The Kraken’s Queen (Grym Hollow #3)

19. Allarick

Chapter 19

Allarick

I ’ve never been one to pay much attention to music. It’s not that we don’t have music; we have plenty of extremely talented musicians who frequently perform at social events. It’s not even that I don’t enjoy music. I do. But it’s a luxury I don’t often find myself indulging in.

Until now.

Erin’s lithe fingers run over the keys in a mesmerizing dance. I’m unfamiliar with the song, but that hardly matters. I’m captivated all the same. Erin’s eyes flutter between open and closed—something I’m not sure she knows she’s doing. Her body sways with each key she plays, hypnotizing me with every note and movement.

A sense of tranquility washes over me, quieting all other thoughts. I can’t remember a time when my thoughts have been this silent. Erin’s playing draws me to her. I fear nothing, other than being apart from her.

All too soon, the song comes to an end. I’m left feeling empty, until clapping from behind me pulls my attention away from Erin. Floating by the door is Delmare and a few other staff members. Delmare has the decency to look sheepish, but the mermaids with him do not. Boldly, they swim into the room, ignoring me as they approach Erin.

Ignoring a king is a punishable offense, but punishment is the last thing on my mind at the look of wonder the mermaids give my future queen. Pride swells my chests at how my people look at Erin.

“Apologies, my king, but we heard playing from down the hall and—” Delmare starts but is quickly interrupted by a young mermaid, new to staff and castle politics.

“My lady, that song was beautiful,” she gushes.

I’m tempted to correct her and have the mermaid refer to their queen properly. But she’s not technically their queen. At least not yet. That title will only come through marriage.

“I was in the middle of polishing dinnerware when I heard the most beautiful sound. I felt pulled to the source, almost like a siren song. Except this pull was so much stronger,” the young mermaid squeals excitedly. “You play beautifully, my lady.”

“You do. Quite beautifully. If magic had a sound, it would be your playing, my lady,” Iris, an older mermaid and Delmare’s wife, says. She’s usually a stickler for the rules and never barges into a room occupied by me without requesting access. I trust her the most out of all my staff, which is why I assigned her to attend to Erin. This intrusion is out of character for the seasoned maid .

Not even Delmare is able to ignore the music. The kraken prides himself on abiding by protocol and is always professional. But he’s drifting toward Erin as if being pulled by an invisible string. This whole interaction is…interesting. Unexpected, but not unappreciated.

“Can we hear one more, my queen?” Delmare asks.

“Oh, well…” Erin shifts uncomfortably in her seat. She’s smiling, and I sense her desire to play more for her new audience, but her self-doubt creeps in. She seeks me out amongst the group, and we lock eyes. I see the question she’s not asking.

Erin doesn’t need my permission to play. She can do as she pleases, but she does want my reassurance. I’m happy to give her just that for as long as she needs it. I nod, and her entire face brightens.

“Okay, I’ll play one of my favorites,” she says as the small group around her all find somewhere to watch her play. Iris swims over to Delmare, who wraps his tentacle around her waist, pulling her close. The two have been mated and married for years now, and still their love burns brightly. I’ve always envied him for that.

Erin starts to play again, and the feeling of peace consumes me once more. The feeling is almost tangible, like silky seaweed wrapping around my body. This song is slower than the one before but just as beautiful. It ends as quickly as her first song, but, at the request from the young mermaid, Erin starts another.

She plays and plays and plays without tiring. More people have wandered in, and soon the large room is nearly filled with my castle staff, all in varying states of amazement. Guards station themselves outside the doors, but they also peer in to listen to Erin. She doesn’t even realize how many people she’s attracted to her music until the end of her seventh song, when she picks her gaze up from the piano to look around the room.

Her posture changes, tensing and curling in on herself almost as if she wants to make herself appear smaller. Her eyes widen as she takes in every person in the room. Someone behind me starts to clap, and many more join in until the entire room is thunderous with applause, all praising her songs. Erin’s cheeks redden, but she timidly thanks those closest to her. I quickly foresee a problem when more and more people surround my future queen. She’s a guppy in a sea of sharks, eyes darting around for a swift exit.

I rise from my seat, swimming above the others. “My betrothed must rest. If she wishes, she’ll play for you another time. Leave us, please,” my voice booms around the room, and all chatter ceases.

