Page 9 of Kiss for My Kraken (Fairhaven Falls #8)

N ina walked down the river path that led into the center of town, her fist clenched around the two twenties that Ben had pressed into her hand when he insisted she take the rest of the day off.

She’d protested, of course—she needed the money, and she didn’t want him to think she wasn’t grateful for the job.

“You’ve been working lunch and dinner shifts for a week straight, plus two breakfast shifts,” Ben said, his tall ears twitching with annoyance. “The kitchen’s cleaner than it’s been in years, and I’m not about to have you collapse from exhaustion. Go explore the town.”

The unseasonably warm weather continued, the sun shining clear and bright in a crystal blue sky, but more of the trees across the river had turned red and gold.

Winter would be here soon, but this year that thought didn’t terrify her.

She’d learned from Annabelle that the Tavern was open year round, and only a little quieter in the winter.

Which meant she should be able to keep working.

The thought of staying in one place thrilled her—especially this place with the charming town, and her little shack, and her river prince. Even if she did need to find a way to seal some of the cracks in her walls. And even if her prince remained stubbornly out of sight. So far.

Fairhaven Falls was everything she’d hoped for when she’d first heard about it—a place where Others and humans lived side by side.

A werewolf mother pushed a stroller past her, smiling as her toddler waved.

A vampire held the door of the local coffee shop for an elderly human couple.

A group of teenage fairies giggled outside the ice cream parlor.

In the small community where she’d grown up, fear of the “unnatural” dominated every aspect of life.

The Elders had preached that Others were abominations, soulless creatures sent to tempt the faithful.

But here in Fairhaven Falls, they were just…

people. People living their lives, raising families, running businesses.

A small storefront caught her eye as she strolled up Main Street.

The sign read “Second Chance” in flowing emerald script, and the display window featured an eclectic arrangement of items amidst an artful display of colored leaves.

Without quite meaning to, she pushed the door open, setting off a small bell.

“Be right with you!” called a cheerful voice from somewhere in the back.

She wandered through the shop, trailing her fingers over furniture that had clearly been loved by previous owners. Wooden shelves held knickknacks and small treasures—figurines, candle holders, small framed prints. She picked up a small ceramic fox, admiring the craftsmanship.

“That’s a sweet little piece, isn’t it?”

She turned to find a pretty brunette in a stunning vintage dress smiling at her. She looked like a 50s pinup girl, but her smile was warm and genuine.

“It’s beautiful,” she agreed, carefully setting it back down.

“I’m Posy,” the woman said, extending her hand. “This is my shop. Looking for anything in particular?”

“Just browsing. I’ve… recently moved into a place, and it needs a few touches to make it feel like home.”

The words surprised her even as she said them, but the little shack felt more like home than any place she’d lived since escaping Haven’s Grace.

“Well, you’ve come to the right place,” Posy said, breaking into her thoughts. “Everything here needs a second chance at being loved.”

She couldn’t help smiling at that. “That’s a nice way of putting it.”

“It’s the truth. Things get better with use and care, I’ve always thought.” Posy gestured around the shop. “Take your time looking. I’ll be at the counter if you need anything.”

As Posy moved away, Nina found herself drawn to a shelf of kitchen items. A small teapot caught her eye—white porcelain with hand-painted blue flowers.

Next to it sat two matching cups, slightly chipped but still beautiful.

She picked up the teapot, turning it over to check the price. Five dollars seemed more than fair.

She continued browsing, collecting a small basket of items: the teapot and cups, a soft throw blanket in shades of blue and green that reminded her of the river, a battered copy of “Pride and Prejudice” that had clearly been read many times, and a small framed watercolor of a forest path.

At the counter, a small curvy blonde was chatting with Posy. She turned as Nina approached, revealing sparkling blue eyes and a friendly smile.

“You must be Nina. I’m Elara.”

She blinked in surprise. “I am, but how did you know?”

Elara laughed. “This is a small town. Everyone knows there’s a mysterious new woman working at the Moonlight Tavern. And I heard about you from my mate, Grondar.”

