“I was just doing my duty.”
“I’ll escort you to her villa. You’ll need help,” Zoe offers, Sage nodding beside her.
“And I’ll keep her safe from the storm,” Drax adds, shifting his wings to cover her more. “I know how vulnerable humans are to the elements when they aren’t prepared.”
“Thank you,” I say as I scan the crowd, touched that coworkers and friends came to my aid after I sent the alert. “I appreciate each and every one of you.”
“We’ve got this.” Zero nods and takes a step alongside his sister. Even though I’ve known them for years, I can’t get over how similar they are, despite being opposite genders. They are the same height and have the same emerald-green skin and long black hair, but Zero has a slightly muscular body and Svea has more sleekness. Both totally different than their younger brother Eli, who is the softer orc from their family. “Don’t be concerned about us or the resort. Just look after her.”
“I’ll stop by in the morning,” Svea adds with a soft smile. “And send over some soup and an electrolyte drink for Rey to consume when she awakens.”
I nod my thanks and carefully pick up Rey, cradling her against my chest and securing her with one of my tentacles that I keep wrapped around her arm, encircling her body in a protective hold. The sensation of her warm, delicate body against mine stirs an unfamiliar feeling within me—a mix of concern, affection, and overwhelming possessiveness.
We move away from the beach, the terrain becoming a blur as I focus on keeping Rey safe and secure in my arms. Zoe and Sage lead the way, their forms moving swiftly through the resort’s walkways, the storm howling around us. Drax follows closely, his wing held high above us, acting as a shield against the merciless onslaught of rain and wind.
Moving through the resort during the storm is an eerie experience. The usually vibrant and bustling place now appears eerie, the storm transforming it into a realm of shadows and echoes. The trees sway dangerously, their leaves rustling against the roaring wind. Lightning illuminates the path ahead of us, followed by the ominous rumbling of thunder.
Holding Rey—my fated mate—in my arms feels surreal. Each beat of her heart against my chest stirs a rhythm within me, an intimate symphony that no one else can hear. I can feel her breath against my skin, a gentle reminder of her vulnerability. The primal need to protect her, to keep her safe, consumes me entirely.
“Sage,” I find myself saying, my voice barely above a whisper. “Does it… does it get better once we’ve become official?”
Sage chuckles and looks at Zoe. “Much better, Zethe,” he replies, his voice carrying a hint of teasing wisdom.
Zoe glances over her shoulder, her gaze meeting mine. “The rush of the connection, it’s addicting,” she shares, her eyes glinting with a kind of happiness I long to experience with Rey. It offers me hope. “She won’t be able to get you out of her head, filled with a desire to learn everything she can about you.”
Five
Rey
I’m falling. Deeper and deeper into an abyss, an ocean of darkness.
My limbs flail, my lungs burn with a desperate need for air. I kick and thrash, struggling to reach the surface, but it’s as if an invisible force is pulling me downward. No matter how hard I swim, the surface seems to recede, further and further away.
All I can see is the oceanic abyss, and the blinking red light of my bracelet is the only source of illumination, a tiny beacon in the vast void of my encroaching darkness.
With a sharp gasp, I snap awake, the echoes of my nightmare still reverberating in my mind, my heart pounding against my chest like a wild drum. My first instinct is to sit up, to breathe, but something heavy is coiled around my arm. My chest feels strangely heavy, as if an enormous weight is pressing down on me.
I blink, trying to make sense of my surroundings. It takes me a few seconds to recognize the luxurious sheets of my new villa bed, the faint scent of sea salt and tropical flowers filling the air.
A heavyweight wraps around my arms, and I stiffen, my heart pounding. But as I turn, in the dim light, I’m met with the sight of the large Kraken lifeguard—Zethe. He’s fast asleep, his chest rising and falling rhythmically.
I’m nestled within his tentacles, cocooned in a protective embrace. One of his tentacles is wrapped securely around my waist, holding me close to his side.
Despite the unfamiliar situation, fear doesn’t seize me. Instead, an unexpected sense of comfort washes over me. I’m not afraid, despite the surprising predicament I find myself in. Instead, I feel comforted… safe. A strong sense of belonging washes over me. As odd as it sounds, there’s a feeling of home, of belonging that surprises me, making my heart flutter in my chest.
I try to piece together what happened. The last thing I remember is going for a swim, feeling the cool water against my skin and enjoying being free from work.
And now… now I’m here, in the safety of my private villa, wrapped in the arms of a Kraken, and I can’t remember how I got here.
I glance at the sleeping Kraken lifeguard, at the tenderness in his features and the protective hold he has on me. Questions whirl around in my mind, but for now, in the silence of the morning, I feel at peace.
An inexplicable warmth bubbles up in my chest as I trace a finger over his sleeping face, my mind a whirl of questions and curiosity about what happened.
How did I end up here, in the safety of my bed, with this Kraken by my side?
Whatever it was, something deep within me tells me that I owe him my life…
Lying there, I study him in the dim light, and I marvel at him.
