Page 2 of Hunter of the Tide

But she ismydaughter.

“There could be hunters out there, searching for kraken to capture,” Rhea said, softening her voice. “What would happen if they found you? You cannot keep doing this, Melaina.”

“There are many dangers in the sea,” Dracchus added, “and if we do not know where you are, we cannot protect you.”

Somehow, Melaina shrank further at the male’s gentle admonishment.

Dracchus pressed the button on the wall and the interior door opened. They exited the chamber, entering a long corridor. “I will tell the others that the youngling is safe.”

Once Dracchus had turned down another hallway, Rhea turned to her daughter, who stood beside her with head bowed.

Sighing, Rhea lowered herself, easing her tentacles and curling them up at her sides. She brushed the backs of her fingers over Melaina’s cheek. “What did you find?”

Melaina raised her head, face lighting up. She placed her container on the floor. Before she could open the lid, something thumped inside, scooting the whole thing a hand span over the floor.

Rhea tensed. “What was that?”

“I’ll show you,” Melaina said, removing the lid.

Rhea leaned over to look inside.

A small, scaled creature stared back at her with large, dark eyes. Its paddle-like tail swished restlessly in the water filling the container, and the whiskers protruding from its snout twitched. The creature lay on the bottom with its rear legs folded beneath it, displaying puncture wounds on its hindquarters — likely the bite of a predator. Lifting a front leg, the creature extended its paw toward Rhea, stretching the webbing between its toes.

“A prixxir?” Rhea asked, looking back to Melaina. “It is a youngling.”

“He’s hurt,” Melaina said. “I couldn’t just leave it.”

Melaina reached for the creature, but Rhea caught her wrist before her fingers entered the container.

“It might bite, Melaina.”

Before the youngling could reply, voices from farther down the hall drew Rhea’s attention away. A group of females rounded a corner and approached.

“Melaina!” Thana, at the front of the group, hurried over with relief in her eyes. “Dracchus just told us you were back. I am so glad to see you safe.”

Another female, Aja, lowered herself beside Melaina. The prixxir moved suddenly, splashing water onto the floor, and Aja flinched back.

“What is that?” she demanded, eyes wide.

“A prixxir,” Melaina said. “He’s hurt.”

Thana leaned forward to look into the container. “And what are you doing with it, little one?”

“I want to help it.”

Rhea lowered her brow and tilted her head. “But you do not know how to care for the creature.”

Melaina looked down at the prixxir, crestfallen. “I could try.”

Pounding footsteps echoed along the corridor. Rhea turned toward the sound as Randall ran into the corridor from one of the intersecting halls. He skidded to an abrupt halt beneath the stares of the gathered females.

Rhea trailed her gaze over him. His cheeks and jaw were covered with a light growth of hair, and the hair atop his head was tousled. The dark blue material of his jumpsuit clung to his muscular form, hinting at the body beneath. Heat suffused her, and she gritted her teeth against a sudden wave of desire. She’d seen him without coverings when he was first brought to the Facility, and that only made her long to see him bare again. It took considerable effort to keep her skin from changing color when all she wanted to do was signal her interest to mate with him.

His bright blue eyes met hers.

He stood with his arms spread slightly to the sides, undoubtedly to make it clear that he wasn’t reaching for the holstered gun on his belt. Several kraken had voiced their discomfort with Randall carrying such weaponry, but Dracchus had insisted Randall be equipped to defend himself should the need arise.

Aja spun to face Randall and growled. “What do you want, human?”

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