Filed To Story: The Saltwater Curse Book PDF Free
There.
It is a good compromise.
Although Vasz may not agree, I will bribe him with coconuts.
Cindi blinks.
Once. Twice.
If I thought the little human was angry before, it is nothing in comparison to the static that zaps from her, electricity thundering through burning water seconds before an explosion.
Oh no. I think I broke my mate.
“That is not a compromise,” she screams. Her eyes are so round and wide, I worry they might fall out. “A compromise is you saying yes because you care about me in exchange for a souvenir. A compromise is returning me to my home and getting far the hell away from me.”
I consider for a moment, as a good mate should, but her proposals are only setting fire to my veins. As much as I try to convince myself she’ll be happy here, wanting for nothing, I know I’m only making my mate suffer in this cage with me.
Letting her go would be the right thing to do.
But am I not a monster?
“I don’t like those compromises. They’re too unrealistic.” And because Yannig once told me females like when you ask them questions, I say, “Do you have any more proposals?”
“Unrealistic
? You’re a real-life kraken, and there’s a shark-octopus-dog”—she points at Vasz—“named after Vaseline—
Vaseline,” she enunciates, incredulous. “And you’re telling me what’s unrealistic
?” Her fingers rake through her knotted hair. “You kidnapped me just as I was about to save myself. I don’t belong here. I belong out there—that’s where humans live.”
I stop myself from reminding her many humans live on boats.
Those weren’t the type of compromises I wanted. Nonetheless, I understand this is an important conversation for her, and I am trying. I truly am.
There isn’t much more I can tell her that I haven’t already said. My soul is hers, and hers mine. The Goddess decided it.
Fighting fate will not get her anywhere. I’m not sure what I could say or do that would give us what we both want.
I recognize that much of this would be a shock to Cindi, and I never thought of much beyond what destiny might entail—that she would see me, instantly know what we are to each other, and every piece would fall into place without issue.
I…I haven’t considered many things, but how am I meant to know what it is I should be aware of? There’s no one I could speak to about this, no one I could learn from. My grandmother was the only one who engaged with humans, and she died long before my birth. And Yannig… He’s not here either.
I grind my teeth. The Goddess was wrong to give me a mate. I do not deserve one. She should have ignored all my prayers and refused my offerings.
But still, she gave me a mate, and now I need to try and keep her happy.
Compromise. I can do that.
“I will bring your friends to the island.” I can lock them in a hut on the flat patch of land on the island. That way, Cindi can visit them whenever she wants.
“No! You’re crazy.” She stomps on my tentacle, and I recoil. “Fuck you,” she screams. “I hate this island and your stupid cave. I don’t want a mate. I never asked to be your mate. I don’t want to be your mate. Just get me out of here. Let me go. I don’t want to fucking die like this.”
Pain ricochets through me with each word. I want to fix this without giving her what she wants. A good mate should put the female first, but I am not good. I spent my early years doing whatever others wanted, but it never changed anything.
“You will stay here, Cindi,” I say sternly, throat tightening. I know what’s coming next. “That is final.”
Tears well in her eyes, and I freeze, unmoving when she shoves me. “I hate you!” she cries, hitting me again. “I hate you.
I hate you. I hate you.” She claws at me every time she says it. I take each attack, wishing it’d hurt more to make up for her pain. I deserve it. “You piece of fucking shit. I was getting out of here! Fuck—ugh—Tommy—I—” A sob wracks through her body.
I want to touch her, kiss away her sorrows, hold her until her tears stop flowing, tell her everything will be alright. I want to demand she tells me about this
Tommy so I can kill him for making her so upset, but she doesn’t want me to. She’s getting paler, cheeks red as she heaves, stumbling to the shore.
Vasz gives her one dismissive look, rolls his eyes, then dives into the water. She doesn’t notice, whipping her head side to side to find an escape along the shoreline.
My mate doesn’t want me.
There was no mistaking her words. She meant them with every fiber of her soul. Cindi hates me.
I feel sick. My chest constricts and my arms tremble at my sides, skin pulsing as I melt into the shadows, blending in with my surroundings to give Cindi the illusion of space.
Any other kraken would know the right things to say to stop her crying, to bring her comfort as a mate should. But this is the fate the Goddess bestowed upon her, the curse she was given. I will not free her from it. I cannot.
She has no choice but to go along with it. The sooner she realizes it, the easier it will be for her.
15
Cindi
Everything I endured was for nothing.
Those are the words repeating in my head as I watch the sun descend beneath the shoreline.
I was beaten, abused, starved all so my father could die alone, waiting for me to call him to restart our Sunday routine like we did before I fell into Tommy’s trap.
I stabbed my husband. I ran to the other side of the world.
And all of it was for nothing.
I’m going to die out here, at the hands of my so-called mate. Whether by plain ignorance or pure naivety, he’s going to be the death of me.
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