Page 55 of Heart of the Deep

Aymee smirked. “She’s quicker than you, Randall.”

“Never said I was the smart one,” he replied, though his smile was forced. His eyes flicked toward Dracchus for an instant.

“What do you mean, Aymee?” Larkin asked.

Grinning, Aymee shifted her legs, smoothing the material of her skirt over them. “It took a lot of convincing to get Randall to see the kraken as people. He refused to take my word for it, though I can’t blame him for that.”

Larkin tilted her head. “Dad wouldn’t say it was because I’m smarter. He’d blame mybleeding heartand call it a weakness.”

“It’s not a weakness, Elle,” Randall said, clasping her hand. “Our father isn’t the best judge of character, anyway.”

She frowned and squeezed her brother’s hand. They’d come close to losing Randall, but not by any kraken’s doing. “I’m sorry for the things I said.”

He dropped his gaze. “Shit’s been rough. I get it. I would’ve sent word somehow, if I had a way. But with everything that happened…” He shook his head, and the tip of his tongue slipped out to wet his lips.

“We’re not prisoners,” Macy said, “but we can’t risk going back. The kraken are family to us, and we can’t take the chance of exposing them, especially with all the hunters around.”

“I see that now,” Larkin said, running her gaze over the kraken in the room. When she met Dracchus’s eyes, she quickly looked away, returning her attention to Randall. “It hurt at first, knowing you’ve been here this whole time, making another family, while Dad and I were searching, desperate to know if you were even alive…but I understand.”

“I’ve thought about you every day, Elle,” Randall said. “Missed you every day, but at the same time, I wished that Jon would never make it back home. I knew if he did, Dad would come looking. And that he wouldn’t leave you behind.”

He turned his head to look fully at Dracchus. “They killed everyone else. And I don’t feel much of anything for that, because those men threatened innocent people and supported Cyrus when he tried to murder me. Dracchus spared my life, but only because Aymee persuaded him to.”

“You saved Jax,” Aymee said. “If you hadn’t shot that other man, Jax might’ve been killed.”

Macy paled, settling a hand on her stomach as she looked at Jax; he met her gaze from his place on the floor, where he was playing with Jace, and frowned.

“It was a mess,” Randall continued. “And Dracchus made it clear that if anyone else came looking, he would end them. I didn’t ever want you to come, Elle, and that’s why I got so upset last night. But now you’re here, and…”

“And you’re the one who captured three male kraken,” Aymee said.

“Some of these kraken hate us. Doesn’t matter what any of us have done to help them out. Just like some of our people will hate the kraken no matter what.” Randall turned back to Larkin. “But there’s always the threat of danger here, especially for you.”

“What do we do now, then?” Larkin asked.

“Justlive.” Macy glanced down at the hand over her midsection. “We can’t let fear rule us.”

Larkin’s eyes widened. The woman waspregnant. She tightened her grip, forgetting she was holding Randall’s hand.

Randall leaned closer, resting his shoulder against hers and tipping his head to settle atop her hair gently. “I’m sorry, Elle,” he whispered, and she knew he wasn’t apologizing for his behavior.

She closed her eyes and drew his hand into her lap, taking it in both of hers.

“We’ll let you guys catch up,” Aymee said.

Larkin opened her eyes and returned Aymee’s smile.

“It was nice meeting you, Larkin,” Macy said, standing up. “We’ll come visit again. If you need anything, just let us know.”

Jax gathered Sarina and moved to Macy’s side.

“Thank you. I would like that,” Larkin replied, meaning it. She’d spent little time in female company throughout her life, but despite her earlier unease, Macy and Aymee had been nothing but welcoming and kind.

Dracchus looked between Larkin and Randall as the others filtered out of the room. “I will see them to their dens and return shortly.” His tone almost turned it into a question.

Larkin nodded.

“Are you okay, Elle?” Randall asked after Dracchus departed.

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