The Kraken’s Queen (Grym Hollow #3)

44. Erin

A llarick’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 protect you , 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.

By the time Atina makes her way toward us, she’s out of breath. “Are you both okay?” she asks, inspecting our bodies for injuries.

“I should be the one asking. You are the two who did the brunt of the work. I didn’t do much.”

“You did plenty.” I’m surprised by the intensity of her voice and the hard set of her jaw. “Without your music, neither Allarick nor I would have had the clarity of mind to shut the gate. We wouldn’t be standing here right now because the Leviathan would have destroyed us and been let loose in the ocean.”

“Which would have given a huge advantage to the Nephilim,” Allarick says gently. “And all of our people would be dead. Your role in this was pivotal.”

The intensity of their stares makes me shift uncomfortably, but I can’t hide the smile on my face. I did something good. I helped protect my new home, and I get to keep the new family I’ve made here.

I throw my arms around both Allarick and Atina, squeezing them tightly. Allarick laughs and returns the hug, while Atina awkwardly pats my back, but accepts the group hug—at least for a total of ten seconds before she pushes us away.

“Well, this has been quite fun. But if someone doesn’t get me to the shore soon, I’m going to become everyone’s problem.” She glares, and I can see just how ready she is to leave.

“We can take her to the surface, right? Our people are up there, and we can tell them the good news. That we’ll be able to go home.” I squeeze Allarick’s arm, eager to see excitement and relief on the merpeople’s faces.

“So, what I’m hearing is that it’s time for a celebration? And no celebration is complete without copious amounts of alcohol.” Nori grins.

“After today’s events, I’m going to drink the bar dry,” Atina murmurs.

Nori tries to reach for Atina again, and this time, she slaps his tail with her own. While they are distracted, Allarick pulls me to his chest, rubbing his tentacle up and down my back. “We shall have our own celebration as soon as our people are safely home.”

“Oh yeah?” I grin. “Does this celebration involve clothes or no clothes?”

“Definitely no clothes.”

“My favorite type of celebration,” I hum.

I’m not sure if I’ll ever get used to Allarick kissing me, or ever lose the butterflies that fill my stomach each time our lips meet. I hope I don’t. To be truly loved is the sweetest thing in the world, something I would fight hundreds of Leviathan for. I’ve spent too long in the dark, thinking my happy ending would never come. But now that it’s here, I plan on holding it tightly and never letting go.

“Let’s go home, sweet girl,” Allarick says when we finally break apart.

Home. Our home.

Pulling Atina between us, hooking her arm through mine, we begin our ascent to the surface. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be.

And that’s a damn good feeling.