Is she sick?
Is it because she hasn't been eating?
Exhaustion?
Was it because she was attacked?
“Is it safe?” she asks.
I blink, forgetting what I was meant to be doing.
I nod.For now.
“Can you put me down?”
“Yes, but I do not want to.”
“Put me down,” Cindi orders.
“You’re—”
“Don’t you start with me being injured. Put me down right this second.” Cindi’s voice is infused with the confidence of a queen and the rage of a provoked shark. Her scent is the only thing giving away her fear.
I almost smile. I never want to see her show neck again.
Slowly, I lower her. I fight my instinct to pick her back up when she flinches when her feet touch the ground. The poultice has worked quickly to heal the worst of the wounds, but even slight discomfort is unacceptable.
Cindi stumbles away from me and carefully turns on the heel of her foot to survey her surroundings. I hold no pride over this island. It is both a source of shame and a place for a coward to seek comfort, a prison of riches and freedom.
Cliffs taller than the human buildings on the mainland surround the beach. It’s a mix of rock and forestry that homes insects and bats that are of no concern to kraken-kind. Much of the island is too steep for humans to climb, and more effort than it’s worth for me to attempt it a second time.
Ten minutes from where we are is an elevated, flat patch of land untouched by seawater. Other than our den, it’s the only part of the island I’ve made to be my own.
The breeze flows between the thinning leaves of the forest, dancing to the tune of the Goddess’ song and the tumbling waves against the shore. Mingled within the smell of saltwater and damp earth is my mate’s sweet scent.
Confident Cindi will be safe from any and all threats, I divert my attention to her, always keeping my suckers pulsing, alert to any changes in the atmosphere.
My hands fist at my sides as I watch her limp along the shore, searching for something between the thick trees at my back.
She wants to run, I realize belatedly.
It’s obvious from her fluttering pulse and jumpiness and the way she keeps flicking her gaze to me, as if calculating how quickly I’ll be able to catch her.
My throat tightens. Cindi is a female who has gone through many things I do not know about. The one thing I am certain of is that she is woefully unimpressed by me and anything I have to offer.
I follow her line of sight to the sprawling expanse of deep blue. “My people call this beachPantuAknora.”
I’ve closed any opening or tunnel hidden beneath the water. This beach is the only part of the island directly accessible from the sea. If a threat comes, it’ll be on this shore.
She raises her good hand to her brow line to block out the sun. Her tongue flicks out to wet her lips before she speaks. “What does it mean?”
“In your language, it translates to Mutant Shores.”
When she blinks up at me, I’m struck with the desire to learn how to stop time so I can stare at her forever. She doesn’t look like she hates me.
A little divot forms beneath her brows that I want to trace with the tip of my claws. “Why is it called that?” she asks.
I purse my lips. It’s best she doesn’t know what my people say about me. “Because there’s a monster living here.”
