you?”

“Krakens listen to a dolphin?” Torqua let out a volley of clicks that Luna guessed was laughter. “No way. They think we’re buffoons. But they will listen to Shen. He’s one of the clan elders.”

Now it was Luna’s turn to snort out a laugh. “Shen won’t support me; you should have seen the rage on his face after I won.”

“Shen is influenced by Hana; she is the love of his life. He will trust her word. I know Hana well. She’s a good, kind kraken. I think she will be open to hearing your story, especially if I takeyou to her. And if Hana believes you, she’ll make sure that Shen hears your story.”

CHAPTER 20

The next morning, Luna waited nervously by her little boat as the sun rose. Mist floated over the marshes like ghostly fingers. Finally, Torqua’s shiny blue/gray head appeared in the water.

“Ready, princess?” She nodded. “Let’s go then. Follow me.”

She started the outboard motor and chugged along the waterways until the boggy marshes gave way to properly built canals and big, grand houses. Here, nature had been contained, held back by stone walls that kept the bogginess at bay.

Luna glanced nervously at the pristine homes, with their tiered gardens and lush green lawns that led down to cute little boat ramps. Amazing how some parts of the marshes were gentrifying. When she’d arrived here as a frightened child it had been a dank area that everyone avoided, other than birds and marsh creatures, and the odd human or monster that had made their home here out of adversity.

Adversity. That was all she’d ever known.

Until you met Kai. And he showed you what was possible.

Her heart lurched as she steered after Torqua’s sleek form. Would Hana believe her story? Would she be able to make Shen listen?

The need to see Kai, to put things right, vied with her long-held grudge against the kraken. But her heart was softening, and she didn’t know what to do with that. When you’d held onto hurt so tightly for so long, how did you even begin to let it go?

Her breath hitched and her pulse sped up as Torqua motioned for her to tie up. She gazed up at the sparkling white weatherboard house, the bright blue-painted window frames and doors. The pretty gardens, full of flowers in shades of blue and white and turquoise.

Color coordinated to befit its kraken owners.

Through a picture window, she could see someone moving around inside.

Torqua jumped out of the water, clicking madly and waving his flippers. “She can detect my sonar.”

Sure enough, the figure inside came to the doorway.

She looked like a beautiful woman, but of course, the soft blue of her skin gave away her heritage. Her hair was a deep resonant navy, flecked with turquoise highlights, and her eyes had the same length and tilt to them as Kai’s.

Luna’s heart lurched. Such a beautiful woman. She was no doubt glorious also in her kraken form.

Luna slowed the boat, letting the outboard motor idle, reluctant to moor unless invited to.

“Torqua, what’s going on?” The woman’s puzzled gaze went from the dolphin, posturing and flapping his flippers to Luna, hunkered in the little boat.

“I have someone with me who needs to talk to you.”

---