Chapter 17 Kara
IWATCHED HIM LEAVE, tracking every step he took out of my cottage and out of my life for good.
The second he disappeared from sight, I shut the door, and my legs gave out almost immediately.
I sank to the floor right there in the middle of the living room, surrounded by the remnants of what had almost been the end of everything.
My chest heaved as I tried to breathe. And then the tears hit.
“I’m—” I let out a broken laugh. “I’m free.”
The words felt surreal, like if I said them too loudly, something would come crashing back in to take them away again. A sob tore through me, and I pressed a hand to my mouth as everything collapsed all at once.
Years of fear, of being watched, of being controlled and trapped—it was all just... gone.
“Kara—”
Octavius was there in the next second, crouching in front of me, his hands coming to my arms gently, like he wasn’t sure how to touch me. “Are you alright?”
I nodded my head quickly, laughing through my tears. “I’m free,” I said again, because it was the only thing my mind could hold onto. “I can’t... I can’t believe it.”
Something in his expression softened as he took that in, and then he pulled me to my feet, his tentacles wrapping around me like he thought I might fall apart again if he didn’t hold me there.
“I’m not going to lie,” he admitted, a quiet breath of a laugh escaping him, “I was getting worried there for a minute.”
I pulled back just enough to look at him, my brows lifting slightly despite everything still rushing through me. “Why?” I teased softly. “Did you doubt me?”
“It wasn’t that I doubted you, I just didn’t trust him. And when you kept folding perfectly good hands—”
“See?” I cut in immediately, a grin breaking through my tears. “You do know what good hands are.”
He let out a laugh. “I suppose you did teach me something.”
“Yeah,” I sniffled, wiping at my face with the back of my hand, “I’m very impressive sometimes.”
“You’re impressive all the time,” he replied, reaching up to brush the remaining tears from my cheeks.
“Thank you for coming to my rescue,” I said, still a little breathless, “but what were you doing here so early? How did you even know something was wrong?”
“I didn’t,” he admitted. “But Mina did. She mentioned someone had come into town asking questions about you, and you know how she is.” He smirked.
Of course she did. The gossip queen of Crescent Cove.
I let out a small, breathless laugh. “Yeah... I do.”
“Plus, the other night at the sushi place, with that waitress... something just didn’t sit right.
Then a few days later, a mysterious stranger shows up asking questions in town?
I just knew something was off. And when I looked toward your cottage and saw someone heading up the trail, I knew something was wrong. ”
I stepped forward without thinking, wrapping my arms around him and holding him tighter than I meant to. “Thank you. Not just for getting here in time, but for trusting me to do this my way and still being there anyway.”
His arms came around me easily, one of his tentacles curling loosely along my back in that familiar way that always seemed to steady me.
“Of course. You’re not owned by anyone, Kara.
You can make your own choices.” His tone shifted slightly, that dry humor slipping back in. “Even if some of them are ridiculous.”
I blinked, pulling back just enough to look at him. “Excuse me?”
“Buying this cottage, for starters.”
I scoffed, giving his chest a light shove. “Hey, it’s in pretty good shape now.”
“Yeah, thanks to me.”
“Hey, I helped!” I protested, which only earned me a snort of laughter from him.
“Fine,” he conceded, a hint of a smile tugging at his mouth. “You helped a little.”
“I’ll take what I can get,” I shrugged, but even as I said it, the weight of everything that had just happened began to settle back in. My fingers instinctively lifted to the pearl at my throat, tracing its surface as Hugo’s words and Octavius’s earlier suspicions clicked into place.
The waitress.
She was the one who had tipped him off, and if she knew Hugo, then there was no doubt he had told her exactly what I was... or rather, what I wasn’t.
“Okay,” I said slowly, the earlier adrenaline beginning to fade. “I know I’m riding the victory high right now, but we still have a big problem.”
“What is it?” he asked, his expression suddenly hardening.
“That waitress. She knows I don’t belong here. And if she tells anyone else—”
“I already told you,” Octavius cut in. “I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. And if that means I have to bully the town council into letting you stay, then I will.”
A small giggle slipped out despite everything. “Thank you, but I don’t think that’s how it works.” I glanced around the cottage, then back at him as reality settled in again. “Technically, I can’t even be a citizen here, let alone own property in a town I don’t belong to.”
