Page 67 of Heart of the Deep

Someone pounded on the door three times in rapid succession. Larkin’s heart fluttered in anticipation, but her tumultuous emotions weren’t enough to make her careless.

She drew her pistol. Randall pulled his own and fell into place beside her. Grasping the firearm with both hands, she watched as Arkon opened the door.

Jax entered first. At least a dozen cuts glistened on his blood-smeared skin, but his movements seemed unhindered.

“Jax!” Macy leapt up with Sarina in her arms, ran to him, and wrapped an arm around his torso without hesitation.

Both Larkin and Randall holstered their weapons. Randall exhaled shakily as Larkin crept forward, awaiting a glimpse of Dracchus.

“Daddy’s hurt,” Sarina said, looking at her father with huge, sad eyes.

Jax embraced his mate and child. If the movement hurt his open wounds, he made no sign of it. “I am fine.”

The trio moved aside to allow Dracchus entry.

The big kraken’s chest swelled with a slow inhalation, and fresh blood oozed from gashes and puncture wounds on his sides. His gaze fell upon Larkin immediately, blazing with intensity; for an instant, they were the only two people in existence, and her breath caught in her throat.

The depth in his eyes compelled her to move closer.

She stopped in front of him, running her gaze over his many wounds, and her heart pounded. So much blood. Many of his injuries would require stitching. She looked up and raised her hands, cupping his jaw to draw him down.

Meeting her gaze, he allowed her to guide him.

“Don’t you ever,ever, send me away again,” she said.

He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers. “I will do as I must to keep you safe, female.”

She felt suddenly like she’d come home, like all her life before had just been a lead up to this moment, andthiswas where she was always meant to be, where she belonged. With her big, fierce, krullheaded kraken.

But all too soon, he pulled away.

It’s for the best. I can’t…I can’t let myself care too deeply.

He wrapped a tentacle securely around her waist, as though he couldn’t bear to sever contact with her for long, and drew her close as he straightened to face the others.

Jax, Macy, and Sarina remained nearby, but Arkon had moved to Aymee and Jace, and Randall sat on the bed beside Rhea and Melaina, with Ikaros curled on the floor in front of them.

“You are all my people,” Dracchus said, “myfamily, and I will no longer allow anyone to threaten what is mine. I have given Kronus, Neo, and Orphus a choice today. Live with us in peace, leave this place forever, or die. Their next attack will be their last.”

“Dracchus—” Arkon began, but Dracchus silenced him with a look.

“The time for diplomacy has passed. Words will no longer suffice, Arkon.”

“He’s right,” Jax said, glancing down at Macy and Sarina. “Their hatred has pushed some of them too far. Kronus no longer has control, because even he is too moderate for their taste. Neo would have killed us all if he could have. Do we wait until one of them succeeds?”

“One has tried,” Rhea said, “and we cannot allow it to continue.”

“This is a big step to take, isn’t it?” Randall asked. “Killing your own…that’s a threshold you don’t get to return from.” He wore the pain of his experiences on his face, and Larkin’s heart ached for him.

“All of this because you saved me,” Macy said, closing her eyes and laying her head on Jax’s shoulder.

“I would do it again, given the choice. I have no regrets.” Jax placed a soft kiss atop her head.

“And saving you may have saved our people,” Arkon said, taking Aymee’s hand. “Violence is the last thing I wish, but when they endanger our mates, our younglings… We cannot remain placid.”

Larkin looked up at Dracchus. “I already said I would stand with you.”

“There are many more of our people who would also side with you,” Rhea said. “The humans have helped our kind greatly. They have endangered themselves to defend us, to protect our younglings, and to provide for us. They are part of us, and have brought joy to our lives.”

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