Page 62 of Krammin’ With A Kraken

I doubted Ezric even saw my fist coming. It connected with his face with enough force to send Ezric flying back against the closed door. The dishes in the cabinet rattled, and a picture frame hanging in the entryway crashed to the ground.

“I’m proud of you, De.” Ezric used his thumb to swipe the blood from his busted lip. “I didn’t think you had a violent bone in your body.”

I ran a trembling hand through my hair. Ezric’s sharp gaze studied my hand, probably believing it was a sign of weakness. Little did the slayer know it was taking every ounce of self-control I possessed to keep my powers tightly leashed so I didn’t light him up like the Fourth of July.

“Get your stuff and leave. You have thirty minutes,” I snarled, moving away from the entryway and into the living room.

“You can’t be serious.” Ezric stormed after me. “Does she have you whipped already? She’s a kraken! Do you understand what that means?”

“What Seta is, or is not, is none of your business.” I ground my teeth together, teetering on the edge of losing control.

Ezric collapsed into the chair across from me, shock etched across his features. “You’ve been my friend for years and you know better than anyone the pain my family has put me through. Which means you know exactly why a kraken on campus is my business. You know what this will mean for me!”

It was my turn to be shocked. “You can’t be serious. The only monsters in this whole situation are your parents.”

“Maybe they are right, Deus. Maybe there is no other way to truly be ready to be a slayer until you’ve faced down a literal nightmare.” Ezric held out his hands, pleading with me to understand.

Icy horror seeped through my bones. I’d always wanted to see the best in Ezric, and I’d never judged him by the actions of his family. But I was seeing my childhood best friend in a different light, and it wasn’t an attractive look.

“I’d suspected Seta wasn’t a mer for a while, and I almost proved it today with an advanced spell. It would have worked if it hadn’t been for that cuff she was wearing. She’s using it to keep her form hidden.” Ezric pressed his fingers to the swollen side of his face. “A kraken has been under my nose this whole time.”

"If she was a kraken and they are truly the monsters your family claims them to be, then why hasn’t she slaughtered half the campus? You’re judging her unfairly.” I pointed out, my tone dripping with disgust.

Ezric snorted and lifted a shoulder in a dismissive shrug. “There are ways around that. Like today inSpellcaster’s.It looked like I spilled a drink and then she lost it and attacked me. If she’d shifted to her true form when attacking me, I would have had every right to defend myself. A kraken is a beast. They aren’t like us.”

“Get out. Now.” I rose to my feet, every hair on my body lifting as electricity hummed in the air. “And if you ever think of laying a finger on Seta, or any other paranormal species whether they are protected or not, know that I will come for you with the full weight of my power behind me.”

“Are you serious right now?” Ezric leaped to his feet. “Is she so good in bed that you’d threaten me? I’m a slayer. You don’t want me as an enemy, Amadeus.”

I focused on my breathing, trying to ground my lightning even as the building shook from the thunderous crashes outside. Ezric should have realized the danger he was in, but he ignored it and stepped forward until we were nearly nose to nose.

“What makes her so special, Deus? Don’t tell me you have a tentacle kink.” Ezric’s lip curled in disgust. “Every female on campus would happily throw herself on your cock, but you want to defile yourself by screwing a monster?”

How dare he turn something beautiful I shared with Seta into something vile? I’d seen the fear and trepidation in her face at the lake after her shift. She’d expected me to be grossed out, or terrified, of her body.

The fact that she thought those would be normal reactions broke my heart. She was beautiful, regardless of her form, and I hated that history had taught krakens that they wouldn’t be accepted.

Not to mention that night at the lake with her tentacles touching and exploring every part of my body… while her tight walls sucked my cock as though she was simultaneously giving me a blowjob… it had been the most intoxicating experience of my life. And one I prayed I’d get to experience again.

My fists never touched Ezric.

They didn’t have to.

Lightning leaped from my body and surged into his. I’d heard being tazed was a painful experience, but this looked far worse. Ezric’s muscles seized and his eyes rolled back into his skull. The acrid scent of smoke filled the dorm, causing me to cough.

Reigning in my powers, I watched Ezric’s body collapse to the ground. With my heightened senses, I could still pick up the steady sound of his heartbeat. I hadn’t killed him. Which was good. I guess.

Grabbing his legs, I dragged him out of the dorm and into the hallway. Returning inside, I packed his duffle bag with all his stuff and tossed it onto his unconscious body in the hall.

Task finished, I headed inside and locked the door.

I wanted to rush to Seta’s side and beg her for another chance. It was time I told her about my suspicions that she was my mate, even if it should be impossible. I wanted to hold her and soothe my soul with the knowledge she was safe.

Her sorrow was pulling at my soul, even from across campus.

But my legs gave out, and I sagged to the floor.

The confrontation with Ezric had taken its toll on my body. Restraining the wild power of lightning was dangerous. Just as it could torch a tree or person, keeping it trapped inside caused it to burn through my energy reserves.

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