Page 69 of The Kraken Games

“Just a little gift from Luna,” she chirped. Hopping into the boat, she started up the motor and sped away into the night, grinning from ear to ear.

CHAPTER 22

As the kraken elders filed into High Court Cave, Kai steeled his features into a blank mask. He must not show any emotion. To do so would be a sign of weakness. Gritting his teeth, he turned his gaze to the domed ceiling, the rocky walls with their honeycombed patterning, the glimpses of blue sea lapping above them. While this cave was completely submerged by water, it was the closest to the surface of the complex, and as such, the light here was brighter.

After the Great War, kraken had held court here over legal issues regarding the sea between Motham and Thedaka. Not that Kai remembered many such meetings in his lifetime. The last one had been with a billionaire orc, who had purchased Orc Island from the Tween Council of Towns. Two years ago, the orc had made a deal with the kraken to allow the passing of human boats between Motham and the island. Other than that, there had been little call for court hearings since the Treaty.

Until now.

As the kraken elders took their seats, none of them looked his way. Hardly surprising. He was still in a state of shame. Losing the games for the second year in a row, that was not something easily forgiven.

But… he’d done it for Luna. Because his pull toward her was stronger than the tide. His body ached with longing to see her, to touch her, make love to her.

He believed that she hadn’t sold those photos.

But would the elders?

As he surveyed the assembled group, his father gave him a glance, and Kai relaxed a little. There was no hostility in his father’s gaze, at least. Maybe after this there would be a way forward. But a way forward for what, exactly?

Gods. What was he hoping? That a kraken and a human could mate again like they had many centuries ago? Those were different times, when the magic of shifting abounded and anything was possible. A time, it was said, of harmony and goodwill.

Nothing more than a fairy tale.

But fuck it, right now Kai was prepared to believe in fairy tales.

There was the blast of a trumpet shell, then Razad entered carrying a sparkling staff. The glowing orb on top was lit up by sea creatures that twinkled around its head. He took his seat amid ancient incantations spoken by the elders.

And then… behind him, Hana entered, followed by Luna. She swam with grace through the entrance, even though her face was covered in the ugly breathing contraption. Just seeing her made Kai’s breath stutter.

The impact she’d had on his heart had only got stronger, he realized. Kai felt water flowing faster through his gills, little bubbles ebbing from his lips.

He knew that body so intimately now.

He watched as Hana showed her to the Rock of Truth. Luna sat, Hana to her right. Later in the proceedings he would be called to tell his version of events on that rock. The same rock where, in the centuries after the Great War, kraken would puthuman pirates on trial before dragging them out to sea with rocks on their feet and drowning them. Or so the legend went.

His hearts pounded as Luna sat, adjusting her headset. Hana helped her, tentacles and hands working together.

Then Luna glanced his way. If only he could see more of her face, her reactions through the glass of her helmet. He didn’t smile. Didn’t dare. But when her hand fluttered up briefly, one of his tentacles twitched, a tiny answering acknowledgement. She had to know he supported her.

Gods of the deep, how he wanted to swim over to her, wind his tentacles around her, rip that mask off and kiss her.

Then she’d drown, you idiot.

Which made him feel suddenly hopeless as all hell. Look at her, rigged up like a deep-sea diver, all so she could communicate with them for an hour or so. How could she ever live in his world?

“Human, can you hear and comprehend me?” Razad’s deep voice rumbled.

Through the speakers, her words, soft but clear, carried through the water. “Yes, sir.”

“We speak the language of kraken here, so that all the elders and clan members can hear your story. Your words will be instantly translated to our language, and vice versa. So tell us the story in any way you wish. It will be comprehended.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?”

“I do.”

“Word has come to our elders, carried by those we have great trust in, that you were the victim of a kraken attack.”

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