The Kraken's Sacrifice (A Deal With a Demon #2)(15)

“Just . . . don’t make me regret it.”

“Of course. I promise.”

I really hope I’m not lying through my teeth.





7





THANE





After the encounter with Catalina, guilt chases me into the depths, and then it keeps me there for days. Revisiting the heat of her hands against my chest, the way it felt to wrap her in my tentacles, how sweet she looked as she came.

I’ve hardly been celibate since Brant’s death. Loneliness creeps through even the hardest exteriors and drives me to seek out company. Always with the clear understanding that it will never last longer than a night, that I am incapable of giving more. Those encounters have been soft and considerate and . . . nothing like what happened with Catalina.

I wanted to bend her to my will.

I still do, if I’m being honest with myself.

“Thane.” Embry descends through the entrance above me, speaking in the clicks and movements we use to communicate under the water. Ze looks about disapprovingly. “You’re hiding.”

“There are repairs that need to be overseen.” I motion to the window overlooking the current construction. Water is a glorious element, but destructive in the way all elements are. With the keep being mostly beneath the surface, it’s an ever-present battle to ensure the foundations stay strong and stable.

Embry crosses zir arms over zir chest. “Overseen personally by the leader of the territory instead of the foreman you assigned to the task a month ago.”

I don’t blush, but it takes effort to keep from fidgeting like a youngling caught out. Embry has always had that effect on me, for all that ze is my younger sibling. “It’s an important task.”

“Your human is causing problems.”

“Catalina is not my human.”

“Isn’t she?” Ze cocks zir head to the side. “Because I don’t believe anyone else in this territory made a deal with the bargainer-demon leader to bring a human into the territory, despite the fact you’ve been very clear about your desire not to breed or displace me as the heir.”

I grit my teeth. “You know why I made that bargain.” I had to keep our territory at least appearing on equal ground as the others. If I’m the only territory leader who didn’t accept Azazel’s invitation, it would have put me at a disadvantage. When things aren’t equal between the territories, people get hurt.

“Yes, I do. I’m just reminding you of it.” Embry sighs. “I know things got a bit out of control that first day.”

“Excuse me?”

“Don’t pull that stuffy-lord voice with me, Thane. By the time she got the courage to start exploring, your scent was still all over her.” Zir gaze softens. “No one expects you to replace Brant.”

“There is no replacing Brant.”

“I know,” ze says simply. “But Catalina is bored and she’s stirring up trouble. I don’t think she means to, but she’s putting some people ill at ease with her presence.”

“You’re not suggesting she’s in danger.” I narrow my eyes. “Harming the human means harming the territory.” Why is my heart racing right now? Foolish question. It’s because the price of failure is so high. It has nothing to do with the idea of Catalina being harmed because of my negligence. “But I hear your concern, and I will heed it. Where is she now?”

“The kitchen.”

Why in Goddess’s name is she in the kitchen? I don’t voice the question. Embry already seems agitated enough without it seeming like I’m accusing zir of something. “Let’s go.”

We make it there in short order. The kitchen is one of the rooms above water for obvious reasons. Our ancestors may have existed on raw fish they hunted themselves, but my people have more varied tastes now.

I pause in the doorway and take in the disaster before me. Catalina is trying to chop . . . something. Whatever it started as, it’s now mush on her board. Her face is bright red with embarrassment as the line chef, Henryk, lectures her with increasing irritation. He’s a new hire but was renowned for his skill, and I have yet to see any evidence to contradict that, though the few times we’ve interacted have left a poor taste in my mouth.

Perhaps we should come back at a later time.

I don’t think Catalina would want anyone to witness this, and I find myself reluctant to cause her further distress. Or would it be better to step in and put a stop to Henryk . . .

Even as the thought crosses my mind, his voice raises. “You’re worthless.” He waves the knife at her. Too close. Too fucking close. “Get out of my kitchen before I gut you where you stand.”

I don’t make a decision to move. I hear Embry’s sharp inhale behind me, and then I’m between Henryk and Catalina. “Put the knife down. Now.” He threatened her. Pointed that blade at her fragile body and said he wanted to gut her. “Or I will put it down for you.” I don’t sound like myself. I sound like I want to rip his throat out with my teeth.

It’s not inaccurate.

He backs up immediately, his tentacles tight to his body in fear. “Thane. I didn’t know you were—”

“That should make no difference,” I snarl. “Embry, have the guards get him out of here. Permanently.”