Page 35 of Rising from the Depths

Eva searched the swirling depths of molten gold that were his eyes, and her heart beat faster. The hand holding hers was warm, comforting. Stable. Kronus was her rock. Though she hadn’t known him before the attack, he’d been there from that moment, remaining strong and true even when everything else in her life fell apart. He’d kept her grounded when all she’d wanted to do was float away.

The expectancy and vulnerability in his gaze were accompanied by hope — but the light of that hope seemed muted, guarded, wary.

“Yeah,” Eva said softly, squeezing his hand. “I would like that.”

Shewantedthat.

It was a surprising realization. Only a couple weeks ago, she’d been joined with Blake, content with her life. What did it mean that she was so ready to stay with Kronus, that she secretly craved even the smallest of his touches? Did that make her just as bad as Blake?

No. Heleftme.Discardedme.

It had been Kronus who’d stuck by her, not Blake. The days she’d spent with Kronus had been difficult, had contained more than their share of discomfort and pain, but they’d beenreal, and he hadn’t given up on her. He’d taken Eva at her worst and hadn’t even batted an eye. It was only natural that she’d develop some feelings for the kraken.

“Okay,” Aymee said, pulling Eva’s attention away from Kronus. “That’s…that’s good!” She glanced at the ochre kraken and grinned knowingly before looking back to Eva. “Let me show you how to remove the prosthesis and care for it, then we can get you some breakfast.”

Eva tilted her head down and listened as Aymee went through the steps, demonstrating how to release the pin and disconnect the limb, how to remove the liner, and how to put it all back on again. As Aymee spoke, Eva glanced up to find Kronus watching raptly. When Aymee pushed up Eva’s gown a little higher, Kronus’s gaze followed her hand to Eva’s exposed flesh. Fire gleamed in his eyes when they met Eva’s again.

Her breath fled her, and desire bloomed in her core in response under the intensity of his stare.

What have I agreed to?

Surprisingly, she found that her anticipation greatly outweighed her fear.

Chapter 12

The evening sun cast golden light through the sea-facing windows of Kronus’s dwelling, creating long, deep shadows in contrast to the pure, powerful illumination. The quality of the light only emphasized how unprepared he was to care for a human.

His furnishings were sparse. He had no need for anything beyond a bed and a table, and the upright cabinet a human would’ve used to hold clothing served as storage for the few weapons and tools he’d accumulated over his time in The Watch — a harpoon gun with a few harpoons and a single tether line, a spear, several knives and carving tools he’d yet to use, a small net, and a few sturdy sacks.

Kronus wasn’t sure where to start.

Did Eva have clothing, or would he need to obtain some? What sort of plants could humans eat? More importantly, which plants did she prefer? His isolation had taught him little regarding such matters. He knew humans were as capable and varied as his people, that they had immense capacity for hard work, cooperation, and kindness while at the same time being susceptible to their own prejudices, but that was nearly the extent of his knowledge.

He began at the most logical point — he cleared the cabinet of his tools and weapons, so she’d have a place to store her belongings. Once that was done, he removed his blankets and bedding from the bed and set them up in the corner, creating a nest-like spot for him to sleep. Then he opened his wooden storage chest and pulled out all the spare bedding it contained. Macy had insisted he take it all when he moved into this den, just in case he ever needed it. He’d not understood the reasoning behind it, but he’d accepted, if only to end the uncomfortable conversation before he said something to cause conflict. As he arranged it atop the bed now, he finally understood. Though it had taken time, the extra bedding finally had a purpose.

With the bed made as neatly as he could manage, he slid the table against the wall beneath the seaside window. The sunlight, now more orange than gold, fell on the little carving laid atop the table — the one-legged human female.

A strange sensation crept through him, making his chest tight and his stomach hollow. The wooden figure seemed alone and out of place; naked, vulnerable and fragile. A precious thing to be protected.

Kronus poured through his mind for a word Arkon had once explained to him, a word that meant something was being used to represent another thing, even if there wasn’t a direct connection or correlation between the two things.

Meta…metaphor?

He shrugged off both the word and the feeling. Arkon was much better suited to such thoughts. Kronus had a purpose, the completion of which would directly affect Eva, which meant there was no time to ponder unimportant matters. His den needed to be prepared for her. He needed to be able to provide everything she wanted and required.

And he couldn’t determine what she’d require on his own.

After exiting his den, Kronus paused to glance seaward. The setting sun lit the water with a brilliant golden-orange glow, highlighted by shimmering sparks of white that contrasted the darker patches woven throughout. All of it was in constant motion, bound only by the distant horizon. The beach below the rise was peaceful and undisturbed; undoubtedly, the presence of razorbacks in the coastal waters was keeping the people who dwelled in the nearby houses from enjoying the beach where they so loved to swim and play.

Regardless, the scene was beautiful, and the sound of gentle waves against the shore was soothingly familiar to Kronus. He’d never stopped to appreciate beauty before. Instead, he’d voiced doubts about Arkon and Jax for their pursuits of it, whether through art or exploration, because that was not the kraken way.

And now, Kronus was going to ask Jax for help.

Because I finally found something beautiful. Something of my own.

He turned away from the sea and moved along the path that linked all the dwellings on the ridge. Jax and Macy lived in the next-to-last building of the row relative to Kronus’s den.

Some of the people from the nearby dwellings were outside; Kronus silently acknowledged their greetings as he passed them, grateful that most had given up on engaging him in conversation months ago. He harbored no ill will toward any of them — he simply had little to say and found what humans calledsmall talkto be tedious and largely without a point.

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