Page 2 of Lover from the Waves

Eros’s brow wrinkled. “Hey…that story’s about my mom!”

“Your mommy fought a giant sea monster?” asked Megan.

Sarina nodded. “She even has a scar on her leg where it bit her.”

The younglings erupted into enthusiastic chatter, and Ector couldn’t help laughing again. These children played together freely, seemingly oblivious to the differences between them—or perhaps they were aware but indifferent. Either way, they served as an example to the adults of their respective species. Coexistence and cooperation were both possible and beneficial to everyone.

If only the few individuals of either species who still viewed this new society with mistrust could learn from these younglings.

“All right, little ones,” Ector called over the din of conversation, “I believe Randall and Dracchus are nearly ready to begin the land and sea relay. You had best head over to him if you wish to participate.”

The children climbed onto feet and tentacles and scurried across the sand, charging toward Randall, Dracchus, and the group of adults and younglings that had formed around them. Seeing them all laughing together warmed Ector’s hearts and made his chest swell with pride. This new unity, this new joy, had become one of his favorite things about living in The Watch these last two years.

He let his gaze wander across the beach. There were dozens of people here today, humans and kraken together. Many adults were still sitting at the tables where everyone had shared in a huge meal less than an hour ago, and many more were scattered nearby, laughing, talking, and playing games alongside younglings like it was the most natural thing in the world. A few short years ago, Ector could never have imagined anything like this.

“The size of the dock, huh?” asked a familiar voice.

Ector turned his head to find Macy approaching him, a warm, amused smile on her lips, and her youngest daughter, little Amelia, in her arms.

“That thing gets bigger every time you tell the story,” she said. “Next time, it’ll be big enough to have swallowed the whole Facility in one gulp.”

Chuckling, Ector shook his head. “That will take at least two or three more retellings, dear Macy. Such embellishment is a gradual process.”

She laughed, and the sound coaxed a wide smile from Amelia, who stared up at her mother with wide green eyes like Macy was her entire world.

“I’m not a hero,” Macy said. “I just did what I thought was right.”

“Exactly. And everything you did—and Jax, Arkon, Aymee, all of you—brought us to here and now. Brought us to peace and prosperity. You deserve praise for all you have done.”

Macy’s cheeks reddened. “Like you said…it wasn’t only me. You were part of it, too.”

“A very small part, perhaps.”

Farther down the beach, Randall called out instructions to the many younglings who’d gathered to participate in the race—including Sarina and Eros, the older two of Macy’s younglings. Her mate, Jax, was there as well, making lines in the sand with his tentacles to help everyone assume their positions. The race would take place on land and sea in several phases, working from the youngest children up to full grown adults, alternating between kraken and humans.

“Do not let me keep you, Macy,” Ector said. “They will be racing soon. I have been told Sarina is the favorite in her grouping.”

“Yes, to Jace’s annoyance,” Macy said with a chuckle. “He always wants to be teamed up with her. It’s adorable how disgruntled he gets when he doesn’t have her full attention. He’s very protective of her.” She tilted her head. “You’re going to come watch, aren’t you?”

“I would not miss it. But I will catch up shortly.” He rolled his shoulders. “I fear I require a bit of time to…catch my breath after story time.”

Macy offered him a bright smile. “Okay. See you soon, Ector.”

Giggling, Amelia waved a chubby little hand at Ector as Macy carried her away. Ector raised his own hand and wiggled his webbed fingers in response. He watched them go for a few seconds before he dragged himself toward the water, stopping only when the surf flowed, cool and refreshing, around his tentacles.

Ector filled his lungs with the sweet, briny air and stared out across the waves. The sun would set in a few hours, casting everything in brilliant reds and oranges as it sank, but for now its bright rays gleamed on the water’s surface like countless sparkling stars. For some reason, a saying drifted through his thoughts—reclaimed by the sea. That was what his people said of the dead.

He frowned. Was anything as vast, beautiful, and ravenous as the ocean? According to Arkon, the sea, in its insatiable hunger, was even slowly devouring this beach, stripping it away a few grains of sand at a time.

“You do not have me yet,” Ector muttered.

This change of demeanor was out of place after the fun and delight of a couple minutes before, but he thought he understood it—such introspective, sometimes grim moods had become increasingly common for him as of late.

Turning away from the sea, he looked at the people who’d come together today in celebration, at kraken and humans embracing both each other and a tradition that had existed in The Watch for many generations—Dryfall, which marked the end of the stormy season.

All the people gathered here had become neighbors, friends,familyin the three years since the kraken first came to The Watch to make peace—and it was beyond the scope of even Ector’s wildest imaginings. Living alongside humans went against everything his people had believed for hundreds of years. But the good that had come from it was apparent; the kraken were connected, happy, and thriving like never before.

This situation had been shaped by a group of males who were half Ector’s age, males Ector had taught while they were younglings. And it was those younger males who would lead the kraken into a bright new future.

---