Page 24 of Crossing Between

I stared at the bed frame that I'd broken with a swing of my tentacles. I'd partially shifted in the room with rage, destroying most of the furnishings.

Rage and horror at myself.

How could I have hurt my mate? I'd looked at her in disgust when I'd felt her magic reveal more of herself to me. I'd recognized the magic as necromancy, or at least what I thought was necromancy magic. I'd looked at her as if she were a true monster. A killer.

None of that was true.

Zoey was kind, cute, intelligent, and quirky. Her curves were tantalizing. She wasn't an evil being like those in the past had been. She wasn't even a necromancer! She was something more.

I needed to apologize to her, Kenji had ripped into my ass when we got to my room. What's worse, he was disappointed in me. That had caused my loss of control.

My kraken hissed at me. He was angry at me for hurting our mate and upsetting the men I was in love with and respected.

I groaned softly as I forced him back, taking my human shape to normal.

Looking at the disaster that I'd caused to the room, I sighed.

I would owe Varon so much for the repairs.

I would have to work even more overtime than I was working now.

Well, might as well try to clean up a bit. There would be no way I would be able to sleep after transforming like I did. My mind would not turn off. I'd just started moving the remains of the bedframe when there was a soft knock on my door. It was right on the edge of too quiet, I almost missed it.

There was another knock just as I opened the door.

Zoey stood there looking up at me with her hands pressed together nervously. "Um. Hi?"

Gods, she was adorable and I wanted to smother her in kisses all over her body and eat that pussy until she screamed my name.

Shit. I needed to focus.

I got on my knees and bowed my head to her.

"Elias? What are you doing?" Her squeaked question almost made me laugh, but I stopped so I could give her what she deserved from me.

"I am so sorry, Zoey. I never should have doubted you.

It's a prejudice that shouldn't have reared its ugly head.

" I pulled up slowly to look up at her. "Please forgive me.

" My kraken wanted to wrap her up in our tentacles and bring her to a safe location in the water, which was not possible considering she couldn't breathe underwater, but he didn't really get that.

"You don't have to apologize. That's what I came here to do." Zoey's lips twitched as she tried not to laugh at the situation we found ourselves in. "Get up, please." Her hands grabbed mine, and I stood, not letting go of her hands. I wanted to hug her, but wasn't sure it would be welcomed.

She answered the question for me before I could even ask, and her arms were around my middle.

Her face rested against my chest as I held her back, but I made sure to not hold her so tight as to hurt her.

My mate's mark burned, and I knew hers would be flaring as well.

I needed to tell her, but after everything she'd had thrown at her within the past twenty-four hours, us being mated could wait a few more days.

"Please don't hate me, Elias. I like you.

" Her voice was muffled against my torn shirt, but the tone ripped into my heart.

"I like all of you." Her whisper was hard to hear, but I tipped her chin up.

Her eyebrows were pulled down. She looked like she expected me to blow up at her, which I couldn't blame her for. I had done so before.

"You mean you like Varon and Kenji?" My tone was teasing. "Can I tell you a secret?"

She nodded, confusion evident on her face.

"I'm in love with Kenji and have enjoyed Varon's body before. I wouldn't mind cracking his hardened heart with my suckers." My lips turned into a smirk as her mouth dropped at my statement.

Her giggle rang out along the empty hallway, and I pulled her into my room. "You're in love with Kenji? You've had sex with Varon?"

Her pupils were blown out, signaling she liked the thought of it. That made me smirk even more. Maybe this could work out, and I wouldn't have to choose between my yearnings and my mate. They could both become one.

Now, if only I could convince her to believe it could work and to trust me.

"Would you like to hear about my deep-seated love for the annoying oni and my lust-filled thoughts of our gracious boss?" I attempted to wiggle my shoulders in a way to get her to laugh again. I looked ridiculous, so it worked as her laughter rang around us. Score one for team tentacles.

"I think you just told me." Her smile made my kraken preen as he snapped his mouth in an attempt to smile as well.

I rolled my eyes internally. "It's late, but I couldn't fall asleep thinking you were angry at me or hated me.

" Zoey stepped back from within my arms and rubbed her own crossed arms. "We should get some rest, though," her eyes went around me.

"Did you have a fight with Kenji or something? Your room is....well...destroyed."

"Oh." I cleared my throat as I rubbed the back of my neck in shame. "I lost control of my kraken for a little bit. He was agitated with me for upsetting you." It was embarrassing.

"You can't sleep in here. There's no furniture left.

" Zoey's lips were twitching, and I could tell she was trying not to laugh at me again, but I deserved it.

"Come with me. My room has a big enough bed to share.

" She turned around, her shoes made soft tap noises as she walked away from me.

"I promise that I won't jump you in your sleep, even if I want to, I'm falling asleep.

" She winked at me as she got to her door and opened it.

"If you're worried, I think the couch might be big enough for you. "

My kraken roared at me defiantly, as if I would say no to getting to share a bed with my mate, even if it was just to sleep.

I was going to make up for my fumbling with her.

Zoey was a beautiful curvy woman who stole my heart the second we touched, and our mate mark formed, but I'd been too stubborn.

Now I wouldn't be. She deserved to be cherished body and soul.

Particularly body first. My cock strained against my pants as I watched her crawl into the bed before she pulled the comforter over herself. I discreetly adjusted myself as I went to the other side of the bed and got in, staying above the blankets, on my side.

Even though there was no light in the room, my eyes could see easily. Zoey faced me, a soft smile on her face. She reached her palm out to lay against my chest over my heart. It began rising.

"Today has been a whirlwind for everyone, hasn't it?" She held back a yawn before she was suddenly closer to me, with her head on my chest next to her hand. "We have so much more to learn tomorrow. I just hope I can handle it."

I pulled her as close as I could without having our hips meet. It wouldn't do to have her feel my erection. Small steps were needed right now to gain my mate's trust again.

"Whatever happens tomorrow, we're all in your corner."