Page 14 of Hunter of the Tide

Rhea moved behind Randall, settling her hands on his waist and running a tentacle up and down his leg. His heart beat faster, and his skin tingled at her touch.

She leaned forward and pressed her cheek against his. “I have made my choice. Now, must I remind you again that these humans are under protection? I will not take kindly to you threatening them further. Nor will Dracchus, Jax, and Arkon.”

Behind Randall, the prixxir growled. Randall shifted his gaze to see Neo, eyes locked on Ikaros, approaching slowly.

“The prixxir is undermyprotection,” Randall said. “Don’t touch him.”

Neo glared at Randall. He cast one more look at the prixxir and moved toward Kronus, but not before spitting at Rhea’s tentacles.

Rhea flared red and lunged toward Neo, but Randall wrapped an arm around her. Her strength and momentum nearly dragged him off-balance, yet he somehow held on and brought her to a halt. He tugged her against him.

Kronus narrowed his eyes. “I am not sure which of you is the other’s keeper, but it is pathetic either way.”

“No one will want a slit contaminated by human seed,” Neo added.

The male kraken turned away and exited the mess hall, casting numerous scowling glares over their shoulders as they moved.

Rhea snarled and threw herself at the male kraken again, but Randall held her firm, gritting his teeth against the strain. His shoulder screamed in protest of the harsh treatment. He hoped she didn’t have any more strength in reserve, or he’d quickly lose the struggle.

When the males were out of sight, she finally settled, still save for her heavy breathing. Anger pulsed from her in waves.

Soon, her breathing steadied and her skin reverted to normal. Randall slowly eased his hold on her. He realized only then that one of his hands cupped her breast. It was small and firm, but yielded to his fingers, her nipple hard against his palm. Her scent wafted over him; crisp, salt-kissed wind and rain.

Desire flooded Randall, and his cock hardened. It took all his willpower to keep from squeezing her breast, from stroking her nipple, from turning her around to discover its taste with his tongue.

“It was my right to punish them,” Rhea said, though her voice held less command than usual.

“Punish them for what? Being dickheads?” Randall shook his head, trying — and failing — to ignore the new tone in her voice, the heat of her skin, the way her body felt against his. “They’re not worth the trouble.”

One of her tentacles ran up his leg as Ikaros chirruped behind him.

Randall released her abruptly and stepped back, ending the dangerous contact. He ran his tongue over suddenly dry lips. “Thanks for the assist, by the way. You’re the only reason they stopped.”

“Hmm,” was her only reply as she turned toward Ikaros. The prixxir stood near the folded tables in the corner. “Melaina, come.”

The little girl peeked out from behind one of the tables. She smiled at Randall before emerging fully from her hiding place, bending down to scoop Ikaros into her arms.

Rhea looked at Randall, her blue eyes bright. “We have come for the meal my male said he would provide us.”

Her words instilled in him a strange mixture of pride and shame; under different circumstances, he wouldn’t have simply cooked the food for them, he’d have been the one to hunt it, kill it, clean and butcher it. He would have truly provided for Rhea, Melaina, and Ikaros. Despite his inability to do so, she’d stood up for him, had leapt to his defense, hadchosenhim. Rhea had been openly hostile with some of her own people because of him.

That had to be more than curiosity. She actually wantedhim.

And I wanther.

But he had to prove himself worthy, first. Had to earn her.

Hewouldearn her.

Chapter 5

Rhea lazily stroked the bare skin of Randall’s ankle with a tentacle as she sat nestled between his legs. The steady thump of his heart pulsed through her back, and she leaned into it. She ran her fingers over the blanket spread on the floor beneath them and turned her attention toward her daughter.

Melaina was asleep on the bed with an arm curled around Ikaros. The gentle breaths of youngling and prixxir were the only sounds in the quiet room, accented by the occasional soft chirrup from Ikaros.

Today had been a good day. Awonderfulday, despite the earlier encounter with Kronus and his followers. Rhea had never felt so content in all her years, save in the moment of Melaina’s birth.

After eating the meal Randall had prepared, they’d explored the Facility, taking him to some of the rooms he hadn’t seen. Melaina had darted along the hallways with Ikaros in pursuit, filling the space with her joy and laughter.

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