Page 13

Maeve, Arietta, and Isabeau stood and looked over the nursing pool, all showing shock in a variety of facial expressions. They hadn’t expected the eggs to already be hatching, and definitely not as many at the same time as there were.

“I did not expect them to be do damn cute,” Isabeau admitted as she bent down and sat on the edge of the pool, letting one of the hatchlings wrap its tentacle around her hand.

“Cute, cute? I think you are using the wrong word. What I think you mean to say is they are fucking adorable,” Arietta squealed and bent down against the nursing pool to stroke the head of a hatchling that was hanging out of the pool.

“We are never going to be able to get anything done, these guys are amazing,” Isabeau giggled.

Maeve laughed and looked around. She couldn’t see Dave or Jessica around, and she knew they had had a very busy night bringing all of the hatchlings out of their eggs and into the pools. There were still so many eggs left to hatch, Maeve worried they didn’t have the room.

Leaving her cousins cooing over the hatchlings Maeve went in search.

She found the cave that had been kitted out for Jessica to rest in for when she couldn’t make it up to the house, she couldn’t help but smile at how nice Dave had made it feel.

Maeve had been initially worried about him, worried he would leave Kracken’s Hole in his search for a place to belong and a mate.

But as she rounded the corner and went through the cave entrance that led out onto the small beach and cove, all worries she had just vanished.

Dave was in his massive Kracken form playing catch with a highly entertained and very happy Jessica.

Well, by her screams of laughter, Maeve assumed she was enjoying herself.

Had Dave found the one meant for him? She smiled and lifted her face to the sun.

Maeve thanked the goddess as well as her godmother and friends.

Because she was sure they had something to do with the series of events.

As far as they were aware, Maximus, Brutas, and Dave had been some of the few Krackens left. So, for them to leave to search for a mate may not have been a fruitful search. The fact they could now shift had, in short, opened up doors for the evolution of their race.

With the addition of the hatchlings, Krackens would no longer be on the verge of extinction. It also meant Kracken’s Hole would always have Krackens and, in turn, the guardians would always have protectors.

For the first time in a while, Maeve’s heart felt light. Gentle hands slid around her waist and wrapped her in a hug. Lips pressed against her neck before her mate and the love of her life settled his chin on her shoulder.

“Well, I didn’t expect that,” Will admitted.

“I did.” Maeve chuckled. “That girl is obsessed with Krackens, what better mate than a Kracken shifter?”

“Does Dave feel the same way?” Will enquired, pulling her tighter against his chest. Maeve would never get enough of her pirate. Even now, he gave her butterflies and a simple touch from him could send her into a weak mess of emotions.

“What do you think, my love?” she questioned. “Just look at him. When was the last time you saw him this animated in Kracken form? For the last month or so he’s been so quiet and kept to himself, I was starting to worry.”

In silence, they stood and watched, voyeurs of the cleanest kind.

They both couldn’t help giggle as Dave launched Jessica into the air, but when Dave spotted them he started to wave his tentacles, forgetting about Jessica.

Her scream and then sudden splash made the look of worry and guilt on Dave’s face so funny, both Maeve and Will couldn’t stop laughing.

Even as he fished her out of the water and gently set her on a rock.

Maeve knew, possibly even before Jessica and Dave knew, that they were meant to be together.

Call it witchy instincts or fate.

It didn’t matter, what would be, would be.