Page 30 of Hooking Captain Teeth

I’ll never carry eggs! My first day as a wife, and I’m eaten by—

A navy blue tentacle, the width of my waist, flashes before my eyes. It wraps around the tiger shark and squeezes. The animal bursts into a shower of blood, guts, and fins. Lemon sharks abandon their examination of my tiny wounds for a better scent. They descend upon the floating guts in a feeding frenzy. Larger lemon sharks, dissatisfied by the size of the tiger shark bites, hunt their brethren. Are those new blood clouds from snapped lemon sharks or further leakage from the tiger shark?

A pair of giant blue tentacles wrap around my waist and haul me backward. I hit Teeth’s chest with a thud. His arms cross over my clavicle as he hugs me against him. Warmth surrounds me in a loving embrace. With a torrent of bubbles, we sail through the water.

“Tell me where to swim,” he orders. The authority in his voice, laced with the thrill of his rescue, sends shivers through my body. “I’m not so stupidas to remain in blood-stained water, but I’m more lost than a nun in a brothel. Bloody ocean looks the same no matter which way I face.”

“To deeper water,” I reply, pointing to the south. “Stay as close to the sandy bottom as you can with your—”

“Impressively massive, monster tentacles,” he interrupts with joy and pride coating his words. “Don’t worry, my lady, I’ll keep you safe.”

“I believe you,” I whisper, and shockingly, I do. My vicious pirate nuzzles my neck like he did on land, and I’m reminded he’s fought to survive most of his life. He rose to Captain without the brains for the job. His battle skills and charisma won the votes.

A shark frenzy isn’t the worst threat in the ocean, but this one nearly overwhelmed me. Panic is what kills most Kraken…that and humans. Teeth must learn about fishing nets and hooks trolling through the water. Yes, he bested those sharks by assessing the threat correctly. But does he know that smiling dolphins are ten times more vicious? How will he react to an orca who is his size? Instead of terrified, I’m excited by everything I get to teach him.

We will be okay.

I snuggle into his arms until we reach the center of the Caribbean Sea. The journey that takes me half a day Teeth swims in a few hours—whilst holding me, and against a building current. His tentaclesdance beneath us in an unorthodox pattern. I can’t wait to experience the rush of soaring through the water when he learns to swim properly. Wait…what about when he learns to use his siphon to propel us?

Wow…my mate is…wow.

“Let’s rest on the flat rock,” I say, pointing to a plateau surrounded by deep blue water. He must be tired. He’s using limbs he didn’t own when he awoke. Yes, the rock is in the open, but watching for predators is key until Teeth learns his tentacles.

He barrel rolls us to the rock in a flurry of bubbles. I can’t help the squeal that escapes my lips. Rocks and coral grow at an alarming rate as we approach the bottom of the sea. His answering chuckle as we settle is music to my ears. How can Teeth be cheerful and playful? I forgot how infectious his bright moods can be.

“We’re lying in Davey Jones’s Locker without dying,” he says between belly-quaking laughter. “Kinda worrisome considering how many men I’ve sent here…or threatened to send here.”

“What are you expecting? A hoard of disgruntled dead pirates?”

“Exactly,” he replies, hair tickling my body as his nod waves it around. “We say dead men tell no tales, but I think that rule changes when youjoin them at the bottom of the Caribbean Sea.”

“I’ve lived my entire life down here and never seen a pirate,” I say, stifling my own laughter. “I think you’re safe.”

The warm rock on my back is a comfort after the narrow escape from danger. Our tentacles tangle as they drape over the end of the rock. Tucked against his side, I sigh with contentment. His bicep is more supportive than the firmest feather pillow. The other arm across my ribs hasn’t let go since we fled the sharks.

I’m safe in his care.

“So, we got the learning about sharks lesson out of the way,” he says with a lop-sided smirk. “What do Kraken do for fun?”

“Harass ships,” I say with a laugh. He tugs his beard as he contemplates all the pranks he could pull on a ship…but let’s see how many he recognizes. “My hobbies are stealing anchors, bending rudders, snipping Jacob’s ladders from boat hulls, stealing fish off hooks, and wreaking havoc on bathing day.”

“You little minx,” he growls before pouncing on me. His fingers tickle my gills as he bites my throat with teasing nips. I’m laughing too hard for us to kiss properly, so we bang our teeth as he plunders my mouth. “Your revenge on me messed with me hearties for years, didn’t it?”

“I admit nothing,” I reply with wide, innocenteyes.

“Everything I learn about you makes me love you more.”

“You love me?”

“Of course,” he says, reclining on the rock. I don’t know what to say. He’s so casual. I’ve waited years for him to love me as I loved him at first sight. This is more special because he wasn’t born with a soulbond waiting to be fulfilled. He chose to be mine.

“I love you too…and not just for completing the soulbond…and choosing for us to live as Krakens.” He deserves to know the truth—I would choose his adventurous heart without the soulbond.

“I was growing tired of the sweet trade. Chub called it ennui.”

“I don’t know what that is.” He takes my hand, lacing our fingers together to mirror the loose tangles of our tentacles.

“It’s a sickness caused by loneliness and boredom,” he says with a sigh. “You saved me. I was alone on a boat filled with family.”

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