Page 30 of Battle Fluke

“I’m going to find Nylah. On my own.”

“No, you’re not!” Honour swam forward again and grabbed Kyree’s wrist. She couldn’t let her go out there again, not alone, not when it was so dangerous. “Forget the Talon, there’s still the humans out there, and they can attack at any point. We can’t predict that. Our inside lead is gone. The Talons will attack if you stay with Hudson. They want her dead as much as she wants them dead.”

Hudson raised an eyebrow in their direction, as if surprised that Honour had figured that out. But Honour pushed through.

“The ocean is too dangerous right now. Nylah will find their way back to you if they want to.” Honour flipped her hand, grasping Kyree’s and lacing their fingers. “You can’t leave.”

“You can’t make me stay.” Kyree’s words held such pain and pleading.

“I can’t lose you, too,” Honour whispered, her voice breaking on the last word. She hadn’t meant to say that either. It seemed that coming here had been a mistake. She was spilling secrets left and right, but this one she had refused to even admit to herself.

Kyree halted. She raised her gaze up to meet Honour’s. “I have to find Nylah.”

“I don’t understand why they’re so important.”

“You wouldn’t understand,” Kyree whispered back. “Because you’re not from the deep soundings.”

“Explain it to me then. Teach me,” Honour pleaded. Perhaps that would be a way to get Kyree to stay around. “I want to understand.”

But did she? Or was it simply a ploy to keep Kyree right where she wanted her? Honour wasn’t sure, and if she wasn’t sure, then she knew that her genuineness hadn’t gotten across to Kyree.

Honour tugged Kyree a little closer and took a deep breath. She was sure of one thing. She wanted to get to know Kyree better. She wanted to understand her.

“Teach me.” Honour’s voice was a rumble as her breath increased. “Please?”

“That sounds like a plea for something else,” Hudson interrupted. “You should teach Honour what it is you do with your mouth when in the throes of passion.” Hudson moved behind Kyree, skimming her hands down Kyree’s shoulders and arms. “Because that’s not something they do in Reine.”

Kyree’s cheeks darkened, as did Honour’s. Even though Honour had no real idea what Hudson was talking about. She knew it was sexual, that wasn’t hard to pin down. When wasn’t Hudson implying something sexual, or violent?

Sometimes both at the same time. And then there was the reaction of her body. Already her arousal heated and pooled in hidden places at the mere suggestion of anything sexual with Kyree.

The mechanical clicking sent a shiver through Honour’s body. The heat of desire disappearing in an instant.

She looked at Hudson, hoping that she hadn’t been the only one to hear it.

Hudson cocked her head back at Honour and then turned to face the open ocean in front of them.

“How many?” Hudson asked.

“At least one,” Honour answered. Her heart was in her throat, the argument with Kyree already forgotten.

“I think two, at least.”

“Then we’re already dead.” Honour pulled Kyree toward the edge of the rock cliff, where there was some coral and plant life that might keep her hidden. Hell, who was she kidding, they were all dead.

“Let’s go!” Hudson flapped her fluke hard, pushing into the ocean.

“Hudson!” Honour screamed, her voice lost as the mechanical sounds increased, and vibrations in the water started to hit them. “Fuck.”

“Krakens,” Kyree mumbled.

“Stay hidden,” Honour ordered. “And if you see a chance to swim away, do it. Don’t look back.”

Honour didn’t wait. She let go of Kyree’s hand and swam after Hudson. This mer was a lunatic. Running after krakens like they were the sweetest fish in the sea to eat, the best treatout there, like she was about to have the adventure of a lifetime simply by chasing after a mechanical bull.

Honour was going to kill Hudson first, if she got a chance.

“Fucking lunatic,” Honour muttered as she swam as fast as possible.

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