Page 100 of Jewel of the Sea

Arkon furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”

“I punched Kronus in the face.”

He lifted his head to look at her. She was serious. A dozen emotions flickered through him — pride, concern, anger. “What did he do?”

“He was standing in our way and threatened us.”

“What threat did he make?”

“Well, he raised his claws and saidhumans, and Ineededto get you here, so I punched him.”

“Kronus said a single word to you, and you struck him?”

“He was in the way, Arkon.”

Arkon pressed his lips to hers in a lingering kiss. When he broke away, he touched his forehead to hers and grinned. “I love you, Aymee.”

She smiled. “I love you, too.”

“And I can hear you,” Randall said. “Trying to sleep over here.”

“Be silent and rest, human,” Rhea commanded.

Arkon and Aymee stared at each other, smiles widening.

“Be silent and rest, human,” Arkon whispered to her.

Aymee laughed and rolled off him. He raised the blanket. She slipped under it and curled against him as he took her in his arms, twining his tentacles with her legs.

Arkon closed his eyes.

His Aymee was beside him, he was home, and he finally felt complete. Finally knew contentment. Aymee was the centerpiece of his life. His heart.

His jewel.

Epilogue

Aymee clung to Arkon as he propelled them through the depths. His body glowed, a beacon in the dark, and she couldn’t help but run her hands over him. Her fascination never waned; he was a thing of beauty, a creation that had surpassed its creators.

And she’d come so close to losing him.

It’d been four weeks since their run-in with the Culver Hunters. Arkon had recovered within four days. His skin reverted to its healthy blue-gray, his strength returned, and if not for the three scars on his abdomen, Aymee might have believed she’d dreamed the whole encounter.

Tightening her hold, she rested her head on his shoulder. She couldn’t see anything beyond the soft glow he emitted. The ocean was as dark and endless as the night sky.

Arkon had told her there was something he wanted to show her. He wouldn’t say what it was, only that it was a surprise. The kraken hadn’t seen much of anything apart from the usual fishing boats, which remained near the coast and didn’t venture far from The Watch, so he’d decided it was safe enough. Aymee was also antsy to be back on land after weeks in the Facility. The rooms were comfortable — more spacious and accommodating than anything back home — but she needed open air every now and then.

He angled them upward, and his light went out.

Only the barest hint of illumination touched the surface of the water overhead. This was so far removed from the feel of the sea during the day — all the vibrant colors and sea life gone, leaving infinite black — that she felt like they’d traveled to an unknown, unforgiving world.

There was a faint speck of light ahead. She squinted, wondering if it was a trick of her eyes, but it was joined by more blue flecks.

They broke the surface a few moments later. The sky was partly clouded — patches of black dotted with twinkling stars were visible over the land to Aymee’s right, but it was only bleak, dark gray over the sea apart from two spots where the obscured moons backlit the clouds.

Arkon released his hold on her and guided her to his back. As he swam forward, Aymee’s eyes settled on the reflection of the stars upon the surface of the water. They were a bright blue, thousands or millions of them, moving with the gentle motion of the waves.

But the stars aren’t visible over the ocean now.

---