“Your mate?” She blinked again, comparing the small woman to the towering orc, and Elara grinned.

“I know. He’s ridiculously large, but he’s very sweet.”

She bit her lip. Sweet wasn’t a word she would have used to describe the big orc. Posy rolled her eyes.

“Grondar isn’t sweet, Elara. In fact, I don’t think any orcs could be called sweet—and I say that as someone who is also mated to one. Possessive? Yes. Growly? Also yes. Sweet? No.”

“You left out hot,” Elara teased and Posy laughed.

“I can’t argue with that.”

“You forgot to mention that they’re big all over,” a familiar voice added, and Nina turned to find Flora at her elbow, dressed in a red and white striped tracksuit that made her look like a tiny barber pole. “There are very Others with larger co-”

“Flora!” Posy interrupted.

“What? It’s true,” Flora said with an innocent shrug.

Elara giggled, and Posy looked resigned. “I can’t argue with that either,” she admitted, then turned to Nina. “Is this your first visit to Fairhaven Falls?”

She nodded.

“Are you planning on staying long?”

“If possible.” She hesitated, wondering how much to reveal, but something about these women made her feel comfortable. “I… didn’t have the best childhood. I’ve been looking for a place where I can belong, where I can feel safe.”

“This is the place,” Elara and Posy said in unison, then grinned at each other.

“And it’s definitely possible, isn’t it Gladys?” Flora said cheerfully, turning to the woman who had accompanied her. A pleasant middle-aged woman with a witch’s hat at a jaunty angle on her silver curls, Gladys studied Nina for a moment with surprisingly sharp blue eyes.

“I think you’re right again, Flora,” the witch said finally.

“Of course I am. Which is why you should listen to me about?—”

“Look at the time,” Gladys said quickly. “We’re supposed to meet the rest of the coven soon.”

Flora rolled her eyes, but turned to follow the other woman out of the shop. Then she stopped to look back over her shoulder at Nina.

“Tell him he doesn’t need to be afraid.”

Then she was gone, leaving Nina staring after her. Did Flora know about her river prince?

“I recognize that look,” Elara said cheerfully. “Don’t ask me how, but Flora knows everything there is to know about the people in this town.”

“And isn’t afraid to say so,” Posy added dryly. “But she means well.”

“I have to run, but come by Java Joy when you have time. It’s the bakery and coffee shop Grondar and I own.” Elara picked up a tissue-wrapped package and winked at her. “But not this afternoon. I have little surprise for Grondar and I suspect we’ll be closing early.”

“Do you carry lingerie?” Nina asked as the door closed behind the other woman, then blushed. “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business.”

Posy grinned at her. “I do carry lingerie, as a matter of fact, but Elara purchased an apron. Don’t ask,” she added when Nina’s mouth dropped open. “Are you interested in lingerie? I have some very pretty vintage silk items, as well as some modern reproductions.”

“No, I’m not—that is, I don’t have anyone to wear it for,” she said, feeling her cheeks growing even warmer.

“If you say so.” Posy shot her a penetrating look but didn’t add anything as she started wrapping Nina’s purchases.

A sudden pang of longing swept through her at the thought of wearing something pretty and silky for her river prince, although she did her best to dismiss it.

The Chosen considered such garments sinful, but even though she no longer believed them, she didn’t have the money to indulge.

And I’m not even sure he really exists. .

“Come back anytime,” Posy said as she handed Nina her carefully wrapped packages. “And welcome to Fairhaven Falls.”

She left the shop with a strange feeling of lightness. She’d always been cautious about spending money, hoarding every penny for emergencies, for the next inevitable move. But these small purchases felt like something different, like a statement of hope.

She made one more stop at the small market, splurging on ingredients for a proper dinner—pasta, fresh vegetables, a small piece of parmesan cheese that cost more than she would normally spend, and a bottle of inexpensive but decent red wine.

Tonight, she would celebrate the fact that she might have found a place to call home.

Back at the cabin, she unpacked her treasures and made her dinner, savoring the simple pleasure of cooking something just for herself.

