Chapter 32
The silence after Spencer admitted he was a Kraken had lasted exactly four seconds.
Then Binky had screamed, not shouted, not exclaimed he had screamed, “A THIRD ONE?!”
Bas had immediately fallen off the back of the sofa again.
Jessica stared at Spencer like she was reconsidering every life choice that had brought her to this exact moment.
And Maeve, well she looked delighted. “Oh this is excellent,” she breathed.
Spencer, meanwhile, was beginning to understand why Edith looked permanently exhausted around these people.
“Right,” Arietta said suddenly, clapping her hands once. “Take him to the Gate.”
Spencer frowned slightly. “The what now?”
Nobody answered him. Which also turned out to be a recurring problem in Krakens Hole.
Twenty minutes later, Spencer found himself deep beneath the Hollow, following the witches through ancient caverns glowing softly with magic. The deeper they went, the stronger he felt it.
The pull of the sea. The ancient pressure of something old and alive woven through the stone itself. His Kraken instincts stirred hard enough to ache.
Gods, he had missed this. He hadn’t realised how much until now.
The cavern opened suddenly. And Spencer stopped dead. Merlin’s Gate.
The underground sea stretched endlessly through the cavern, glowing blue-green beneath the stone ceiling while ancient magic pulsed softly through the waters like a heartbeat.
Massive crystals lined the walls, casting shifting light across the cavern. At the centre stood a statue. Huge. Weathered by salt and time. A Kraken. Spencer stared at it instinctively.
Power radiated from the carved stone, even now. “Maximus,” Dave said quietly beside him. “My brother.”
Spencer turned. The male leaning casually near the water’s edge grinned. Dave.
Kraken.
And beside him, Brutas, the older brother out of the two. Ancient strength practically radiating from him in steady waves. The guardian regarded Spencer carefully. And he straightened instinctively.
Brutas nodded once, slow and deliberate “Another one,” he rumbled.
Something deep inside Spencer reacted immediately to the sound. Instinct recognising instinct and home recognising home.
“It’s been a while since one wandered in,” Dave added lightly.
Spencer looked back toward the glowing waters. “You live here?”
Brutas snorted softly. “We protect here.”
Different thing entirely, and Spencer understood immediately.
Maeve plopped herself dramatically into one of the cavern chairs nearby.
“So,” she announced brightly, “before we allow you to join our dramatic ocean rescue mission, we have questions.”
Spencer sighed internally, of course they did. Jessica crossed her arms. “What exactly are your intentions toward Edith?”
Direct and blunt, terrifyingly similar to a protective older sister interrogating a date. Spencer rubbed a hand across his jaw slowly. The honest answer lodged immediately in his chest. He looked toward the water briefly before speaking.
“I think…” he started slowly, “she’s my mate.”
Silence.
Then Dave nodded instantly. “Yep.”
Brutas grunted in agreement. “Thought so.”
Spencer blinked. “That’s it?”
Dave shrugged. “Krakens know.”
It was as simple as that. No drama and no questioning. Just a certainty.
Something tight in Spencer’s chest loosened painfully at the easy acceptance. Because he did know. Had known almost from the beginning, if he was being brutally honest with himself.
The pull toward her. The instinct to protect. The way his entire body reacted every time she looked at him.
Mate.
Gods. No wonder he’d been losing his mind. Jessica looked at him carefully for a long moment. Then sighed. “Well,” she muttered, “at least one bounty hunter in this mess has decent taste.”
Maeve grinned wickedly. “If you bring her home,” she announced, “then you can stay too.”
Spencer looked sharply toward her. Maeve shrugged.
“Assuming Edith agrees,” Arietta added quickly.
“Very important part,” Isabeau nodded.
Spencer stared at them briefly. These people barely knew him and yet the offer sat there openly.
Stay and belong. His throat tightened unexpectedly.
Brutas stepped closer to the water. “She’s ours now,” the guardian said simply. “Anyone who protects her stands with us.” The words hit deep, almost ancient and binding.
Spencer nodded once slowly. “I’ll bring her back.” Not a promise. A certainty.
The sea beneath Merlin’s Gate pulsed in response and Dave grinned.
“Right then,” he said brightly. “Time for the fun part.”
Spencer frowned slightly. “The fun part?”
Maeve immediately perked up. “Oh this bit’s great.”
Spencer looked around suspiciously. “Why are all of you smiling like that?”
Nobody answered, which was concerning.
Brutas simply jerked his head toward the water. “Shift.”
Ah. Right. Spencer cleared his throat slightly.
“You’re all going to need to turn around.”
Silence. Then Dave burst out laughing.
Maeve nearly fell off her chair. Even Brutas made a suspicious sound that might have been amusement.
“You’re shy,” Isabeau gasped.
“I’m practical.”
“You’re modest!”
“I don’t know you people!”
Dave wiped tears from his eyes. “Oh Gods, Edith really did find the most emotionally constipated Kraken possible.”
Spencer glared at him. Brutas finally sighed heavily and turned toward the cavern wall.
“Humans,” the guardian muttered.
“We’re literally not human,” Dave pointed out.
“Close enough.” The witches turned around eventually, still laughing.
Spencer ignored them with dignity. Mostly.
Quickly stripping off his coat and boots, Spencer stepped toward the glowing waters of Merlin’s Gate.
The pull intensified instantly. Calling him home and calling him deeper.
He hadn’t shifted fully in years. It had been too dangerous and far too obvious.
But here, beneath the Hollow, within the Gate, protected by ancient magic and guardians and sea, it felt safe.
For the first time in a very long time. Spencer stepped into the water and let go.
Magic surged instantly in response. A cacophony of violence and beauty. His bones shifted and skin rippled as power exploded outward beneath his skin, and finally, his body expanded rapidly into its true form. Tentacles unfurled through glowing water and the relief nearly broke him apart.
His Kraken form surged fully beneath the Gate, his enormous body moving instinctively through the underground sea as magic crackled around him. Gods, he had missed this. Missed himself.
Beside him, two more massive forms slipped into the water. Brutas and Dave.
The guardians moved effortlessly through Merlin’s Gate, ancient and powerful beside him.
One silver. One dark as midnight depths.
Brutas rumbled low beneath the water.
Come.
And together…
The three Krakens vanished beneath the glowing waters of Merlin’s Gate. Heading for open sea.
Heading for Edith.