Filed To Story: The Saltwater Curse Book PDF Free
“Counselor Lazell.” Lightning thunders in my veins. He is a snake amongst kraken.
His eyes dart to my dark hair floating around me. His lips twist in distaste.
My mother killed his brother when he campaigned for my execution a few months after I was born, then later attempted to carry it out himself. Since then, Lazell has been a thorned pest, leading the Council in his vision, keeping hatred toward me alive.
It’s a pity my mother didn’t end his entire family line.
I would have long ago if it wouldn’t have resulted in my certain death.
Our interactions are few and far between. The Council has been operating on its own for several years, running the kingdom without my interference. I wanted nothing to do with it, and my subjects were all too happy to take the proverbial crown from me. Their contempt toward me worsened after Yannig died and I refused to marry the first kraken female they sacrificed to me.
Now, for the most part, they leave me alone, acting like I don’t exist, only bothering me every so often to check if I’m any closer to shackling a female to me.
“I see you are still alive,” Lazell observes in relief and disgust. The lines on his face deepen when they land on the two fresh wounds left by my mate.
He tears his stare away at my growl. I don’t like him looking at Cindi’s gifts to me.
The kraken has aged centuries since I last saw him eight moons ago. His cheeks are sunken, and there’s the barest green tinge to his skin—a telltale sign the Waste has reached his body. I have yet to see a kraken without the coloring in recent years.
Lazell’s long, thin tentacles slither over rock and sand before jettisoning close to the surface to mimic the movement of my limbs. It’s the same habit Yannig had.
He uses the webbing between his arm and ribs to keep stationary against the strong currents. The tapered edges of his four fingers ripple. It’s the greatest offense that his coloring is similar to my brother’s—brown and white stripes like a lionfish.
Grief hits me every time I have the misfortune of seeing Lazell, only to be quickly staunched by seething hatred.
Every word out of his mouth is a concealed threat.
I may be the king, but he is the one who holds the power over our people. If he chooses to follow in his brother’s footsteps by rallying krakens to kill me, it will happen. If he knew I was hiding a human in my den, the Council would be demanding
Cindi’s execution. Our kind’s continued anonymity is one of the most sacred values we hold.
The only reason I’m not dead is because I am their only hope. Lazell and every other kraken who loathes me are losing sleep over having no choice but to place their faith in an abomination.
“It has been many months since you’ve joined our meetings.”
“It has.” Why would I want to be in the presence of those who would sooner poison me than willingly speak to me? My attendance only serves as an opportunity for the Council to berate and pressure me into marrying a kraken.
He raises a brow. “I assume your search for a bride has not been successful, and the people will continue to starve.” My inner beast rears its head at his condescending tone.
I clamp my mouth shut to stop from bragging about finding my mate, from proving to them that I was right. The Goddess deemed me worthy of having a fated mate.
He would insist on seeing her, and then he’d try to have her killed.
Once our bonding settles the blight over my territory, I will parade my beautiful female for all the vile krakens to see so they know
I saved us with the help of my human bride. My people will seethe, recoil from disgust, but it will bring me no greater joy than to know every time they hunt, it is because a human and their monster king permitted it.
Until then, Krokant is all that remains, an hourglass showing how much time remains before all is lost. It has been two years since I last visited. I can only assume it has halved in size. It’s anyone’s guess as to how much time we have left before the Curse wins.
And they come for me.
“My search for my mate remains,” I lie, balling my hands into fists to stop from tearing him apart.
He forgets my human attributes have turned me into a far better hunter and killer than any of them. Their webbing is a weakness—one cut, and they could bleed out. My claws are a weapon in themselves. Thumbs are an advantage in every form. I have yet to find a purpose for my hair. I assume there is one, but thus far, I have not been able to find a reason.
“Perhaps it is time to look at marrying?—“
“No,” I snarl.
I would sooner sacrifice my soul to the Goddess than even think of bonding with anyone other than Cindi. Whatever kraken bride the Council sends will either be one who is rejected and hated by society, or a strong female who will kill me the moment she has my cub in her stomach.
His eyes darken. He’s probably wishing his brother never failed at killing me. “Time is running?—“
My tentacle shoots out and clamps around Lazell’s throat. Bubbles explode around us, and a streak of lightning flashes above the surface to illuminate his panicked face. “I do not appreciate repeating myself, Counselor.” My voice is low.
His own pathetically weak limbs fly out to push back against my tightening grip. My limb spans wider than his neck, forcing him to stare up at me. I chuckle as his eyes bulge as he uselessly grabs at my arm with his tapered fingers.
“If I say no, that means no. If I have to question your ability to listen again, I will remove your ears because, clearly, you have no use for them. Do you understand?”
His mouth gapes. Air bubbles replace words.
“Nod if you understand.”
Lazell frantically bobs his head, a barely noticeable movement against my tentacle.
I release him, throwing him aside. “The Council will be informed once I have taken a bride,” is all I say before going back toward my den.
Rage simmers under my skin. I swim harder to dispel the energy and the need to tear another kraken apart—“limb from limb,” as Cindi said.
Letting my vapid Council look at—or even speak to
—my mate wasn’t a thought I delved into with much detail. It filled me with too much rage.
It has been at least a moon since I came across another kraken. I once went half a year without interacting with anyone other than Vasz. Most barely spare me anything more than a sideways glance.
I’m obviously a fool. My wishful thinking had me believing my mate would want me back and I could have Cindi to myself, away from every other kraken.
The runes at the cave entrance glow silver beneath my touch. The stone groans as it slides against rock, a low, grating sound that can only be heard if nearby.
A confusing mixture of excitement, dread, hope, and fear winds my hearts into a tight knot. She cannot hate me forever, right? At some point, she will soften to my efforts because…because fate deemed it so.
Fate. Fate. Fate.
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