Page 31
Story: Taken By the Leviathan King
The royal insignia glows against her chest, accepting her as its rightful bearer. My queen. My mate. The one who fought the darkness and won.
In the light of the aligned moons, surrounded by the Heart’s pulsing energy, I make her a silent promise through our bond—wherever she goes, whatever she chooses, I will be at her side. The depths of the Abyss or the distant shores of Earth—it matters not.
She is mine, as I am hers. And together, we are unstoppable.
EPILOGUE
Imogen
Sunlightfiltersthroughthewater in ribbons of gold, casting dappled patterns across my skin. Even after three months in the Abyss, I still marvel at places like this—hidden pockets where the ocean surface is near enough that light penetrates the depths, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that reminds me of both worlds I now belong to.
“You’re staring again,” I say without turning, feeling Krak’zol’s intense gaze on my back as I explore the coral formations of our new sanctuary.
“I will never tire of watching you,” he rumbles, his deep voice sending pleasant vibrations through the water between us.
I smile, running my fingers over a delicate structure that pulses with bioluminescence at my touch. “You said that’s what this place was called? The Dreaming Shoals?”
“An inadequate translation,” he admits, swimming closer until his massive presence looms behind me. “In our language, it means ‘the place where worlds touch.’”
The poetry of it catches me off guard. For all his warrior ferocity, my Leviathan king has unexpected depths of sentiment that still surprise me.
I turn to face him, taking in the sight that never fails to steal my breath—seven feet of powerful, primal male, his silver eyes watching me with an intensity that makes my heart race. The royal markings on his skin glow softly in the filtered light, matching the patterns that now adorn my own transformed body.
“And you’ve claimed it for us,” I say, gesturing to the stone structures being carefully placed by Leviathan workers at the perimeter. “A royal retreat?”
His mouth curves in that half-smile that still makes my stomach flutter. “A home. Ours alone.”
The simple declaration holds layers of meaning. Since Rynor’s defeat, we’ve lived in the royal palace, surrounded constantly by advisors, warriors, and the endless politics of rebuilding a kingdom. This sanctuary represents something different—a place where we can simply be ourselves, neither king nor queen, just Krak’zol and Imogen.
“Come,” he says, extending his hand. “There’s more I want to show you.”
I place my smaller hand in his, feeling the now-familiar thrill when his fingers close around mine. Our bond pulses between us, a constant awareness that has only grown stronger since the ritual at the Heart.
He leads me deeper into the sanctuary, past living coral structures that seem to sing as we pass, their colors shifting in response to our presence. We swim through an archway formed by twin spirals of pearlescent stone, emerging into a sheltered grotto that takes my breath away.
The space is a perfect blend of our worlds—human comfort and Leviathan aesthetics merged seamlessly. A large sleeping platform rests in a natural alcove, covered in soft materials that won’t dissolve in water. Bioluminescent plants provide gentle illumination, their light reminiscent of the stars I sometimes miss. Most surprising are the personal touches—photo’s, my fuzzy bear and other items from my quarters on the USS Legacy, salvaged and preserved.
“How did you—” I begin, touching a small hologram of Earth that floats above a crystalline pedestal.
“I may have enlisted Samantha’s help,” he admits, referring to my teammate who has thrived in her home with the Ondrithar. She even managed to snag a king for herself. “She said these items would . . . remind you of home.”
The thoughtfulness of the gesture tightens my throat. Through our bond, I feel his uncertainty—the great Leviathan king, nervous about whether his gift pleases me.
“It’s perfect,” I tell him, infusing the words with all the emotion I feel. “But you should know . . . home isn’t a place for me anymore.”
I turn to face him fully, placing my palm against his chest where his heart beats strong and steady. “It’s wherever you are.”
His eyes darken with emotion, and he pulls me against him, one large hand cradling the back of my head. Through our bond,I feel the surge of possessive satisfaction my words trigger in him.
“When I first saw you,” he murmurs against my hair, “I knew you were mine. But I never imagined how completely I would become yours.”
I lean back to look up at him, tracing the strong line of his jaw with my fingers. “Funny how things work out when you kidnap someone and declare them your mate.”
He growls playfully, the sound vibrating through the water between us. “You were stubborn. I was persistent.”
“You were arrogant,” I correct, but there’s no heat in my words. “And now you’re mine.”
His tail wraps around my ankle, a subtle, possessive gesture that has become as natural as breathing. The first time he did it, I bristled at the presumption. Now, I find it comforting—an unconscious reminder of his constant presence, his unwavering devotion.
