Page 47 of Kiss for My Kraken
“Do you want to go to the island?”
She hesitated, then shook her head.
“No. I’m not going to let them destroy the life I’ve built here. I should get back to the tavern. Ozzie’s still there and Ben will be worried. I think I should tell him what’s going on.”
He nodded, reluctant to let her go but knowing she was right. Ben needed to be informed, as well as other people in the town. The more eyes watching out for these intruders, the better.
“I’ll follow and watch you from the river.”
She smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “I know you will.”
As she turned to go, his instinct for self-preservation, honed over years of hiding, urged him to retreat to the depths, to his island, to safety. Revealing himself was dangerous. Always had been.
But the alternative—Nina alone, vulnerable—was unthinkable.
He was willing to risk everything for her—his security, his solitude, even his life. The realization should have terrified him.Instead, it filled him with a strange sense of peace. As if he’d finally discovered what truly mattered.
He slipped beneath the surface, following the familiar path downstream towards the tavern, keeping pace with Nina as she walked. He waited long enough to watch her hurry inside, then nodded to himself. Good. Ben would look after her while he took care of something else.
He headed downstream to the River Cafe, studying the occupants on the outside deck. If necessary he would reveal himself completely, but fortunately he spotted the sheriff having a late lunch with his pretty redheaded mate. He slapped the water lightly and Eric immediately looked up, his werewolf hearing easily picking up the sound.
Eric murmured something to his mate, then strolled casually over to the railing that edged the deck.
“Sam,” he said quietly. “This can’t be good. You don’t usually show yourself at this hour.”
He rose higher in the water, enough to let his head emerge completely.
“Nina’s in danger,” he said simply, and Eric’s gaze immediately sharpened. “Ben’s new cook?”
He nodded, not surprised that Eric knew of her. It was a werewolf thing—keeping track of all inhabitants under their protection.
“What kind of threat?” Eric asked, bending closer.
Sam explained as concisely as he could, sharing what Nina had told him about Haven’s Grace, Elder Matthias, and JedediahThorne. Eric listened without interruption, though his posture grew increasingly tense.
“I saw them in the square today, andpolitelysuggested they move along.” Eric bared his formidable fangs. “They left, but if they’re the zealots you say they are, they may be back to get her.”
“They will regret it,” he promised, and Eric laughed without much humor.
“Yes, I suspect they will. Let me make some calls and get some backup. Some of my pack will keep an eye on things at the tavern.”
His shoulders relaxed slightly. He appreciated the sheriff’s immediate acceptance of the situation. No questions about whether Nina might be exaggerating, no suggestions that she return to face her accusers. Just immediate readiness to protect one of his own. The wolves would help keep her safe. They understood the importance of protecting those in their care.
Because that’s what Nina was now—one of Fairhaven’s own. And Fairhaven looked after its residents.
“They hate the Others,” he added. “They see us as demons.”
Eric bared his fangs again. “If they try to hurt one of us, they’ll get demons all right.”
“Good.”
He started to submerge, anxious to get back to Nina, but Eric held up his hand, studying him for a moment.
“She’s not just Ben’s new cook, is she?”
“No. She’s my mate.”
In spite of everything, pride filled him at the announcement.
