Page 15 of Wayfinder (The Outlander Book Club… in Space! #5)

The monstrous fish lashed out with its webbed, fin-like hands, but I dodged, which made the boat rock to and fro with such violence that tipping over became a real concern.

With a swift strike, I pierced one of the fins with the tip of my spear.

The creature let out a mournful, warbling hiss that sent shivers down my spine.

This was no ordinary opponent. The ajkula was more dangerous than the struzzi and more difficult to beat in open water.

I unsheathed my scimitar and aimed for the nearest fin, determined to disable the beast before it could attack.

The beast’s razor-filled mouth snapped and lunged, forcing me to dodge and parry with my weapon.

Beneath the frenzy, I heard the frantic thumping of the creature’s heart, hidden just below the dangerous jaws.

With one well-placed strike, I could end this battle once and for all.

.. if I didn’t get my arm bitten off in the process.

Curled into a fetal position at the bottom of the boat, Pearl whimpered in fear. The sound tore at my heart, filling me with a rage I’d never experienced. No matter what it took to kill the beast, no matter if it killed me in the process. I had to get it away from her.

I catapulted myself toward the creature. Leaping to avoid the slash of its vicious teeth, I twisted, grabbing the smooth dorsal fin, and hoisting myself onto the ajkula’s back. The massive fish bellowed in anger, water churning around us in a torrent.

“Jutuk!” Pearl screamed my name as the creature dove, taking us both into the dark sea.

I gripped the fin with all my strength, my blade poised and ready to strike.

The fish thrashed and writhed in my grasp, its cold, slimy scales glinting in the faint shards of sunlight penetrating the gloam.

I was still not in position to reach the ajkula’s heart, so I concentrated my attack on its flank.

With each jab of my weapon, I felt its life force weakening, but the beast was still in control, dragging me further into the abyss.

My lungs were on fire from lack of air. I had to end this soon or risk succumbing to a watery grave.

But the creature seemed to taunt me, swimming downward at a leisurely pace, as if playing a deadly game.

Just when I feared I couldn’t hold out any longer, it suddenly shot towards the surface, breaking through the water with a loud splash.

Gasping for air, I caught a glimpse of Pearl’s horrified face before plunging back into the dark depths.

The fish dove again, its powerful body slicing through the water like a knife, still not nearly as strong as I would have expected.

Its jaws snapped menacingly as it aimed for my flesh.

But I rolled along its side, feeling the sleek scales scrape against my skin.

With all my strength, I plunged my blade deep into the creature’s underbelly.

When the ajkula rolled to escape the point of my blade, it allowed the perfect opportunity to stab my weapon directly where I’d heard the creature’s heartbeat.

The surrounding water became a murky red as the beast thrashed and spasmed. Finally, the chomping teeth stilled, and the once fierce black eyes rolled back into its head. Desperate for breath, I swam to the surface.

“Jutuk!”

As I emerged from the water, gasping for air, Pearl’s voice pierced through the chaos.

I swam towards our small boat, her frantic hands reaching out to pull me aboard.

She immediately began checking for any sign of injury, her fingers running over my body in a frenzy, causing my cock to twitch in response.

When she seemed satisfied that I remained unscathed, Pearl’s relief escaped in a deep sob, and she flung her arms around my neck, holding me tightly as if afraid I might once again slip beneath the waves.

“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. I thought you were dead.”

Suddenly, she released me and stepped away, fire dancing in her blue eyes as she swatted me on the chest.

“What the hell, Jutuk? You just jumped off the boat and wrestled a fucking shark!”

“So, I did,” I grinned, rubbing the assaulted spot on my chest. It felt tingly from her smack, but not in a bad way.

“Not funny,” she snapped, holding on to her anger for a moment longer before her expression relaxed into a relieved smile. Her cheeks were pink with streaks of wetness. Had Pearl been crying out of worry for me? The idea made me feel warm inside.

“Did you kill it?”

The creature answered for itself, choosing that moment to breach the surface with a loud blurp .

Despite the heat of the sun bearing down on us, Pearl shivered.

“How exactly are we supposed to butcher that thing? It’s bigger than the boat?”

