Page 13 of Hunter of the Tide

Kronus crossed his arms over his chest. “We have borne witness to this attack.”

“You’ve witnessed a second warning,” Randall said. “If I’d attacked, his brains would be splattered on the floor behind him. I’ll say this one more time: if you have business with me, I’m willing to talk, but you’re going to back the hell up first.”

The brown kraken lunged forward. Time seemed to slow as Randall raised his pistol. He wished he hadn’t experienced moments like this so often over the last few months, wished that he wasn’t staring his own death in the eyes once again, especially now that he’d found a new reason to live.

A tentacle wrapped around the kraken’s throat from behind. His upper body pivoted backwards, at odds with the forward momentum of his lower half, and then he was swung around and shoved away from the entrance, sprawling onto his back.

Rhea imposed herself in the doorway with her back turned to Randall. Her skin was a vibrant red, and her face was in profile as she glared at Kronus and the other kraken.

Tentacles writhing, the brown kraken flipped himself onto his front, pushed up on his hands, and bared his teeth at Rhea.

“You have defied myself and Dracchus again,” she said.

“Your pet human attacked without provocation,” Kronus growled.

“Krullshit,” Randall said. “I gave you clear boundaries, and you chose to cross them. Can’t blame me for your inability to follow simple instructions.”

Rhea turned her head toward the brown kraken, who was lifting himself off the floor. “Is this true, Neo?”

Neo rubbed his throat before pointing toward the doorway. “We are not restricted from entering a room!”

Rhea stared at Neo. “What need have you to enter this room? Were you intending to cook your next meal?” She looked between the three of them. “I see no food.”

“The humans have begun corrupting our females, as well,” Neo spat. “Beware, Rhea. Your slit will not protect you from retribution now that you have chosen to betray our people along with the others.”

Rhea narrowed her eyes and advanced toward Neo. “You dare speak to me so?”

Neo’s brows fell, and his jaw muscles bulged. He was larger and undoubtedly stronger than Rhea, but kraken society valued the females — precious few in number — over the males. When it came to her, his threats were all bluster, and he knew it.

Randall shifted his pistol, training it on the other two kraken through the window; his fascination with the confrontation couldn’t be allowed to hinder his awareness.

The male beside Kronus moved forward slowly, inserting himself between Neo and Rhea. His tan skin turned yellow as he bowed his head.

“Apologies, Rhea,” he said. “We were curious about what the human was doing. Neo wanted to look closer, but the human threw a knife at him.” He raised his head and shifted closer to Rhea, brushing the back of his fingers down her arm. The yellow of his skin gave way to maroon. “I would make a good protector for you and Melaina. My den is empty, and I will gladly share it with you.”

Rhea’s skin reverted to its usual gray.

The nuances of kraken social interaction were mysterious to Randall; he didn’t understand how the conversation had taken such a sudden, unexpected turn. But he did understand the twisting, forceful weight in his gut, and the fire in his chest. This wasn’t about the implication that he’d make a poor mate, though that stung on its own. No, this was about someone attempting to take Rhea. To seduce her.

“She already claimed her male,” Randall said, approaching the doorway, “and it sure as hell isn’t you.”

The male in front of Rhea laughed. “You are not strong enough to protect this female and her youngling.” His hands settled on Rhea’s hips. “You cannot please a female, and you cannot even dance as we do. You areweak.” Two of his front tentacles lifted to brush along Rhea’s.

“Maybe not.” Randall stepped through the doorway into the mess hall, aiming the pistol at the kraken in front of Rhea. “But she claimed me anyway. And I’m a damned good shot, if nothing else. Keep your hands on my female if you want to find out just how good.”

The male growled.

Kronus moved forward. “You cannot claim our females!”

“You might not have noticed, but we humans do things a little differently.”

The nearness of the male kraken should’ve been terrifying, but adrenaline pumped through Randall’s veins, fueled by his anger. He’d been given no choice other than to stay in this place, and he was tired of walking on eggshells, tired of being treated like an inferior creature, of being looked at like some disgusting insect. If the kraken understood strength, he’d show it to them in the only ways he could.

“Rhea?” asked the male holding her.

Rhea grinned, her blue eyes bright with mirth and pride. “You heard the same words as I, Volk. The human belongs to me, and he has claimed me in turn.”

Volk’s skin flashed red, then violet before he abruptly released her and backed away. He clenched his jaw and fisted his hands at his sides.

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