Rhea growled, muscles tensing. Randall gave her hand a squeeze. He hoped the gesture was enough to communicate with her — I’m here; we’re okay; we made it through this one.
“What is the meaning of this?” Kronus demanded. “Allow me to pass!”
“Do you have something to say on Volk’s behalf?” Dracchus asked. Though his tone remained even, his black skin lightened just enough to tinge red.
Kronus flicked a glance at Volk. “He was seeking to entice Rhea. She should mate one of our own kind, not a human. It is obvious that the human attacked, just as he attacked us in the Mess.”
Dracchus’s next move was made with such deliberate slowness that it was terrifying — despite his immense anger, his control was unbroken. He shifted his arm back, extending a clawed finger to point toward Rhea, and twisted his torso to allow Kronus a clear view of the female.
Kronus’s eyes widened, and several emotions swept over his features in rapid succession. Startlement, anger, fear. “You attacked one of our females?”
“Do you have anything else to say on his behalf?” Dracchus’s voice was low.
“He acted of his own accord,” Kronus grated, skin reddening, “and with great foolishness. But do you see what these humans have done? They have disgraced and tainted our home and will be the destruction of our kind if we allow this to continue. They are turning kraken against kraken, now.”
Despite the stomach-churning hatred dripping from Kronus’s words, Randall couldn’t help feeling guilty for his part in all of this. He’d intended to hunt kraken when he’d traveled to Macy and Aymee’s hometown. Had Cyrus won the confrontation in the submarine pen, the rangers would’ve continued searching for kraken, wouldn’t have stopped until these people were wiped out.
But that outcome had been avoided, at least for now. Were what-ifs acceptable justification for murder? Did Randall’s culpability in what might have been mean he didn’t deserve to live?
No.
“The only destruction I see,” said another kraken behind Kronus — Ector, one of the older kraken males, “is what you and your followers have wrought. These humans have done nothing except give our people hope.” He nodded toward Jax. “Hope that we may yet prosper.”
“They foul our bloodline!” Kronus said. “They have ever been our enemies and would destroy our kind if given the opportunity!”
“Are you forgetting that all of you are part human?” Aymee asked. “It’s in your DNA.”
“And each of the humans here has saved the life of a kraken,” Arkon added, looking to Aymee.
“You have had your say, Kronus,” Dracchus said. “Now Volk may have his.”
Jax finally eased his hold on Volk’s neck. The restrained kraken sagged slightly and sucked in a ragged breath.
“We will not remain idle while humans mate with our people,” Volk rasped. “We will not allow our enemies to dwell among us, and we will not allow our ways to falter.” He looked over his shoulder to glare at Randall; the blood flowing from his wounds had slowed significantly, but that only made them more pronounced.
Ikaros shifted in Randall’s hold and growled at Volk.
“Will anyone deny Volk’s treachery?” Dracchus asked.
Silence fell over the crowd.
Kronus’s features were strained, and he averted his eyes from Volk. It seemed even he couldn’t deny that — whatever the motivations — his follower had done wrong.
“Kronus!” Volk called, fighting Jax’s hold. “I didn’t attack her!”
“So, she scratched herself?” Aymee asked.
Volk’s skin went red, and he struggled harder. Jax tightened his arm around Volk’s neck. Within a few seconds, the struggles ceased.
“Ector, what would the punishment have been in your day?” Dracchus asked.
“For violence against a female, especially endangering a youngling? Death.”
Volk paled, and his short, labored breaths quickened.
“Our world is changing, and we must change with it,” Dracchus said. “Volk shall be exiled from our home, never to return. Should he show his face here again, it will be within the right of any kraken to end his life. Does anyone oppose my judgment?”
Once more, silence fell over the gathered kraken, allowing the sound of Randall’s heartbeat to fill his ears. He counted eleven thumps before Dracchus spoke again.
“It is thus settled.” Dracchus took Volk from Jax and forced him out of the room. The other kraken, Kronus included, moved out of his way and dispersed once he’d passed.
When only Aymee, Arkon, and Jax remained, Rhea slumped, releasing a shaky breath.
Randall hurriedly wrapped an arm around her waist and caught her weight; though he was able to keep her upright, she was far heavier than a human, and he wouldn’t be able to move her far on his own.
