Alien Kraken’s Prize (Starlight Brides)

Chapter 10

CHAPTER

TEN

brIDGET

“We have to leave,” Borumor says, his head barely out of the water.

“Huh?” I blink, rubbing my very empty tummy. Then, “Harry!” I screech, my tentacle friend humping his way to me.

“I’ve been deposed.”

“Deposed?” I echo, still confused. Elated, though, as Harry squirms himself around my ankle.

“Yes, the fishfolk have decided they’ve tired of my rule. So, where do you want to go? If you will still have me, I will accompany you?—”

“You mean I don’t have to stay in this tank?” I race into the water, throwing my arms around his neck and kissing him. “Let’s get the heck out of here.”

“You’re not mad? You don’t want to be queen?”

“I need air,” I tell him. “I want to see and feel real sunlight for once.” A thought occurs to me, and I beam at him. “I know just where we can go, too. We’ll just tell them we’re a package deal.”

Borumor presses his mouth against my temple. “I like the sound of that.”

A red cap emerges next to him, two jet black eyes slowly broaching the surface.

“We’re going,” Borumor tells them. “Ready?” he asks me.

I nod, not caring where we’re going, not exactly, as long as I get out from under this water. It’s driving me absolutely batty to know the ocean surface is up there, pressing down on me wherever I am down here.

Borumor doesn’t waste any time, launching us both—and Harry—into the water with incredible force. I keep my eyes closed the whole time, and thankfully our trip doesn’t take long.

“Air,” I croak, relieved as hell to see water lapping at a metal hull. It’s surprisingly familiar, the lights inside it artificial as can be, and it even smells like the space station I left behind.

I never thought I’d miss the metallic tinge of recycled air.

Borumor uses his tentacles to pull us both aboard the ship, and a pair of massive red squids launch box after box onto the ship’s access ramp.

I blink, the light so bright after having my eyes closed during our ascent to the surface, relishing the warmth of the air. I’m wet all over, and I finally peer into the ship, curious about what kind of space travel an alien like Borumor uses. Is the entire interior of the ship wet, too?

I’m tired of being wet.

And it’s not even the fun kind of wet.

Plus, I’m still on my period, and that’s plenty going on in my downtown lady parts for me at the moment.

“Here,” Borumor mutters, and presses his hand against the wall of the ship. “We need to get into space.”

The entire inside of the ship pulses with a pale lavender color that makes my jaw drop. It’s stunning, easily the most beautiful place I’ve ever been.

And it’s not underwater.

I inhale again, never so grateful in my life to be out of the ocean.

Well, seeing as how I’ve never been in the ocean until now, it’s also the first time I’ve been grateful to be out of it.

Harry scooches down my body, inch-worming his way across the ship, until he finds the sole pool of water, embedded in the floor. There’s a small hatch, I suppose to keep the water in place when we’re taking flight, and he wriggles delightedly as it opens.

I grin at him, then resume taking in the spacecraft.

The insides of shells. That’s what’s all over the walls.

At least, I think they are, until I make my way to one, tilting my head as I study it.

“Is this?—”

“Pearls and gemstones,” Borumor answers before I can finish asking. “This is where I’ve kept all the hard-won treasures I’ve accumulated over the years. I might not be king anymore, but we won’t be hurting for money. Or food.”

I sniffle, tears welling in my eyes, and throw my arms around him. He stiffens, then pats my shoulders.

“I packed some things for you. I don’t know much about you, so I wasn’t sure what you like or want, but as soon as we are in space, I promise to feed you and figure out every last thing about you.”

“That sounds really good,” I tell him tearfully. “I have a comm to make before we eat, though. I think we should find out where my friend Aileen is and visit her.”

“Food first,” he tells me sternly. “Then we can call your friend. I won’t have you dropping of starvation, sea star.”

I hug him close again, beyond grateful for every single chaotic, bizarre turn of events that’s brought me to this exact moment—and to this powerful male who just wants to take care of me—and get to know me.