We settle down on the makeshift bed he made for me earlier, our bodies nestling into each other comfortably as his heat seeps into me. I try to stay in the moment, ground myself as I feel the rise and fall of his chest against my back. There’s a comfort in it, a feeling of safety and security that I haven’t felt in a long time.

As I drift off to sleep, my mind wanders to the glimpses of vulnerability he showed me today, and the burden of his people’s survival resting on his shoulders.

In that moment, he feels less like an alien warrior and more like a kindred spirit—someone who understands the struggle of trying to make a difference in an unforgiving world.

And for the first time, I don’t feel alone.

I awaken to the crackle of a fire and the scent of something cooking. Rubbing my eyes, I sit up to see Krakenos tending to a small blaze, a few fish roasting on sticks. The aroma wafts over, making my stomach rumble. I realize just how hungry I am after yesterday.

“Good morning,” he says, glancing over at me with a smile. “The storm has passed, and I managed to catch us some breakfast while you were resting. I found some dry wood deeper in the cave too.”

I stretch, feeling the ache of sleeping on the hard ground as I look over the bounty. “Wow, looks like you’re a regular survivalist. I guess I lucked out by getting stranded with you.”

He chuckles. “When you’ve lived as long as I have, you pick up a few skills along the way. It’s a necessity in a world as unforgiving as mine.” There’s a wistfulness in his voice, like he misses Mythos, even if times there were hard.

We eat in comfortable silence, and the fish is flaky and satisfying. It’s a simple meal, but out here, it tastes like a gourmet feast. As we finish, I study his face, the way the firelight illuminates his aquatic features. He’s so different, and yet there’s a familiarity to him that I can’t quite place.

“Thank you,” I say, meeting his gaze. “For everything. For protecting me. For opening up about your people. For listening to me prattle on about my life.” I laugh lightly. “I know I haven’t been the most cooperative or grateful, but… I do appreciate it. More than you know.” It’s hard for me to let my guard down, but something about Krakenos makes me want to try—makes me feel like I won’t regret it.

Krakenos shakes his head, a glimmer of amusement in his smile. “You’ve been a formidable challenge, Mia of Earth. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. Your spirit—it’s what drew me to you in the first place.”

I laugh again, nudging him with my shoulder. “Oh, so you like a challenge, do you?”

His eyes darken, his gaze dropping to my lips. I realize then how close we are, and my breath catches in my throat as the air between us feels charged.

And then, before I can second-guess myself, I close the distance between us and press my lips to his.

The kiss is electric, a spark igniting deep within me. His mouth is warm and smooth against mine, his touch sending shivers racing down my spine. I melt into him, all my doubts and fears momentarily forgotten as I lose myself in the sensation.

When we finally pull apart, my head’s spinning, and Krakenos’s dark eyes are wide, mirroring my own surprise. But there’s something else there too—a smoldering intensity that makes my skin tingle and my stomach flip.

His gaze rakes over me, hungry and possessive, and I feel my body respond, a liquid warmth pooling low in my stomach. I lick my lips, tasting him there, and watch as his eyes track the movement.

But then I notice a slight furrow in his sleek brow, a hint of worry that brings me crashing back to reality. We’re still trapped in this alien prison, still at the mercy of our captors. One kiss, no matter how earth-shattering, doesn’t change that.

Krakenos’s broad chest rises and falls. “Mia,” he says, his voice husky. “As much as I’d like to continue this, I need to confirm something that has been troubling me.”

I blink, trying to focus. “What do you mean?”

He glances toward the cave entrance. “That storm earlier… I have a suspicion about what may have caused it. I need to take a dive and investigate before we continue on.”

I straighten up. “You mean that wasn’t just some crazy weather?”

He shakes his head, his gaze distant and pensive. “There’s something else at play here. I can feel it.”

I want to protest him leaving me alone for even one moment, but another part of me, the part that’s still reeling from the shattering intensity of our forbidden kiss, is guiltily grateful for the excuse to be alone.

Because I seriously need to process the fact that I just kissed him.

And that I liked it. A lot.

“Okay,” I say softly. “I’ll wait here. Just… be careful out there, all right? Come back to me safely.”

Krakenos gives me a reassuring smile, his hand brushing against mine in a fleeting touch that sends sparks racing up my arm. “I will. I promise.”

And then he’s gone, disappearing out of the darkness of the cave and into the light outside. I watch him go, my heart lodged firmly in my throat, before sinking down onto a nearby rock with a shaky exhale.

I put my face in my hands, unable to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. Yesterday, I was so determined to keep Krakenos at arm’s length, to focus solely on survival and finding a way to escape this insane situation. But now…

Now, I can’t deny the magnetic pull I feel toward him, like an invisible tether drawing me closer.

I take a deep, steadying breath, trying to center myself.

One step at a time, Mia. Eyes on the prize.

Focus on getting the hell out of here in one piece.

Everything else can wait.

But even as I firmly tell myself that, I can’t quite shake the searing memory of Krakenos’s lips on mine, the way his touch set my skin on fire and turned my bones to liquid. And I know, with a sinking certainty deep down in my gut, that things will never be the same between us again.

Not after a kiss like that.

Chapter 11

Krakenos

The taste of Mia lingers on my lips, a sweet reminder of our kiss.

It was… unexpected, yet perfect.

But now is not the time to dwell on these unfamiliar emotions. Not until we are safe.

I must get her through this trial, and that entails ensuring the ocean is safe and that the creature I feared stirred up the storm is resting once more.

I dive beneath the waves, my powerful tail propelling me through the depths. The ocean looks like a battlefield, the storm having dredged up all manner of debris and detritus from the seafloor far below.

As I swim deeper, delving into the murky gloom, I notice an abundance of strange plants and creatures that are utterly foreign to me. Fronds of kelp-like vegetation undulate sinuously in the currents, their garish and unnatural hues setting my teeth on edge. Odd, misshapen fish dart skittishly between the undulating strands, their bulbous eyes glowing with an eerie bioluminescent green light.

I pause briefly to examine a peculiar cluster of coral-like structures sprouting from a jagged rocky outcropping. The texture is all wrong, almost fleshy and pulsating gently as if drawing breath. Unnerved by the strangeness of it, I yank my hand back before making contact, a shudder of revulsion rippling through my body.

If there is one thing I know about the oceans, it’s that one should never trust the unknown. Even the smallest, most unassuming creature could be carrying a venom that would leave one wishing for the release of death.

Still, I suspect I know the source of the storm, and I need to confirm it. So I propel myself onward with powerful strokes of my tail, all my senses alert and straining for any sign of danger amid these unsettling waters.