“Let’s get her to the infirmary,” Aymee said.
“Mother?” Melaina asked with wide eyes.
“She just needs some rest, kid.” Randall looked to Jax and Arkon. “Would you guys mind giving me a hand?”
Rhea cupped Randall’s cheek and turned his face toward her. “You are worth the fight, my hunter.”
Randall pressed his forehead to hers. She would have fought to the death to protect him, and he for her, and that knowledge hit him hard. “So are you.”
Chapter 9
Melaina’s laughter mixed with Rhea’s as they squirmed upon the bed, each struggling to catch her breath as Randall kept them pinned, assaulting them with his clawless fingers. Tickling was an intense feeling; forceful, overwhelming, almost painful, while at the same time eliciting a strange thrill. She could have broken his hold if she chose to, but hearing her daughter’s laughter — and her own — she’d allowed the torture to continue.
Ikaros chirruped, nimbly bounding between arms and tentacles.
“Stop! Stop!” Melaina cried, rolling from beneath Randall and dropping onto the floor, gasping and giggling. “Ikaros, to me! Protect me!”
The prixxir hopped off the bed and onto Melaina, turning so his waving tail brushed over her cheeks.
Randall stilled his hands. He grinned down at Rhea from his position above her, his thighs straddling her sides. His eyes dipped, and Rhea knew by the heat in them that his thoughts had taken a turn from playful to passionate.
Chest heaving, Rhea smiled. She ran the backs of her fingers down his bare arms and raised a pair of tentacles to caress his shoulders and back.
Randall cleared his throat and glanced over the side of the bed. “So, the traitorous prixxir is siding with you?”
“He will protect me!” Melaina replied. “He knows who feeds him extras.”
“Keep feeding him those extras and he’ll be too fat to protect anything.”
Rhea turned her face toward Melaina. “You best go to Macy for protection before Randall catches you again.”
Melaina’s eyes rounded as they shot up to Randall. “No! No more tickles!”
Randall extended an arm toward the youngling, waggling his fingers with exaggerated menace.
She shrieked, leaping up from the floor and quickly moving to the door. She pounded on the button and was out before it had fully opened. Ikaros remained where he was, head cocked, glancing from the open door to Randall.
“You, too! Go on,” Randall said.
Ikaros chirruped.
“I’m fine. Go look out for Melaina.” Reaching down, Randall patted the prixxir’s head and nudged the creature along. Ikaros brushed his cheek against Randall’s palm before scurrying off after Melaina, claws clicking on the floor. The door closed several seconds later.
A slow grin spread across Rhea’s lips as she ran an open hand down Randall’s chest.
He covered her hand with his own. “You know it excites me when you let me win.”
“The hunter has conquered his prey,” she said, her other hand slipping between their bodies to grasp his hard shaft through his clothing.
He laughed, though the sound ende
d in a lustful groan. “More like the hunter has become the prey.” He lowered his hands to her hips and slid them upward.
“Mmm.” Rhea closed her eyes and stroked his cock as his palms covered her breasts. She’d been surprised when she first learned that human males always extruded, hardening when aroused, but she found enjoyment in having access to Randall without having to coax his shaft free.
“You make it pretty difficult to keep my hands to myself,” Randall rasped.
“So keep them on me, human.” She opened her eyes to meet his gaze.
“Don’t have to tell me twice.” He leaned down, and his lips joined his hands in caressing her flesh, trailing heat across her chest and up her neck.
She arched into his touch. Desire flooded her, and she opened beneath him, slit parting. Releasing his shaft, she slipped her hands into his pants to grasp his backside.
“Now, Randall,” she commanded as he nipped her nipple with his flat teeth.
He shifted a hand to the waistband of his pants and shoved them down. Gripping his erection, he guided it to her sex. He groaned as he slid inside her, taking his time, but it was not what Rhea wanted. She needed to feel him; all of him. She needed him to lose control, to let him bring them both to rapture.
Squeezing his ass, she pulled him toward her, forcing him to thrust swift and deep. She moaned, clenching around him.
Randall braced his arms on either side of her head and cursed. “I won’t last long if you keep that up.”
Rhea chuckled, stroking her tentacles along his back and legs. “Slow later. Conquer your prey now.”
“Challenge accepted.” Randall grinned before pulling his hips back and slamming into her, sending a burst of pleasure through every part of her being.
