Page 30 of Get Kraken

The creature stopped clapping its huge snout at her. Now it approached her with deathly, black eyes.

It looked almost like a crocodile. Or an alligator. She had no idea what the difference was, but she knew this creature was not native to Scotland.

It took her a minute to realize what it was. The heavy flippers and wet fur gave it away.

It was a bunyip.

It was big. She’d never seen one in real life before. Had heard shifters of this variety did not exist.

But here it was. The sound of the ocean waves got her mind thinking again, as she realized that in just a few moments, the creature had managed to push her back to the water.

No. No, she couldn’t let it do this to her.

Olivia was part of the AILE, goddamnit, and she was going to act like it.

“What did you do with Chase?”

She forced herself to not look back at where Mike lay. This creature would only use her distraction to its advantage.

“Who are you? What do you want?”

The water was up to her knees before that twisted body stopped. That long, wide mouth somehow pulled back into a tense smile.

Olivia’s heart pounded. Then it stopped.

“I want...you...”

It talked. It was talking to her in this shape.

Shifters weren’t supposed to be able to do that. How was it doing that?

Think.Don’t panic. She had to keep her wits about her and not get distracted.

Keeping calm and thinking about her situation, looking for any distraction, any way out could save her life.

Chase and Mike taught her that.

She wasn’t sure if either of them were alive right now, but if they weren’t, she was going to make sure she got this fucker back for it.

“You want me. All right, you got me.”

That crocodile head tilted slightly to the side. It had long, floppy ears, like a dog’s. They rose up slightly, as though it hadn’t quite understood what she’d said.

“You got me,” she said, forcing a smile. She lifted her arms and chopped them down, as though presenting herself as a prize.

“I mean, all you had to do was ask.”

Olivia backed into the water on her own this time. She kept smiling at the creature, inviting it to join her.

It did, though it followed cautiously.

All she had to do was get to the point where the water covered her waist. If she was quick enough, she could get her bikini bottom off and—

“Stop.”

The bunyip barked the word at her, forcing her to stop.

“What? What’s wrong?”

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