Page 69 of The Kraken's Queen

Sad. Lonely. Pathetic.

“So, I’m here waiting to see if my husband comes back. If not…” I cut myself off. Stubborn tears roll down my cheeks, and I quickly wipe them away. The last thing I want to do is cry in front of these women. I’m the acting ruler of Tetria and the merpeople who inhabit it; I can’t show weakness to these other Grym Hollow women. No, not just women.Queens.They both signed contracts with The Guardian to become wives to their respective kings.

“Must be a requirement for Mescos kings to be so damn stubborn,” Hettie says. “It’s like they forgot the whole reason they brought us here is to help them save their kingdom.”

“Do you know where he’s going, Erin?” Rose asks. I didn’t tell her my name, so Atina must have filled them in about me. Or they heard my name around Grym Hollow…which I hope isn’t the case.

I shake my head. “He’s trying to seal the gate that’s holding the Leviathan. But I don’t know where it is.” I only saw the place marked on a map I couldn’t read. Even if I could, there’s no way I can navigate the sea without Allarick. The only person who knows the sea better than Allarick is…

Atina.

Something akin to hope flickers to life.

But it instantly extinguishes because, even if Atina could get me there, there’s nothing I could do to help him. The door must be sealed by his bloodline. I would only be a distraction.

“There’s nothing I can do to help him,” I say at last.

Hettie and Rose share a look, and I can’t help but feel left out. There’s a friendship between them—one I envy.

“There actually might be,” Rose says at last. “Have you or Allarick noticed anything you do that seems…magical?”

I nearly scoff and tell her absolutely not, but that’s not the truth. The evidence is sitting right in front of me in the form of a beautiful pearlescent harp.

“Yeah, actually,” I say slowly. “I’m a musician. I’m used to moving people with my music, but the way my songs capture the merpeople is…different. I’ve had a few of them say it’s cured their headaches, and it brings peace to many. It also blocks out the song of the Leviathan when nothing else will.”

And Allarick is going straight to the source. Without his best chance at success.

The lingering sadness I’ve felt since being forced apart from Allarick is quickly replaced with anger.

How dare he.

How dare he leave himself defenseless, knowing I could help.

He was wrong. Tetria doesn’t need me. Tetria needsus.

“I believe it,” Rose says. “Which is why I don’t think leaving you behind was a smart move.”

“Ditto. I’m all for defying your husband and doing exactly what they say not to do.” Hettie grins. From outside, someone growls again.

If I had looked past my sadness and stopped my own pity party, I would have come to the same conclusion Hettie and Rose are getting at. Or maybe I wouldn’t have. Maybe I needed two women who have gone through the same ordeal that I’m currently going through to tell me that seeing Allarick is possible. That helping him is possible if I defy his orders.

“I need to get to my husband,” I say at last, looking between Hettie and Rose. These two women know better than anyone what it means to stand against your husband and fight for your chance at love.

Hettie smirks. “I like you, Erin. Now, let’s get you to your ship.”

Chapter 40

Erin

“These are your husbands?” My mouth falls open as I stare at the man and the damn dragon waiting outside Atina’s cabin door. The man stands well over six feet and takes up the entire doorframe. He’s shirtless, every chiseled muscle on full display. If I had never seen Allarick and every hard muscle on my husband’s body, the man standing before me would overwhelm me with his hotness.

Hettie walks straight up to the man. Their size difference is almost laughable, but Hettie struts right up to the giant man and yanks his head down. She kisses him in a way that makes me blush and think I’m intruding on something I really shouldn’t be seeing. Loneliness settles within me, making me think of Allarick and how I want to kiss him as soon as I can.

And then yell at him for leaving me behind.

Rose is more subtle in greeting her husband—the dragon. She goes over to the massive black reptile and touches his snout. The dragon huffs and nuzzles into hertouch, reminding me of a dog greeting their owner after a long day. You know, if dogs were giant and deadly.

“Yes, unfortunately these are our husbands,” Hettie says, still wrapped up in her man’s arms. He huffs, but she just laughs and breaks away from him. “This is Rip, and that large lizard over there is Malix.”

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