Imogen
Sunlight filters through the water 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.
We drift toward the sleeping platform, the cool water gliding over our skin, our bodies moving in perfect synchronization, a silent dance in the liquid embrace of the Abyss.
A gentle tug at my ankle, and I realize his tail has wrapped around me, not constricting, but possessive, pulling me subtly closer, a constant reminder of his presence.
Since my transformation, swimming has become as natural as walking once was, my body adapted to life in the Abyss while retaining its human appearance.
“The delegation from the Legacy arrives tomorrow,” I say as we settle onto the platform, his larger body curving protectively around mine.
“Captain Harris wants to discuss expanding the human settlement on the western shoals.”
“And what does my queen think of this proposal?” His fingers trace idle patterns on my skin, sending shivers of pleasure along my nerve endings.
I consider the question seriously.
The balance between my responsibilities to Earth and to the Abyss remains complex, even with our bond making communication effortless.
“I think it’s time,” I say finally.
“Expanding the human presence will fundamentally alter Sanos, and offering the choice of where to live is a freedom humans haven’t experienced in a very long time.”
He nods, his expression thoughtful.
“And the young ones? Will they come as well?”
The question touches on a conversation we’ve had several times—the children in cryosleep aboard the Legacy, Earth’s next generation waiting for a home.
“Some of them,” I confirm.
“Those old enough to adapt to life here. The youngest will remain in stasis until we’re certain of long-term compatibility.”
His hand settles on my abdomen, a gesture loaded with meaning.
Through our bond, I feel his unspoken question—one that has been growing in both our minds.
“Nira says it’s possible,” I answer softly.
“Our physiologies are compatible now, thanks to my transformation. Any children would be . . . unique. Like me.”
The thought still amazes me—that I could carry his child, a perfect blend of our species, of our worlds.
The first true bridge between humans and Leviathans.
“Unique,” he echoes, his voice dropping to that deep register that sends heat pooling low in my belly.
“And fierce, like their mother.”
I laugh, turning in his arms to face him.
“And stubborn, like their father.”
His silver eyes darken as he studies my face.
“Does the thought please you? Creating life together?”
The vulnerability in his question touches me deeply.
This powerful king, who commands thousands with a gesture, still seeks reassurance in our most intimate moments.
“Yes,” I whisper, reaching up to trace the royal markings on his face.
“More than I ever imagined it would.”
His response is immediate and physical—a growl that vibrates through the water as he pulls me flush against him.
His mouth claims mine in a kiss that starts gentle but quickly blazes into something more primal, more demanding.
I respond with equal fervor, my hands exploring the familiar terrain of his powerful body.
A thrill, both familiar and shockingly new, courses through me.
This intimacy, this connection, is unlike anything I could have ever imagined on Earth, a bond forged in the depths of an alien sea.
Our bond amplifies every sensation, creating a feedback loop of pleasure that makes it impossible to tell where my desire ends and his begins.
“Mine,” he rumbles against my throat, sharp teeth grazing the sensitive skin there.
“My queen. My mate.”
“Yours,” I agree, my voice breathless as his hands map possessive paths across my body.
“As you are mine.”
In the privacy of our sanctuary, we come together with the same intensity that has defined our relationship from the beginning—challenging, consuming, transformative.
The kiss deepens, a wild, open-mouthed exploration that has my senses spinning.
My fingers tangle in his damp hair, tugging gently, eliciting a low growl that vibrates through the water and straight to my core.
He tastes of salt and storm and something uniquely him , a flavor I’ve become addicted to.
His tail wraps more firmly around my leg, not just possessive now, but almost anchoring, as his body covers mine.
The weight of him, the sheer mass of this powerful Leviathan, is a delicious pressure that grounds me in the floating weightlessness of our underwater world.
I arch against him, feeling the hard ridges of his scaled chest against my breasts, the subtle scrape of his skin a thrilling contrast to the smooth glide of water around us.
He shifts, pressing me further into the soft bedding, one large hand sliding down to cup my bottom, fingers kneading possessively.
A gasp escapes me as his other hand finds the sensitive skin of my inner thigh, his touch sending shivers of anticipation through me.
