Page 75 of Rising from the Depths

“Does Melaina know?” Aymee asked.

“She suspects.” The female kraken’s tentacles curled, and she frowned. “I have been waiting for him to approach, to ask, but he has not.”

“He will,” Macy said, “when he is ready.”

“Mommy!” Sarina called, racing toward Macy. “Can we eat? I’m hungry.”

“You’re always hungry,” Macy said, laughing. “You need to stop growing so fast!”

Larkin cupped her hands around her mouth. “Okay everyone! Let’s eat!”

The children cheered in excitement, and Eva waited until the crowd had passed before searching out Kronus. Her gaze found his, and once again, her heart sped up as she beheld her male. She moved toward him, and he opened his arms to her. She stepped into them without hesitation, brushing her lips against his.

“I find myself hungry for something a little more…particular,” Eva purred, slipping a hand between their bodies. She ran a finger teasingly along his slit.

With a soft groan, he caught her wrist and glanced toward the others over his shoulder. One of his tentacles slipped under her skirt to caress her ankle. “Ihavehad my fill of socializing,” he said before returning his gaze to her. “But you need to eat. For you and our youngling.”

“I trust my male will feed me well,” Eva said, grinning, “after.”

“Eva?” Aymee called. “You guys coming?”

Kronus scowled, and before Eva could react, he stooped down and swept her into his arms, lifting her off her feet. She laughed, looping her arm over his shoulder and around his neck as he turned and started toward their house.

“Tired of sharing you,” he muttered.

“We’ll be back!” Eva yelled with a grin.

“For real?” Larkin shouted at them. “We’re at apicnic!”

“Oh, don’t act like you and Dracchus never sneak off,” Macy said, laughing.

Eva chuckled and turned her face to Kronus. She traced a finger over his bottom lip, struck again by a wave of contentment.

“Thank you for dragging me up from the darkness,” she said.

He paused, leaning toward her to press his lips to hers. “Thank you for guiding me home.”

Epilogue

Vasil eased back against the driftwood log and watched as Randall sipped at his drink.

“You sure you don’t want any?” Randall asked, raising the mug toward Vasil. It was not the first time he’d asked and wasn’t likely to be the last, but he was never pushy, never forceful.

Vasil shook his head, and Randall withdrew the offered mug. The kraken shifted his gaze, sweeping it across the softly crackling fire, past the pale sand, and to the dark ocean waters. The sea’s surface sparkled with the reflections of countless stars in the night sky overhead, reminding Vasil of the tiny, glowing orbs of halorium which sometimes rode the underwater currents. The waves rolled in one after another, their angry foam diminishing on the sand until they had no choice but to retreat and allow their fellows to continue the unrelenting assault.

Everyone else had already gone home, some carrying tired younglings; a long afternoon playing on the beach had worn out the little ones and their parents alike. Those who’d lingered after sunset had been males. Jax, Arkon, and Dracchus had eventually returned to their mates. Kronus, surprisingly, had remained a bit longer, seeming to enjoy the quiet, but he’d finally gone back to his Eva.

Why had Vasil stayed behind? Though he enjoyed company, he’d never been much of a talker. What did he have to gain here? Tomorrow would be another early morning at the docks. He needed rest.

He moved his gaze back to Randall.

Vasil knew why he’d lingered. Did Randall have a sense of it, too? Was that why he’d hung around while most everyone else left, sipping his drink as though he’d intended it to last until dawn? For a long while, Vasil had harbored suspicions, had observed things that made him wonder, but he’d never spoken any of it aloud. That wasn’t the kraken way, which had suited him well enough in the past.

Yet all that had changed; he’d watched kraken society alter and shift over the last few years. The only thing that had kept him quiet was his desire not to cause trouble.

“Vasil, listen,” Randall said, frowning down at his cup. “Rhea and I had something we wanted to talk to you about…”

Brow furrowed, Vasil tilted his head. “Was it that Melaina is my offspring?” he asked.

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