Page 68 of Heart of the Deep

Dracchus lifted a hand and settled it along Larkin’s jaw, brushing the pad of his thumb over her cheekbone. Heat bloomed in her chest in response to the simple, tender touch.

“We have all made our choices,” he said. “Now, the choice is for Kronus and his followers to make. I only wanted all of you to know what may come. To be prepared. I do not want any of you to come to harm.”

“Are you all right, Dracchus?” Aymee asked.

“I will be fine.” The confidence in Dracchus’s voice seemed in direct opposition to his wounds. Larkin knew the kraken could take a beating, but how much was too much for them? “Come, Larkin. Let us return to our den as we had intended.”

“Uncle Drak!” Sarina called.

He turned his head toward her, and a warm smile spread across his lips. He puffed his cheeks and blew air out of his siphons. Child mimicked him, flashing a bright smile afterward. Larkin’s chest felt suddenly, painfully hollow.

“I need some rest, little one. We will play another time,” he said.

They said their goodbyes and Larkin followed Dracchus into the hallway, watching him closely. His movements had taken on a stiffness she didn’t care for, and blood still seeped from several of his wounds.

“You should have asked Aymee to look at those,” she said.

Aymee was a doctor; why hadn’t she pressed the issue?

“I will heal.” He opened the door to their room and shifted aside to allow her in first.

“If you don’t bleed out first,” She stepped inside and turned to face him. “Most of those look like they need stitches.”

He passed through the doorway and closed the door behind him. Larkin observed his breathing; his ribs expanded slowly, only to abruptly draw back in with twitch of his muscles, as though his wounds were being stretched too far.

“We should get Aymee,” Larkin said, walking past him.

Dracchus caught her arm, halting her before she reached the door. “No. She does not need to be troubled by this. Do what you can, and it will be enough.”

“Give me something to shoot at and I’ll hit the target pretty much every time, butthis...” She stared at one of the deeper gashes, which still oozed blood. “I’m not good at this.”

“You need only stop the bleeding, so I do not soil our den. I will heal.” He drew her closer and brushed the backs of his fingers over her cheek. “I require only the attention of my mate.”

Why does he have to say things like that?

Larkin wanted to deny his claim, to give him all the reasons why she was a horrible choice, but the words lodged in her throat.

She took his hand in hers and lowered it. “Sit down, and I’ll see what I can find in the bathroom.”

He nodded, grunting softly as he released her and moved toward the table. Despite the situation, she couldn’t help but find some humor in him pausing in front of a chair and staring at it quizzically before he finally slid it aside and squatted on the floor.

She entered the bathroom and rummaged through the cupboards beneath the sink. After pushing aside everyday toiletries — hair cleaner, shaving cream, razors, and various bottles — she found a still-sealed first aid kit. She set it on the sink and turned to gather as many washcloths as she could from the small closet.

She returned to Dracchus with her arms full of supplies and set the items on the table beside him.

“Are you sure about this?” She removed her belt and carefully set it, along with her knife and pistol, next to the first aid kit.

Once again, he nodded.

“Okay.” Larkin broke the seal on the first aid kit and opened the lid. She ran her gaze over the items inside; she’d never seen many of them, and several of the names on their packaging were foreign to her.

There was no need to overcomplicate this. After a brief search, she plucked out a bottle of disinfectant, poured some of the liquid onto a washcloth, and faced Dracchus. Even in his crouch, he was taller than her.

“I imagine they are in far worse shape than you,” she said as she applied the cloth to one of his wounds and gently wiped the blood away.

He grunted, and his muscles twitched. “I was merciful. This time.”

“Why do they hate us so much? I mean, I know why they hateme, but the others.”

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