“Mine,” he rumbles against my throat, sharp teeth grazing the sensitive skin in a bite that is both possessive and exquisitely arousing.
His hand moves higher, tracing the edge of my most intimate place, teasing me with delicate strokes that leave me craving more.
I moan softly, my body aching with need as he continues to explore, his fingers delving deeper, finding the slick heat that betrays my desire.
“Krak’zol,” I whisper, my voice a plea as his fingers slide inside me, filling me with a delicious stretch that leaves me panting.
His thumb circles the sensitive nub at my center, sending waves of pleasure coursing through me.
I cling to him, my nails digging into his skin as he builds the tension higher and higher, his mouth capturing mine in a searing kiss that leaves me breathless.
He breaks away, his silver eyes dark with desire as he gazes down at me.
“You are everything to me, Imoogeen ,” he murmurs, his voice rough with emotion.
“My queen, my mate, my heart.”
With a swift, fluid motion, he positions himself between my thighs, the hard length of him pressing against my entrance.
I wrap my legs around him, urging him forward, and with a single, powerful thrust, he fills me completely.
We both groan at the sensation, our bodies joined in the most primal way.
His movements are slow and deliberate at first, each stroke drawing out the pleasure, building the intensity.
But as our passion grows, so does the urgency of his movements.
He thrusts deeper, harder, his body claiming mine with a ferocity that leaves me gasping for breath.
“More,” I beg, my voice a ragged whisper.
“I need more of you.”
He growls in response, his tail tightening around my leg as he drives into me with renewed vigor.
The water around us churns with our movements, creating a whirlpool of sensation that heightens every touch, every kiss.
His hands roam over my body, possessive and demanding, as if he can’t get enough of me.
I meet his thrusts with my own, our bodies moving in perfect synchronization.
The pleasure builds, a tight coil of need that threatens to consume me entirely.
And then, with a final, powerful thrust, he sends me over the edge, my body convulsing around him as wave after wave of ecstasy crashes through me.
He follows me moments later, his body tensing as he finds his own release, his roar of satisfaction echoing through the water.
We collapse together, our bodies slick with sweat and the remnants of our passion, our hearts pounding in unison.
In the aftermath, we lie entwined on the sleeping platform, my fingers combing through his damp hair as he purrs contentedly against my chest.
The sound vibrates through me, soothing and intimate.
Through our bond, I feel his love and devotion, a constant presence that wraps around me like a protective embrace.
“I never thought I’d end up here,” I murmur, watching the patterns of light dance across his skin.
“When they sent us to Sanos, I expected to negotiate a treaty, secure resources, and return to the Legacy. Simple mission parameters.”
His chuckle rumbles against me.
“And instead, you found yourself claimed by a Leviathan king.”
“Claimed?” I raise an eyebrow, tugging lightly on his hair.
“I think you’ll find it was mutual.”
His expression softens as he looks up at me, silver eyes reflecting the glow around us.
“It was. From the moment you stood before me, unafraid despite being in my power. You claimed me then, though neither of us knew it.”
The memory brings a smile to my lips—how far we’ve come from those first confrontational meetings, from my fierce resistance and his arrogant presumption.
“We still have so much to do,” I say, thinking of the challenges ahead.
The integration of our species, the continued healing of the Abyss after Rynor’s corruption.
“And we will face it together,” he promises, his large hand splaying possessively across my hip.
“As we have faced everything else.”
Through our bond, I feel his absolute certainty, his unwavering commitment.
It wraps around me like a protective embrace, stronger than any physical shelter.
In this moment of perfect peace, suspended between worlds in our private sanctuary, I allow myself to fully embrace the future we’re building—not just for ourselves, but for both our peoples.
A future born from unlikely circumstances, forged in conflict and sealed in love.
The Leviathan king and his human queen.
A story no one could have predicted, least of all me.
But as Krak’zol’s tail tightens possessively around my ankle and his purr deepens with contentment, I know with absolute certainty that I wouldn’t change a single moment of our journey.
This is where I belong.
At his side, between worlds, creating something entirely new from the ashes of what came before.
Home.