Page 92 of Heart of the Deep

“You cannot do this!” Leda cried, shoving another kraken aside to come forward. “I am a female!”

“You are a bitter female filled with hatred,” Vasil said. “No male here is willing to have you.”

Leda’s skin flared, and she turned her eyes on Larkin. She lunged toward the human, claws poised to attack. Before Dracchus could make a move, Larkin extended her arm, pointing the barrel of her pistol at Leda’s face. The female kraken halted abruptly.

“You cannot kill me,” Leda snarled.

“I’m not feeling quite as merciful as my mate, so I suggest you back the fuck off,” Larkin said.

Anger and pride collided in Dracchus, one fueled by the brazen attempt to harm his mate, the other by Larkin’s quick, cool response.

Leda growled, but eventually drew back, eyes narrowed on Larkin.

“This is because of them!” Neo thrust a finger at Macy. “The hunters would never have come had we killed that human slit in the beginning, and our people would not be divided!”

Jax growled. “It is not too late for you to face the old punishment, Neo.”

“This is no longer your home,” Dracchus said, “and you are no longer our people.”

“And what of Kronus?” Garon demanded.

Dracchus swung his gaze to Kronus, who had remained in his earlier position with Aja just behind him.

“Do you stand with them, Kronus?” Ector asked.

“No,” Kronus replied, “but I cannot deny my part in this. I will accept the same punishment.”

Voices stirred throughout the crowd, some filled with regret, others with shock. Dracchus met Kronus’s gaze; the ochre kraken’s eyes were filled with many emotions, but foremost among them were shame and humility.

“So be it,” Ector said.

“And you, Aja?” Ceres asked.

The female glanced at Neo and Kronus, then focused her attention on Ceres. “I will stand with the humans…for peace.”

“You are all traitors!” Neo snarled. “You turn your backs on our ancestors by befriending those who enslaved us, all to shove your cocks into their filthy slits! You taint our blood, and we will not—”

“Leave. Now.” Dracchus finally allowed his skin to turn crimson. “Should any of you show your faces here again, it will be at the cost of your life.”

Growls and curses followed as Neo’s groups shoved their way out of the room, filing through the door.

Orphus turned and glared at the crowd. “You will pay for choosing humans over your own kind,” he vowed.

The kraken nearest to him shoved him into the corridor, and a portion of the crowd broke off to ensure the banished found their way out of the Facility.

“I was sure a fight would break out,” Larkin whispered after releasing a shaky breath.

The line of kraken dispersed, and Jax returned to his mate, taking her in his arms. “It would have been ended swiftly,” he assured her.

“Not without injury,” Larkin replied, holstering her pistol.

Dracchus extended an arm, covering her cheek with his hand. She looked exhausted — dark circles under her eyes, pink blotches on her cheeks, her hair drawn back and tied hastily, leaving loose strands around her ears and temples.

Exhausted, but still beautiful.

“For all their bluster, they are cowards,” he said. “The chances of them fighting ended once they realized the numbers that would oppose them.”

She placed a hand over his and turned her face into his palm, kissing its center. “I would have fought beside you regardless.”

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