Page 62 of Rising from the Depths

Eva’s eyes shot open, and her entire body jolted when a hard cock, restrained by clothing, ground against her backside. There was a deep, throaty groan from behind her.

“Fuck, Eva. I missed you so much,” Blake said, brushing his lips against the back of her ear and trailing them down her neck.

“What the fuck!” Eva screeched, kicking her leg and reaching for the edge of the bed to pull herself away from him.

Blake grabbed her, yanked her closer, and rolled her onto her back. He loomed over her, a dark shadow in the night, and captured her wrists in his hands, securing them on the bed beside her head. Eva thrashed beneath him.

“Stop it, Eva! Quit fighting me!”

“Let go of me!” she screamed.

“Shh! Be quiet! I don’t want anyone—”

Blake’s word cut off in a pained grunt as her thigh connected with his groin. His hands loosened, allowing her to escape. She pulled herself out from beneath him and crawled across the bed toward her crutches. She reached forward. Her fingertips brushed the cool wood of her crutches when Blake’s hands fell on her hips, pulling her back.

The crutches clattered to the floor.

“Damnit, Eva! Why are you doing this?” Blake growled, picking her up. “Why are you fighting us?”

“Let go! Leave me alone!” she yelled, shoving against him.

“Eva, stop! Damnit, stop fighting me! I can’t let you keep fucking that monster. You’remywife!”

Eva pulled back her fist and struck him. She felt the scrape of his teeth against her knuckles as he flinched, reflexively dropping her.

She wasn’t expecting it. She fell, striking her head first on the corner of the bed, then the floor. Pain exploded within her skull, and a wave of dizziness hit her. The floor was cold against her cheek. She tried to lift her head, but it was too heavy. Whimpering, she stretched her arms and curled her fingers, seeking purchase to drag herself away.

“Fuck!” Blake snapped, stomping his foot. He growled, then released a frustrated yell. “Damnit, Eva, why did you have to fight me?” His footsteps neared until he stood right next to her. Sighing, he slipped his hands beneath her, lifted her body off the floor, and cradled her against his chest.

Eva’s stomach lurched, and black spots swam before her eyes. Her head hurt so much…

“Let’s take you home,” Blake said softly.

“No… I’m—”

“Shh,” he soothed, caressing her face, his finger pausing when it met something wet on her cheek. “I’ll take care of you this time, Eva.”

No. No! I want… I want Kronus!

But she couldn’t give voice to her pleas; her eyes drifted shut as darkness claimed her.

Chapter 18

Kronus watched the razorback glide through the water below, shafts of evening sunlight creating wavering patterns across its spiny back. The pair of harpoons jutting from the creature’s side had not been fired today; they were reminders of what had happened near the dock four weeks ago.

This was the razorback that had escaped.

He adjusted his hold on his spear, shifting its haft to run along the outside of his harpoon gun’s barrel. It wasn’t an ideal arrangement, but the spear was too large to hold in his tentacles as he swam without impeding his movement. He flicked his gaze ahead. Dracchus swam in the lead, the spearhead of their hunting party. He was flanked by Randall and Larkin, both dressed in sleek diving suits from the Facility. Vasil, Kronus, and Brexes formed the middle row — Kronus in the center — with Charos and Mareus immediately behind. Jax swam at the rear, the diamond point immediately opposite Dracchus.

Kronus’s hearts thumped. Razorbacks were dangerous beasts, but it was not fear that sped his hearts. He could not deny the thrill of being on a hunt again, the thrill of swimming alongside his people — human and kraken alike. Locating the other razorback that had attacked Eva and her friends was an unexpected but welcome bonus.

And still, he found he would rather have remained with Eva. The pride of providing for and protecting his people was great, but it could not compare to the joys he shared with his mate, could not compare to the happiness he’d finally tasted.

This is for her as much as for anyone else.

The reminder strengthened his resolve; a mate meant the gaining of new responsibilities, not the abandonment of old ones. These hunts for razorback would mean food, but, more importantly, they would make the coastal waters safer foreveryone.

He split his attention between the razorback and Dracchus, awaiting the latter’s signal. The water teemed with countless schools of fish, which often swam between the hunters and their intended prey, obscuring the most direct lines of attack. That the razorback was not feasting on the abundant sea life was telling; the migration had brought so many fish to these waters that even razorbacks, normally ravenous beasts, could easily eat their fill.

---