Page 115 of Heart of the Deep

Nicholas clenched his jaw. “You took my daughter from me. Took my son,” he said through his teeth, but his words lacked the venom of earlier.

“You put us in cages and beat us,” Dracchus said, voice startlingly calm.

“So, what? This is revenge? You had my son for a year, a year of me not knowing if he was alive, if I’d lost my boy. The pain we inflicted wasn’t even a fraction of what I’ve felt.”

“Inflicting pain upon us did not ease your own,” Dracchus said, “and it did not bring your children back. They were safe under my protection. You taught them to be hunters, to be warriors, and they are both capable. They are both honorable and brave. And they have come back to you today to protect my people.

“I have not forgotten what you did to us. I have not forgotten my days on your ship. They will remain with me for years to come, and what you did drove one of my kind to madness. He attempted to kill my mate more than once because you solidified his hatred.” Dracchus twisted his torso, extending an arm to gesture at Larkin. “Sheis my mate. My female. And your actions didnotprotect her.”

She met Dracchus’s gaze with all the love and pride she felt for him; he’d proclaimed her his in front of all. He smiled at her.

“I am not here to boast.” Dracchus lowered his arm and turned back to Nicholas. “I am not here for revenge. I am here because my people, and my mate’s people, have suffered enough. Larkin cares for you deeply. Her capacity for love is immense, perhaps endless, and it is something for which I admire her greatly. I forgive you for what has been done, and I am sorry for the pain that we have caused you and your people.”

“Enough of this krullshit,” Brock growled, lunging forward to grab his rifle and aim it at Dracchus.

Larkin drew her pistol and fired from the hip.

The crowd gasped collectively; several people screamed, and some scattered.

“Fuck!” Brock pulled his bleeding hand to his chest as his rifle clattered onto the dock. He bared his teeth at Larkin. “Bitch! You choose fucking monsters over—”

Dracchus closed the distance between himself and Brock in an instant. The nearby rangers stumbled back from the big kraken, but Brock just looked up. He took Dracchus’s fist on his cheek and crumpled, crashing down in a heap.

The other rangers reached for their weapons as Dracchus eased back toward Larkin.

“Stand down, damn it!” Nicholas growled, stepping between Dracchus and his men.

Larkin held her pistol up, daring the rangers to evenlookat their weapons. Jace and Sarina were crying to the side, undoubtedly startled by the loud noise and shouting.

Nicholas glared at his men for a time, and, seemingly satisfied, turned back to Larkin and Dracchus. “Is this all true, Elle? You’re this thing’s…mate?”

Larkin looked at her father. “He’s not a thing. His name is Dracchus. And yes, I am his mate. We’ve joined.”

“And this is my mate,” Randall called from nearby. Rhea stood with him, Melaina and Ikaros beside them. “My wife.”

Rhea moved away from Randall to stand next to Dracchus. She looked at Nicholas. “You have caused our people much trouble, human. But many of our problems began in kraken hearts. It is not too late to come together.”

Nicholas looked at Randall, and then at Larkin, his expression unreadable. “You two…you’ve been…happy, with these…people?”

Larkin nodded. “They’ve become my family.”

“Mine, too,” Randall said.

Nicholas’s gaze shifted between his children before he finally lifted it to the kraken before him. He studied them in silence as Larkin’s heart thumped. “You’re keeping them safe? You swear to me, they are safe?” he asked, voice raw.

“I would give my life to protect Larkin,” Dracchus said.

Rhea snorted. “No one touches my mate butme.”

Nicholas’s eyes glistened with sudden moisture. “You’re taking them again, aren’t you?”

“With peace between our people, we all may come and go without fear,” Dracchus said.

“Without peace,” Larkin said, “we would go and not come back. We can’t risk any more lives. As much as we love you, we just can’t.”

“I stand for peace!” Breckett called. “There’s never been trouble between the people of The Watch and the kraken, and I don’t see any reason for it to start now.”

“As do we,” Kent said, arms around his wife and Aymee.

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