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Vasz

I am brave.

I am strong. I am fearless.

I have traveled across the sea in search of the most special coconut for my queen.

A coconut worthy for my mate—whatever that is.

Ordus keeps using the word.

I assume that’s what human females are called.

She tasked me, and only me, because I am the best soldier in her arsenal.

A good shark-doggopus.

I have not rested for eight days.

I feel the exhaustion in my bones.

My queen needs me.

I am a good boy.

The best boy. She said so.

The stone door rolls to the side, and I swim with all my might, keeping the…

twelve coconuts in my mouth, careful not to bite too hard so my queen can—I don’t know what the human did to it.

It looked wrong, dangerous, to defile such a beautiful thing in a horrifically gruesome matter.

The love of my life was being tortured right before my eyes, and I could do nothing but sit and watch.

It was agonizing.

Still, I live to serve.

Cindi bestowed upon me a coconut the night she arrived.

I gave one to her in return.

It was a fair trade.

But her words… They spoke to me.

Yes, I am a good boy.

A very good boy.

It’s about time someone acknowledged it.

Bubbles curl around me as I breathe hard, pushing myself through the tunnel.

I break past the surface of the water to find Cindi leaning against the wall with Ordus—a very, very bad kraken—nearby.

“Mine,” I pant around the coconut, dragging my feet over to her.

“No, not yours,” the stupid, loud, ungrateful beast growls.

“Mine.”

“Be nice,” she snaps at Ordus, and I give him a smug grin.

“What have you got there, buddy?” Cindi rocks forward onto her knees.

Buddy. Me. Her buddy.

A sick thrill ripples down my spine.

I am her bestest, most loyal buddy.

I drop the coconut at her feet.

“My Queen Mate is fierce,” I heave, collapsing onto my side in front of her, tongue lolling out of my mouth.

“You don’t even call me king,” Ordus complains.

“And she isn’t your mate.”

“Silence, peasant. The Queen is—” Stars explode behind my eyes when her small human hand rubs my belly.

My back leg kicks out and starts sprinting without me meaning to.

“Good boy,” she praises.

I did good. I did very good.

Cindi asked for coconut.

I brought her coconut.

Now, she is rewarding me.

This is how I should’ve always been treated.

The stupid pest of a creature needs to learn from my human.

“Vasz, come here,” Ordus growls.

“No, not Vasz.” I stretch my shoulders out, rolling onto my back to give her more belly surface to rub.

“I am Coco now.”

Ordus huffs.

“You wanted to eat her two days ago.”

Cindi snatches her hand away.

“ What? ”

Oh yeah.

I flop onto my stomach.

What part should I take a little nibble of?

Foot? Arm? Maybe fingers as a little snack so I can save the rest for later?

Mmmm. No. Maybe the hand.

I open my mouth and jolt back when she hits me on the head.

“No. Stop it. Bad dog.”

Bad…

?

I whimper. “But…but I’m a good boy.”

She told me I am.

“Yes, Cindi.” Ordus glares at me all smug and dumb.

“Vasz is a bad dog.”

The betrayal strikes me through the heart.

New plan: must eat Ordus.