She opened the wine and poured a glass, then carried her plate and glass out to the porch, sharing the meal with Ozzie as the fading light painted the river in shades of gold and rose.

After eating, she set her empty plate aside and took her wine glass down to the dock, Ozzie trotting faithfully behind her. She sat on the edge, dangling her feet just above the water’s surface, and Ozzie flopped down beside her with a contented sigh.

“You know, Oz,” she said, scratching behind his ears, “I really think we might have found a place to stay for a while.”

He thumped his tail in agreement as she looked across the river to the island, its dark shape silhouetted against the darkening sky. Her river prince’s island. That night in the water still seemed more like a dream than reality, but someone had been leaving those presents for her.

She lowered her feet into the water, gasping slightly at the coolness. The river was calm tonight, the surface like glass reflecting the first stars appearing in the twilight sky.

“I wonder why he stays hidden,” she mused, swirling her feet gently in the water as she remembered Flora’s advice. “He doesn’t have to be afraid of me.”

As if in answer, she felt something—a touch, warm and tentative, against her ankle. She went perfectly still, hardly daring to breathe. It wasn’t the brush of a fish or a piece of river weed. It was deliberate, slowly curving around her ankle in a gentle caress.

The light was fading fast, but she caught a swirl of something silvery beneath the surface of the water. Not fish scales—something larger, more substantial. Her heart pounded so hard she was sure it must be audible as she set her wine glass carefully on the dock beside her.

“I know you’re there,” she said softly. “Please show yourself.”

For a long moment, nothing happened. Then, slowly, a face emerged from the water a few feet from the dock. Just the face at first—striking blue eyes that seemed to glow in the twilight, high cheekbones, a strong jaw. Then powerful shoulders rose above the surface as well.

Her breath caught. It was him—the face from her dreams, the one who had saved her from drowning. Her sketch hadn’t done him justice. He was even more magnificent than her memories had suggested. Inhuman, yes, but beautiful in a wild, primal way that made her pulse race.

“It’s you,” she whispered. “You saved me that night in the river.”

He nodded once, those luminous eyes never leaving her face.

“Thank you. I would have drowned if not for you.”

Another nod, and a slight movement that might have been a shrug.

“I’m Nina.”

He still didn’t speak, but he moved closer to the dock, still mostly submerged. Water streamed from his long dark hair, sending silver trails down his broad chest.

She took a deep breath, then extended her hand. He looked at it for a moment, then reached out and took it in his own. His hand was large, powerful, with a slight webbing between the fingers. His skin was cooler than hers but not cold, and silky smooth.

He moved closer still, his eyes never leaving hers. She should have been afraid—he was clearly not human, clearly powerful enough to pull her into the depths if he wished. But she felt no fear, only a strange sense of recognition, as if she’d been waiting for this moment her whole life.

He released her hand and placed his palm gently against her cheek instead. Without thinking, she leaned into the touch, mesmerized by his handsome, inhuman face. His thumb brushed lightly across her lower lip, leaving a trail of coolness that quickly warmed.

Then he was rising further from the water, his face level with hers. She caught a glimpse of a powerfully built torso before he closed the distance between them, pressing his lips to hers.

The kiss was tentative at first, as if he feared she might pull away, but she responded immediately, her lips softening against his. He tasted of river water and something wild and sweet that she couldn’t name.

Just as she reached up to touch his face, he pulled back abruptly. There was a look in his eyes that she couldn’t quite decipher—wonder, perhaps, or fear, or both.

She could tell he was about to disappear back into the depths, and desperation seized her.

“Wait! Please—what’s your name?”

He hesitated, already half-submerged again. For a moment she thought he wouldn’t answer, but then his voice came, deep and slightly rough, as if unused to speaking.

“Sam.”

Then he was gone, disappearing beneath the surface in a swirl of dark water and silver bubbles.

She sat motionless on the dock, one hand rising slowly to touch her lips. They still tingled from his kiss, still held the taste of him. Ozzie whined and nudged her arm, breaking her trance.

“Sam,” she whispered, a wondering smile spreading across her face. “His name is Sam.”