Page 114 of Heart of the Deep

Larkin watched several of the rangers cast each other looks of uncertainty, but they did as they were commanded, slowly lowering their weapons and retreating with their hands held out in front of them.

Once the rangers had moved back, Larkin holstered her pistol; it was the best she would offer while the rangers still carried their sidearms. Randall, Macy, and Aymee did the same.

“These kraken came here to show you there is nothing to be afraid of. They are not the monsters we thought they were. They came tospeakto you,” Larkin said.

“There has been bloodshed between our people in the past,” Dracchus said, “but there is no need for any more. So long as we remain unknown to one another, there cannot be lasting peace between our people. We come to you today to show you who we are — your neighbors, and not your enemies.”

Larkin looked at her father. “You asked us where we’ve been. We’ve been with them,” she swept her arm toward the kraken. “Living among them, working beside them. Building a family.”

“What?” Nicholas’s brows fell. He parted his lips to speak, but no sound emerged.

“I’m sure you’ve heard plenty of rumors about me,” Macy said. “That I was taken in the night by a monster, stolen from my friends and family. Only those close to me knew the truth.”

Larkin turned her head as Jax, carrying Sarina, moved to stand behind Macy. He put an arm around her.

“This is my mate,” Macy said, looking up at Jax. “And our child.”

Silence born of shock dominated the crowd for several seconds, and then they burst into conversation — frantic, uncertain, awed conversation. Larkin gritted her teeth when she heard words likeabominationandfreakover the din.

Breckett, who’d been standing near Macy, looked at Jax and Sarina. His eyebrows rose high, wrinkling his forehead. “That’s…my granddaughter?”

Macy smiled wide and nodded. “Sarina.”

Breckett’s eyes glistened, and his beard bobbed slightly as though he were moving the mouth hidden within. He stepped closer to Macy tentatively, and a hush fell over the crowd as he reached a hand out to Sarina.

Sarina clutched her father, her wide eyes moving from the crowd to Breckett.

“This is mommy’s father,” Jax said gently. Removing his arm from Macy, he extended his own hand and touched a finger to Breckett’s. “He will not do you harm.”

“This is your grandfather,” Macy said. “The one I told you about. He’s family.”

Sarina looked between Jax and Breckett, until finally, she extended a tentacle, brushing the tip over the top of Breckett’s hand. “Family?” she asked.

“Yes, child. Family,” Breckett said. “Sarina is a lovely name, and you are a lovely girl.”

Sarina smiled. “Mommy said it was her sister’s name.”

The tears flowed from Breckett’s eyes, disappearing into his beard. “It was. The sea took her from us a long time ago. But now it brought you.”

“Are you sad?” Sarina asked, frowning. “Water comes from Mommy’s eyes when she’s sad, too.”

Larkin glanced at Macy; surely enough, the woman was crying along with her father.

“No, I’m not sad. I am very, very happy to finally meet you, Sarina,” Breckett said.

Sarina looked at Jax then back to Breckett before holding her arms out to him. Breckett took her without hesitation, pulling her close. Sarina wrapped her tentacles around his arm and cupped his face with her hands. “Your face is very hairy and tickly,” she said.

Breckett laughed; it was a deep, rich sound, and it seemed to affect everyone nearby — the expressions in the crowd had softened, and many were smiling softly as they watched.

“And this,” Aymee said, turning her face toward Arkon as he approached with Jace in his arms, “is my mate and son.”

Larkin watched as Aymee’s parents met Arkon and Jace, their bright smiles warming her heart.

Dracchus settled his hand on her shoulder. She turned to look up at him as he gently guided her aside and moved forward.

Her father looked at him, wide-eyed, and dropped a hand toward his pistol.

Larkin’s mouth went dry, and her heart was suddenly pounding. Her mate and her father stared at one another in tense silence, only a few meters of space between them. It would take only an instant for the situation to go wrong. Faster than she could react, she could lose either one of them.

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