Good question, and thankfully, one easily answered.

The remnants of broken spears littered the bottom of the boat. I selected one with the spearhead intact. Removing the small metal anchor from its line, I attached the spear piece with a strong knot, then heaved it at the floating carcass. The spearhead hit home just below the dorsal fin.

“We tow it to shore,” I grinned at her.

Pearl rolled her eyes but smiled. “Smartass.”

I started the engine and turned the boat toward shore.

We didn’t talk on the return trip.

The gentle hum of the engine and the rhythmic sloshing of the waves created an atmosphere of tranquility much needed after recent events.

Pearl sat close to me, her body trembling occasionally, still affected by the adrenaline rush from the battle. I, too, couldn’t help but feel shaken by the events, my mind reeling with what could have happened to Pearl if I hadn’t been able to defeat the creature.

Without thinking, I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against my side. A deep sigh of relief escaped her lips as she melted into my embrace. I felt my heart swell with the rightness of the moment and how perfect she felt in my arms.

I directed our boat not to the dock, but to a small inlet just up the coast.

The teal water gradually grew shallower, hinting at the glistening white sands that shimmered beneath the surface.

It was the perfect spot to bring in our massive catch.

As the boat gently touched bottom, I lifted Pearl into my arms and carried her to shore before returning to tackle the catch of a lifetime.

The sand was soft and cool beneath my feet as I dragged the immense creature onto land, its scales glinting in the sunlight like jewels.

“I can’t believe how much it looks like a shark.” Pearl knelt by the ajkula, examining it as I retrieved our butchering knives. “Except for the weird fin fingers and the janky tale.”

Janky?

Her words drew my attention to the creature.

The video we’d watched showed the ajkula’s tail to be a thick, forked shape, as solidly muscled as the rest of its body.

Something had serrated this creature’s tail, so water easily passed through the appendage.

No wonder the fish wasn’t swimming strongly.

“The tail is not janky ,” I said, despite having no reference for the word. “The tail is shredded.”

“What?” Pearl frowned at me as I knelt down beside her. “You mean somebody tampered with this big-ass fish, too?”

“Yes.”

Pearl gave an aggravated snort. “The Baron really wants to win the wager, doesn’t he?”

I grunted, more in thought than agreement.

“You don’t think it’s the Baron?” she guessed.

“I don’t. The Baron has tasted your cooking. He would know you needed no such subterfuge to win.”

Pearl smiled, swatting my arm playfully. “Sweet.” Then, her humor faded to worry in the time it took me to blink. “You really think whoever is trying to hurt humans is behind this, don’t you?”

I nodded, feeling the rage rise inside me at the thought that anyone would want to hurt Pearl.

“Are my friends safe?” Her lower lip trembled, and it was all I could do not to rub my thumb over it.

“They are well protected aboard the Bardaga,” I promised. Probably more so because they’d become mates of my brethren, although I could not bring myself to mention it. Not because I didn’t believe in the validity of the mating... this time envy of my brothers churned in my soul.

“So, if not the Baron, why is someone so desperate for me to win?” Pearl took the small, curved knife in her palm, considering it as she thought. Perhaps deciding if the blade would be as good as a weapon as it was for butchering.

“Because the winner of this wager has the honor of preparing the birthday feast for one of the most powerful men in the galaxy—Duke Ako,” I admitted to the theory I’d been pondering for days.

“Everything else we’ve discovered is tied to the Duke’s son, Nansar, in some way. I don’t think this is a coincidence.”

“What do we do?” Pearl looked so worried I couldn’t stop reaching out and cupping her cheek in my palm. She sighed and leaned into the touch, blue eyes sparkling.

“Now, we butcher this fish, and you cook something utterly delicious and win the competition.”

Pearl giggled and stabbed the point of her blade into the ajkula, just below the dorsal fin.

Seas are prevalent in many worlds, as are the creatures that inhabit the waters. I’d done my share of cleaning and gutting fish, but this creature proved difficult. The skin was tough and leathery, hard to remove with just the flick of a blade.

“It’s like skinning a catfish,” Pearl grumbled, wiping the sweat from her brow with her forearm.

