Page 25 of Hunter of the Tide

Randall turned back to the fight, and his heart skipped a beat.

The battling kraken had tumbled off the bed. Volk was poised over Rhea, hands wrapped around her neck and tentacles restraining her limbs. Her thrashing seemed unable to break his hold. Crimson trickled from numerous cuts and scratches on her skin; Volk sported at least twice as many wounds, including a bullet hole on his lower back — an exit wound.

He was going to kill her.

“You betray us all by choosing our enemies over your own kind!” Volk said.

Rhea snarled and renewed her struggles.

Randall rounded the bed and pressed the barrel of the pistol to the base of Volk’s skull. The kraken stiffened.

“Get the fuck off her,” Randall commanded. “Now.”

The male kraken didn’t move, but Randall felt the intention, felt the unseen coiling of Volk’s muscles.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Randall said. “You’re fast. But I guarantee you’re not faster than my trigger finger. Not in this situation.”

“You are not worthy of her. You are weak. You are filth.”

“And you’re dumber than a krull in heat, but I didn’t hold that against you. What she deems worthy isn’t your business, whether you can see past your prejudices or not.”

Volk growled just as the door opened. Jax and Arkon rushed inside, hesitating for only an instant before they moved into action. Within a few seconds, they’d separated Volk from Rhea, and Jax forced Volk onto the floor face-down, restraining him with arms and tentacles.

“Find Dracchus,” Jax said to Arkon.

Arkon nodded and turned backed toward the exit, coming to an abrupt halt. Macy and Aymee stood just outside the doorway.

“We told you to remain within the room!” Arkon said.

“Are they okay?” Macy asked, peering past the kraken. “Rhea? Melaina?”

Rhea rose, eyes narrowed on Volk, lips pulled back in distaste. “I am well,” she replied without looking away from the male.

“Stay back,” Arkon said to Macy and Aymee. He pressed a button beside the door, activating a holoscreen, and flitted through several options. After a few moments, the alarms turned off and the lights reverted to normal.

“Security alert in Cabins Hall C, room six has been cleared,” the computer declared cheerfully. “Please resume your normal duties.”

With a final frown for Aymee and Macy, Arkon left.

“Go back to Sarina, Macy,” Jax said, “and lock the door.”

Macy hesitated, gaze shifting to Rhea and Randall before settling on Jax. “Be careful.”

Jax nodded to her, and for an instant, Randall saw worry flicker over the kraken’s features.

She disappeared into the hallway.

Randall closed the remaining distance between himself and Rhea, pistol dangling in one hand; Jax’s prowess wasn’t enough to convince Randall to put his weapon down. His chest throbbed, his throat burned, and the shallowest of breaths caused a sharp ache, but his only concern was for Rhea. Her skin had returned to its normal gray, making her numerous cuts and the crimson splattered over her stand out even more.

“Are you really okay?” he asked.

She shook her hands, flicking blood from her claws. “I will heal.”

Randall curled a finger beneath her chin and turned her face toward him. “You’re sure?”

Her eyes finally met his, and some of their heat dissipated. “I will heal, Randall,” she said again, but softer this time. She reached for him, but pulled back with a frown when she saw the blood on her hands.

“What about you, Randall?” Aymee asked from the doorway, features drawn in concern.

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