Page 41 of Rising from the Depths

Hewantedthis. He was watchingfamily, a group of people who’d come together under less than ideal circumstances and forged bonds stronger than any kraken ever had before. They…loved each other, would fight and die for one another if necessary, would support each other without hesitation or fail.

What would it be like to have Eva as his mate, his mateforever, to share in this companionship and passion and joy? What would Eva look like with her belly rounded with his youngling?

“Now can we return to our den?” Dracchus asked.

“You are now free to have your wicked way with me,” Larkin smirked.

Kronus hadn’t realized just how quickly kraken could move on land until Dracchus sped off with Larkin. Dracchus had been searching for something while they were speaking of human females, and now Kronus understood what —who— he’d been looking for.

Anticipation burned in Kronus’s belly; though he still had many unanswered questions, he’d been given a starting point. The thought of exploring his female, of discovering herclitorisand every other spot she liked to be touched, was exhilarating. His blood heated; he wanted to please his female the best he could — no, evenbetter.

“Kronus?”

He shook off his thoughts abruptly and turned his head to see Macy standing nearby, wearing a patient smile.

“When is Eva supposed to join you?” she asked.

“The day after tomorrow.”

Macy nodded. “Let me know before you leave, and I’ll grab the basket of stuff I threw together before Larkin and Rhea showed up. I’ll bring more by your house tomorrow morning, and if you want, I can go with you into town and show you where to get anything else you need.”

Gratitude swelled in his chest, but the words to express it — those deceptively simple words —lodged in his throat. He swallowed thickly and forced them out.

“Thank you,” he said gruffly.

It suddenly felt like a weight had been lifted off him.

Chapter 13

Eva stood back as Kronus opened the door to his home —theirhome. Her arms and legs were sore after the trip from the clinic; it was by far the longest distance she’d walked since the attack, and she was grateful for her choice to take both crutches well before she’d reached the halfway point. Her prosthesis was amazing, and she was beyond happy with it, but her body needed time and practice to adjust.

She was essentially learning to walk all over again.

A pair of Kronus’s tentacles latched onto the inside of the doorframe, and he drew himself inside, twisting his torso to fit the basket containing her belongings through along with him. He hurriedly set the basket down and turned toward her.

Eva stepped closer to the threshold and paused. This was it. As soon as she entered, her old life was gone forever. Whatever waited for her beyond this point would be new, unknown, and…exciting.

Nervous, she met Kronus’s gaze. His brows were drawn, and there was a frown on his lips. What was he thinking?

If you would throw away your life, then I will claim it asmine.

She wasn’t entirely sure of what he’d meant by those words. Though they made her belly flutter in anticipation, she wasn’t quite ready to explore their depth or reflect upon their implications.

One step at a time.

Eva snickered. That phrase didn’t really simplify anything anymore, did it?

Planting the crutches on the ground just outside the doorway, she stepped through. But as she took her next step, the foot of her prosthesis caught on the threshold. She attempted to adjust her crutches to salvage her faltering balance, but the tip of one caught on the door jamb, and she teetered through the doorway.

Kronus was an orange blur, darting forward to catch her in his powerful arms before she hit the floor. She followed her immediate instinct and abandoned the crutches to throw her arms around him and anchor herself; they clattered loudly on either side of her as they fell.

He clutched her against him, one large hand spanning over the center of her back and the other over her backside. The familiar scent of land and sea enveloped her, and Eva closed her eyes to breathe him in, absently squeezing him a little tighter.

“I guess I need more practice,” she said.

“I think you have had enough for today,” he replied. His warm breath tickled the side of her neck.

“I agree.”

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