Rhea rested upon Randall’s chest as he slept, her head tucked beneath his chin. His legs were spread to accommodate the rest of her, and her tentacles continued to lazily stroke over them, suction cups tasting the salt and sweat on his skin. She smiled, flattening her palm over his chest. His heart beat steadily within.
A single heart. A caring, wonderful, human heart, so strong and full that it easily equaled the three beating within her.
She couldn’t remember ever feeling so content. She had friends. She had a family. It was a new concept to the kraken, one she and many others were embracing.
Randall tightened his arms around her and released a long, loud exhalation.
Her hunter had awakened.
She tilted her head back and kissed his neck.
He hummed appreciatively, the sound vibrating through his chest and making her skin tingle. “Been awake long?” he asked, voice thick with sleep.
“No,” she replied. “You didn’t sleep long enough, human.”
“Maybe I wanted a fourth round.”
Rhea grinned, and she could already feel him hardening beneath her.
Randall inhaled deeply, chest swelling, and let the breath out slowly. “I want to join with you, Rhea.”
Chuckling, she propped herself up with arms braced on either side of him. “I would like slow, now,” she said, leaning forward to brush her lips across his. “Sensual.”
He laughed and shook his head, placing a hand on her cheek. “So would I, but that’s not what I meant.”
Her brow lowered in confusion. “I do not understand. You said you wish to join with me.”
“Yeah, but…” His tongue slipped out and ran over his lips. “So, you claimed me as your mate the way your people do, and we’re sharing a den. When my people talk about joining, it’s sort of like those things. It’s choosing a mate for the rest of your life. And I want that, with you. I want you and Melaina to be the biggest parts of the rest of my life.”
Rhea’s hearts stilled, and when they beat again, there was a tightness in her chest. She pressed a hand between her breasts as though that could take away the ache. Randall covered her hand with his own.
“Join with me, Rhea. Be mine,” he said.
She released a shaky breath and smiled. “Hunter, you were mine from the moment you arrived here.” She lowered her face to his. “And I was ever yours.”
Randall grinned and cupped the back of her head, bringing her mouth down. He kissed her deeply, holding her close, and when he withdrew his lips he met her gaze.
“Shall we join that fourth time, now?” she asked.
He laughed and flipped her onto her back. He held her gaze as he trailed his mouth down her body, hands skimming over her sides.
“What are you doing?” she asked as his lips neared her slit.
“Ensuring my mate is the best-loved female in the sea.”
Rhea gasped, and all thought fled her mind except the pleasure of Randall’s tongue. Her cries ensured everyone in the Facility knew just how well loved she was.
Author’s Note
We just wanted to shout out a huge thank you to everyone who helped support us and the fellow authors of the Pets in Space 3 Anthology, Embrace the Passion. We were able to donate $2,700 to Hero Dogs, a service which helps disabled veterans and first responders with trained dogs. It was such an amazing experience to be part of this project.
Below is a picture of our beloved Ikaros, sketched by Nyssa Juneau. Isn’t he adorable?
Thank you all again, and we hope you continue to enjoy our Kraken Series!
Also by Tiffany Roberts
THE KRAKEN
Treasure of the Abyss
Jewel of the Sea
Hunter of the Tide
Heart of the Deep
Rising from the Depths
Fallen from the Stars (Coming February 2019)
STANDALONE TITLES
Claimed by an Alien Warrior
Dustwalker
Ice Bound: Short Story
ISLE OF THE FORGOTTEN
Make Me Burn
Make Me Hunger
Make Me Whole
Make Me Yours
VALOS OF SONHADRA COLLABORATION
Tiffany Roberts - Undying
Tiffany Roberts - Unleashed
About the Author
Tiffany Roberts is the pseudonym for Tiffany and Robert Freund, a husband and wife writing duo. Tiffany was born and bred in Idaho, and Robert was a native of New York City before moving across the country to be with her. The two have always shared a passion for reading and writing, and it was their dream to combine their mighty powers to create the sorts of books they want to read. They write character driven sci-fi and fantasy romance, creating happily-ever-afters one monster or alien at a time.
Website:
https://authortiffanyroberts.wordpress.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTiffanyRoberts
BookBub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tiffany-roberts
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