Disappointed gazes meet my own, but no one tries to defy me. Each person bows in my direction, and, to my surprise, Erin’s direction as well, before they leave.

“Delmare,” I call for my guard before he makes it out the door.

Delmare whispers something to Iris that has her smiling before swimming away. “Yes, my king?”

“See to it we aren’t disturbed.”

“Yes, my king. I’ll stand guard.” Delmare turns and swims out, shutting the door behind him.

With him stationed outside, I don’t worry we will be interrupted again. Finally, I’m alone with Erin.

Erin still looks like a cornered guppy, and I fear the crowd may have been too much for her. I swim closer, hoping to provide comfort. “Erin, I’m sorry. That was?—”

“Amazing,” she finishes. Now that we’re alone, she stands taller, her body vibrating with excitement. “Allarick, that was amazing. Those people came to listen. To me ! Can you believe that? I haven’t played in front of an audience in so long, I forgot the rush that it brings you. I can’t believe I just did that.”

Erin flings herself into me and wraps her arms around my neck. My body stiffens, but only for a fraction of a second before my arms come around her waist and pull her tightly against my chest. I haven’t held Erin like this before, her curves flush against my body. Holding her like this, I know I risk causing her distress, but I still can’t bring myself to let her go.

She smells of honey. Of salt and the sea. My head drops, nuzzling close to her neck. A soft whimper leaves her mouth as my lips brush her skin. I don’t dare kiss her, though everything in me wants to do exactly that.

How easy would it be to give in to my carnal needs? To elicit more of those pleasurable sounds and have them turn into sultry moans? I want to see Erin writhing for me, begging me to touch her. Perhaps these are thoughts from a kraken who hasn’t lain with a woman in some time, but I don’t believe that to be true.

I don’t want any other woman.

I want Erin.

The pull has been there since the moment I saw her broken and bruised in Ender’s arms. Even then, I knew she was special. The time I’ve spent with her only confirms what I already knew to be true. Erin believes herself to be weak, but she’s wrong. I see her strength. It’s quiet and sometimes fragile, but strength doesn’t have to be loud or unbreakable to be valid.

Sometimes the mightiest are the smallest.

“Erin…” My voice comes out raspier than I intend. My sweet girl stiffens in my arms, and I’m doused with reality. Erin’s mind and body appear in battle with each other. Perhaps she wants me just as much as I want her, but she’s shackled by her past. James stole her innocence and twisted her until he broke every piece of her body and soul.

You don’t simply walk away from something like that so easily, no matter how strong you are. It takes time and energy. I believe Erin has the capability to heal from her past, but I’m also not so naive to think the short time with me has changed her. I’m not that arrogant of a man.

With great reluctance, I release my hold from around her, drawing back. Erin doesn’t pull away at first. Instead, we stand chest to chest, her arms still around my neck as she looks up at me.

“Thank you,” she says.

I watch her pouty lips, wanting to reach out and rub my thumb across them. Through the grace of our goddess, I somehow find the strength to refrain. “For what, sweet girl?”

“For letting me play. For being patient with me. For accepting me as your future wife when you probably expected someone a lot braver and less broken than me.” Her cheeks redden at the last point.

Does she truly believe she’s not brave? Still?

“Erin, don’t speak of my future wife like that. Because, as far as I’m concerned, you are the bravest person I know. You’ve looked true evil and darkness in the eyes and didn’t let it destroy you, even if that would have been the easier option. You saved yourself time and time again, all the while agreeing to take on a husband and a kingdom you knew nothing about. If that isn’t bravery, then I don’t know what is. I have seen men crack under the same stress you’ve had to live with most of your life.”

Erin’s lips part in silent surprise, like she can’t quite believe my words. I watch as she opens and closes her mouth multiple times, words eluding her. Then, she leans up and presses her lips to my cheek. It’s soft and perfect. Not enough, but everything at the same time.

Her lips linger, only for a minute before she pulls away, this time out of my grasp. A cheeky smile crosses her lips before she swims away. “Do you want a private show, King Allarick?” she asks as she swims over to the harp this time.

I definitely want a private show. One that involves less clothing, but this will do for now. “I’d be honored, my queen.”

And for the next hour, I watch and listen to Erin as she gets lost in the music.