Page 76 of The Kraken's Queen

Nothing.

No sound. No claws. Nothing.

Just sweet silence.

For a moment, no one moves, too stunned to do more than stare in disbelief. I’m first to remove the ear cancelers, and the others quickly follow.

“It is done,” Delmare voices our disbelief out loud.

Then everything happens at once. My men break out in triumphant whoops of joy, while Nori, Delmare, and I both ascend on Atina, attacking her with a forced hug. She hates it, but I can’t bring myself to care.

“You fuckers! Get off me,” she grunts and attempts to push us off her.

“Just fucking bear it.” Nori grins and squeezes her tighter.

“You came.” I’m still in a state of disbelief because my sister is here. In the ocean. Swimming right in front of me.

Finally, Atina pushes us all away and glares daggers at us. If looks could kill, we’d be sushi. “I couldn’t trust you idiots to get the job done,” she says, feigning nonchalance. I can tell how much this is affecting her though. I might not ever know her reasoning behind what she did, but I don’t need to know in order to be eternally grateful.

“Thank you, Sister. We owe you everything.”

“Start by acknowledging your wife. She’s the reason I’m here.” Atina lifts her head, motioning to something behind me. I turn just in time to see Erin swimming my way.

I don’t think. I just act and swim to my girl. My tentacles wrap around her lithe frame and pull her flush against my chest. “Allarick—” Before she can say more, my lips are on hers. I have a lot of making up to do, and I will.

But right now, I need to feel my wife against me.

Chapter 44

Erin

Allarick’s lips feel like coming home after a long time away. The kiss is desperate—disbelief, worry, love, and success all packaged into one. To say it’s overwhelming would be an understatement.

And yet I cling to Allarick, afraid we won’t have a moment like this again. We were so close to failing. So close to losing everything we created together and the possibility of a future.

I break the kiss. “Don’t ever push me away again. Anything we face, we face together. Don’t leave me because you think it’s the better option.” I have more to say, more I want to yell and demand he never do. I also want to kiss him and tangle my body around his until I can’t tell where I end and he begins.

But it isn’t the time nor the place.

To his benefit, Allarick grimaces, shoulders slumping. “Not my finest moment, sweet girl. I thought I was protecting you.”

“Sometimes I need to protectyou, Allarick.”

Allarick smiles, reaching to caress my cheek. I lean into his touch, needing to be reminded that he’s here and safe. “Thank you, Erin. You came even after I pushed you away. I love you, and I’ll forever be indebted to you.”

Those three words hit me like a tidal wave. Allarick loves me. It’s so damn good to hear out loud and gives me the confidence to say it to him. “I love you too, and I can think of a few ways you can pay me back.” I wink, leaning up to kiss him gently.

His low chuckle follows me as I push away from him, looking at the woman who made this moment possible. She seems so far away, but her eyes lock with mine.

“Atina.” I don’t think I've ever seen the woman look so small and utterly uncomfortable. “You came. You helped close the gate. Thank you.” My words don’t accurately convey my gratitude for her. “It took a tremendous amount of courage to come here.”

Atina laughs, though there is no humor behind it. “Do me a favor and never let there be a reason I’m down here again.”

“We will do our best.” Allarick smiles, coming up behind me. He places his arm around my shoulder, tucking me into his side. I’m not the only one who can’t keep my hands off, out of fear he’ll be ripped from me at any second.

Atina swims toward us with Nori glued to her side. Her movements are jerky and unnatural. When Nori reaches to steady her, Atina slaps his hands away. “I’m not an incompetent guppy,” she hisses.

Nori doesn’t try reaching for her again.

---