In the light of the aligned moons, surrounded by the Heart’s pulsing energy, I make her a silent promise through our bond—wherever she goes, whatever she chooses, I will be at her side. The depths of the Abyss or the distant shores of Earth—it matters not.
She is mine, as I am hers. And together, we are unstoppable.
EPILOGUE
Imogen
Sunlightfiltersthroughthewater in ribbons of gold, casting dappled patterns across my skin. Even after three months in the Abyss, I still marvel at places like this—hidden pockets where the ocean surface is near enough that light penetrates the depths, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that reminds me of both worlds I now belong to.
“You’re staring again,” I say without turning, feeling Krak’zol’s intense gaze on my back as I explore the coral formations of our new sanctuary.
“I will never tire of watching you,” he rumbles, his deep voice sending pleasant vibrations through the water between us.
I smile, running my fingers over a delicate structure that pulses with bioluminescence at my touch. “You said that’s what this place was called? The Dreaming Shoals?”
“An inadequate translation,” he admits, swimming closer until his massive presence looms behind me. “In our language, it means ‘the place where worlds touch.’”
The poetry of it catches me off guard. For all his warrior ferocity, my Leviathan king has unexpected depths of sentiment that still surprise me.
I turn to face him, taking in the sight that never fails to steal my breath—seven feet of powerful, primal male, his silver eyes watching me with an intensity that makes my heart race. The royal markings on his skin glow softly in the filtered light, matching the patterns that now adorn my own transformed body.
“And you’ve claimed it for us,” I say, gesturing to the stone structures being carefully placed by Leviathan workers at the perimeter. “A royal retreat?”
His mouth curves in that half-smile that still makes my stomach flutter. “A home. Ours alone.”
The simple declaration holds layers of meaning. Since Rynor’s defeat, we’ve lived in the royal palace, surrounded constantly by advisors, warriors, and the endless politics of rebuilding a kingdom. This sanctuary represents something different—a place where we can simply be ourselves, neither king nor queen, just Krak’zol and Imogen.
“Come,” he says, extending his hand. “There’s more I want to show you.”
I place my smaller hand in his, feeling the now-familiar thrill when his fingers close around mine. Our bond pulses between us, a constant awareness that has only grown stronger since the ritual at the Heart.
He leads me deeper into the sanctuary, past living coral structures that seem to sing as we pass, their colors shifting in response to our presence. We swim through an archway formed by twin spirals of pearlescent stone, emerging into a sheltered grotto that takes my breath away.
The space is a perfect blend of our worlds—human comfort and Leviathan aesthetics merged seamlessly. A large sleeping platform rests in a natural alcove, covered in soft materials that won’t dissolve in water. Bioluminescent plants provide gentle illumination, their light reminiscent of the stars I sometimes miss. Most surprising are the personal touches—photo’s, my fuzzy bear and other items from my quarters on the USS Legacy, salvaged and preserved.
“How did you—” I begin, touching a small hologram of Earth that floats above a crystalline pedestal.
“I may have enlisted Samantha’s help,” he admits, referring to my teammate who has thrived in her home with the Ondrithar. She even managed to snag a king for herself. “She said these items would . . . remind you of home.”
The thoughtfulness of the gesture tightens my throat. Through our bond, I feel his uncertainty—the great Leviathan king, nervous about whether his gift pleases me.
“It’s perfect,” I tell him, infusing the words with all the emotion I feel. “But you should know . . . home isn’t a place for me anymore.”
I turn to face him fully, placing my palm against his chest where his heart beats strong and steady. “It’s wherever you are.”
His eyes darken with emotion, and he pulls me against him, one large hand cradling the back of my head. Through our bond,I feel the surge of possessive satisfaction my words trigger in him.
“When I first saw you,” he murmurs against my hair, “I knew you were mine. But I never imagined how completely I would become yours.”
I lean back to look up at him, tracing the strong line of his jaw with my fingers. “Funny how things work out when you kidnap someone and declare them your mate.”
He growls playfully, the sound vibrating through the water between us. “You were stubborn. I was persistent.”
“You were arrogant,” I correct, but there’s no heat in my words. “And now you’re mine.”
His tail wraps around my ankle, a subtle, possessive gesture that has become as natural as breathing. The first time he did it, I bristled at the presumption. Now, I find it comforting—an unconscious reminder of his constant presence, his unwavering devotion.