Page 74 of Rising from the Depths

Breath ragged, Eva pressed her forehead to his and ran her hands up and down his back.

“I love you so much,” she rasped.

“And I you,” he replied.

Eva chuckled. “But really, we’re going to be late.”

Kronus buried his face against her neck, curling his fingers around her backside. “They can wait. I am not yet sated.”

Her breathy moans were all Kronus needed to hear as he ground his cock inside her.

* * *

Eva, Aymee, Macy, and Rhea all laughed as they watched Kronus stare down at Jace, who had moved beside him. The young boy crossed his arms, squared his shoulders, and pressed his lips into a tight line. Once he lowered his brows, the transformation was complete — he was a miniature version of Kronus, blue-gray rather than ochre.

“Why are the kids so drawn to the grumpy ones?” Aymee asked.

“Dracchus is anything but grumpy around them,” Larkin replied, snickering. “Oh, Jace has that scowl down pat!”

“It might have something to do with the toys Kronus has been giving them,” Macy said. “Sarina adores the krull he made.”

Rhea nodded. “Melaina was happy to receive the carving of Ikaros.”

“Look at the way Jace is watching Sarina now,” Larkin said.

Aymee and Macy groaned.

“What?” Larkin continued. “I think it’s sweet!”

“They’re too young!” Macy and Aymee replied in unison.

Eva grinned. She had to agree with Larkin. It was adorable how protective Jace was of Sarina. Whenever she was upset, he was the first one there, willing to do anything it took to make her smile again and glaring menacingly at anything or anyone responsible for hurting her.

It reminded her of Kronus.

She looked up to find Kronus’s eyes on her. Her grin softened, her cheeks warmed, and her heart fluttered. His golden gaze was hot and possessive as it trailed over her, reminding her of what they’d done before coming to Macy’s for the picnic. A lingering, phantom sensation of him, thick and hard, pulsed between her legs. Despite their recent couplings, she wanted him again and knew she always would.

Dracchus said something to Kronus, calling his attention away from her. Arkon, Randall, Jax, and Ikaros entertained the other children nearby. Delighted shrieks and laughter filled the air. Jax flopped to the sand, tentacles writhing as Eros pounced on him, growling ferociously. The larger kraken suddenly went limp, and Eros thrusts his arms victoriously into the air.

It was strange that only three months ago Eva had been ready to end her life. That she’d fallen so far it had been too painful to consider facing even one more day. That she’d losteverything.

But she’d gained so much since then.

Her hand fell to her rounded stomach, and her smile widened as she felt her baby moving within her, gently pressing against her palm.

She’d been gifted with a mate who selflessly remained by her side, who fought both for her and alongside her, who loved her as she was — no matter what she saw when she looked at herself. And now, they were having a baby. She couldn’t be happier.

She felt like shebelonged.

These women had opened their arms to Eva without question and had become her closest friends. She missed Addison, Hailey, and Samuel, and always would, but Aymee, Macy, Rhea, and Larkin had helped fill that void.

Blake still crossed her mind from time to time. Aymee said her father, Doctor Rhodes, spoke with Blake nearly every day to help him work through his issues. He seemed to be making progress, but he had a long road ahead of him. Though Eva was saddened by everything that had happened and wished she could help him, she hadn’t visited. She had a feeling her presence would do more harm than good until he was…stable.

“Are you going to tell him?” Macy asked.

Eva turned her head. Macy was looking at Rhea, who in turn was staring at Vasil. He was next to a few of the other kraken, silently watching Melaina as she chased Ikaros.

“I think he already knows,” Rhea replied.

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