“You belong with me,” he said immediately. “And I’ll make sure they know that.”
“But would that even make a difference? Just because we’re dating? There has to be more to it than that.”
Octavius went silent. Not the tense, controlled silence I was used to, but something softer. Hesitant. Which, coming from him, was almost unsettling.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What?”
He glanced away for a brief moment, like he was deciding whether to say it, then let out a slow breath. “Well,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck in a way that felt strangely human for someone with eight extra limbs, “you’re right. There is a little more to it.”
Of course there was.
“There’s always more,” I muttered. “Tell me.”
His gaze flicked back to mine, and for the first time since I’d known him, I swore I saw something like shyness cross his features. “Mina wasn’t entirely wrong about those wedding invitations she’s been teasing us about.”
I blinked once, then again, the meaning of his words taking a second too long to settle before everything clicked into place. My entire body went still as I stared at him. “I can stay,” I said slowly, my voice catching up with the realization, “if I marry you?”
“Legally,” he clarified. “According to Crescent Cove’s laws, it would grant you citizenship.”
My heart started racing again, but this time for an entirely different reason. “Is this... is this a proposal?”
“Only on paper. We can still take things slow. It wouldn’t have to change anything between us, not unless we wanted it to.” He paused, his voice softening just a fraction. “It would just... protect you.”
Warmth flooded through me at his words, and before I could think twice, I launched myself at him, my arms wrapping around his neck as I kissed him. “I would love to marry you,” I said against his lips, pulling back just enough to look at him, “if that means I get to stay here and keep dating you.”
“Dating your husband,” he teased. “Something all women dream of.”
“I always dream of you,” I shot back, pulling him into another kiss before leaning back just enough to meet his eyes again. “And in terms of playing house to help keep up the ruse,” I added, my tone turning playful as I leaned in closer, “I’m already a homeowner.”
“Considering I helped build this home with you, I’d say we’re already presenting a strong case to the council.”
I gasped softly, feigning shock. “Are you saying you deserve partial credit for my hard work?”
“I’m saying,” he countered, “without me, this place would have collapsed on top of you.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, holding the look for a second before a smile broke through anyway. “Okay, fine,” I conceded. “You can have... thirty percent credit.”
“Thirty?”
“Thirty-five,” I amended generously.
He shook his head, though there was a faint smile tugging at his lips. “I’ll take it.”
I leaned into him again, my hands settling against his chest as I looked up at him, the reality of everything finally catching up to me in the best possible way. Free. Safe. And now... possibly engaged.
“To be clear, this is the least traditional proposal ever,” I teased. “Do I at least get a ring?”
“Kara...”
“I’m just saying,” I continued innocently, “if we need to convince the council, and if we’re really doing this...”
One of his tentacles curled lightly around my waist, pulling me just a fraction closer. “We’re doing this,” he said, his voice leaving no room for doubt. “So whatever ring you want, you’ll get.”
“Good,” I murmured. “Then I want a pear-cut diamond, set in white gold, with a thin band and just a hint of smaller stones along the sides. Dealers choice.”
He let out a quiet breath, something between amusement and disbelief. “So high maintenance,” he said, though his grip on me didn’t loosen. “But if that’s what you want, I’ll make it happen.”
“Then I agree to these terms,” I said with a soft smile. “As long as you agree to them too.”
“This was my idea. Of course I agree.” His lips brushed a gentle kiss against my forehead before he leaned in, his voice dropping to a small whisper at my ear. “Because I can’t imagine waking up in this town and you not being in it.”
“Then, if we’re both on the same page... yes, I agree to marry you.” I tilted my head, my tone turning just a little more playful. “But I want an early engagement present.”
“Anything,” he said without hesitation.
“You have to sample the dinner I made, especially for you.”
He paused, then gave me a flat look. “We’re not married yet, Kara. Poisoning me won’t get you a dime from my life insurance policy.”
We both laughed, and for a moment everything felt easy, like the chaos of the evening had never even happened.
“Fine, but if you won’t devour my food, I want you to devour something else.” I gave him a small wink, already watching the way his expression shifted.
“Presenting me with my favorite meal?” he smirked, something wicked creeping into his tone. “I think I can oblige.”