Page 56 of Heart of the Deep

“I am. I’m worried about Dad, but I’m all right.”

“What’s going on between you and Dracchus?”

Larkin frowned and drew away from Randall, turning her head to face him. “Did he do something to you?”

“No, he didn’t do anything tome.” Randall leaned back, wearing a frown of his own while he studied her. “I want to know what he’s done to you. You’re my sister, Elle, and—”

“I’m a grown woman.”

“And I’m your older brother.”

“And I love you,” she squeezed his hand again, “but you need to trust me, as much as I trust you.” She glanced down at their hands and swallowed. “Do you trust him?”

Randall sighed after several seconds of reluctant silence. “With my life.”

“Then you know that I’m safe. Everything else,” she smiled sweetly, “is none of your damn business.”

He grinned and shook his head, eyes glistening. “Fuck, I missed you.”

Tears prickled her own eyes, and she hugged him. “I missed you, too.”

Randall returned the embrace. They clung to each other, and for a few moments, everything else faded away, leaving only Larkin’s relief and love for him. Finally, he pulled away — whether the hug had lasted for ten seconds or ten minutes, it was too brief — and offered her a smile.

“I’m going to go find Rhea and Melaina. They’ll probably get back with Ikaros pretty soon, and he gets anxious when I’m not around.”

“Okay. And Randall?”

He stood, and she released his hand. “Yeah?”

“I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks, Elle. Despite everything, I’m glad you’re here.”

Dracchus was standing in the hallway when Randall opened the door, facing away from the room. The kraken turned to face the human.

“I’m not mad at you,” Randall said, his voice deliberately measured, “but if you hurt her, I will fuck you up.”

“Randall!” Larkin yelled.

He glanced at her over his shoulder and then looked back at Dracchus, jabbing a finger at the kraken. “Aftershe fucks you up, because she’s a grown woman. I’ll see you later, buddy.”

Larkin covered her mouth with one hand to hide her mirth as Randall exited the room. That wasnotwhat she’d meant.

Dracchus furrowed his brow, staring after Randall down the hallway before he finally entered the room. “What was that?”

She lowered her hand; she’d contained her laughter, but couldn’t keep a broad grin from her face. “He’s being protective.”

“But I already told him that I would protect you.”

“He’s protecting me fromyou.”

He tilted his head, nostrils flaring with a slow exhalation. “I have not done anything to harm you, Larkin.”

“I know that. It’s…a big brother thing.” She stood and walked to the table, picking up one of the fruits Aymee and Macy had brought. The table was laden with food — fish, lobster, winefruit, naba, and daruk nuts — all harvested from either the jungle or the sea. “To Randall and our father, no man is worthy of having me.”

Dracchus closed the distance between them, holding his gaze upon her. “That is for you to decide, female.”

She turned toward him. “I seem to recall a certain kraken laying claim on me already.”

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