“Earth has odd beasts,” I mused, using more strength than expected to rip off a strip of skin. “I have seen both a cat and a fish in my Earth studies. The combination must appear strange.”

Pearled laughed, the sound tinkling along the ocean waves like a bell.

“Silly....” she began, her words halted by the buzzing of a drone overhead.

My instincts kicked in, and I bounded to my feet, positioning myself between Pearl and danger.

“Attention, human chef Pearl, and Vaktaire warrior.” The shuttle’s nasal AI voice boomed from the drone flying overhead, just out of reach. “The competition is completed. Human chef Pearl is the winner.”

“What?” Pearl jumped to her feet, hands on hips, as she glared at the drone. “How? I haven’t cooked the fish yet.”

I felt the ire rolling off her like a wave. Pearl was fierce and competitive and wanted to win as fairly as possible. Such an impressive female.

“A member of the other team was eaten by an ajkula,” the drone announced without the slightest inflection. “The rules state that for a chef to be victorious, both parties of the team must survive. Congratulations, human chef Pearl!"

The drone buzzed away, leaving Pearl and me staring at each other in shock.

“It’s over?” Pearl’s blue eyes fixated on mine, swimming in disbelief.

I smiled. “Congratulations, human chef Pearl!”

Pearl’s joyous whoop echoed through the air as she leaped into my arms. With a carefree laugh of my own, I spun her around in a playful dance.

When I finally dropped her on her feet, she didn’t step away from my embrace.

Instead, she moved closer, her small soft hands cupped my face, and she pressed her mouth to mine.

The human concept of placing mouths together had always intrigued me, but I never imagined experiencing it firsthand. However, as our lips met, I knew this was the most extraordinary thing I’d ever experienced.

The sensation of her soft skin against mine, the mingling of our breath, and the electric tingle that ran through my body—each aspect of touch and feeling took my breath away.

I finally understood why humans found this act so alluring, and I couldn’t help but want more.

Her lips were soft and supple, and she tasted savory and rich, like the many delicious dishes prepared by her talented hands.

A faint hint of salt lingered on her skin, reminding me of the ocean breeze that blew through her hair.

I drew her closer, relishing the warmth of her body against mine.

Despite seeming so small, she fit perfectly in my embrace, and her delicate hands rested gently on my biceps as we swayed in unison.

Every touch and taste sent shivers down my spine as we explored each other’s mouth.

When her tongue cautiously probed at my lips, it caught me off guard, but a wave of intense need pushed away any confusion, and I parted my lips eagerly.

Our tongues entwined like two dancers moving in perfect synchronicity.

The sensation was dizzying, and I lost myself in the moment, consumed by her intoxicating taste.

She was human, yet she called to me like no other creature ever had.

My heart ached at the thought that she could never truly be mine, not in the way that my goddess would understand and bless.

Yet, even as I tried to push away the need for her and deny those feelings, a small voice inside wondered if I could ever truly let her go.

As though coming out of a daze, Pearl slowly ended the kiss.

Her lips lingered on mine for a moment and her body remained close, hands resting on my chest just above where my heart pounded wildly.

Her breaths came in quick gasps, and her cheeks flushed a deep pink hue.

With wide blue eyes, she gazed at me, a sense of bewilderment on her face, as if she couldn’t quite comprehend what had just happened between us.

“What was that?” I asked, my voice gruff.

I understood the concept, but the name of this particularly enjoyable activity escaped me.

“A kiss.” Pearl’s bright blue eyes narrowed for a moment, then went wide, a shocked gasp escaping her swollen lips. “You didn’t... you haven’t kissed anyone before?”

“Most species think the touching of mouths is unsanitary.” I brushed a lock of hair from her cheek. “It was much different than I expected. Why did you kiss me?”

Pearl opened and closed her mouth several times, her cheeks growing pinker. She stepped out of my embrace, a deep, musky hint to her scent making the air sweeter.

“A kiss....” she began, but the word cut off with a squeak. Clearing her throat, she started again. “A kiss is a way to congratulate someone and express happiness.”

“Ahh.” I noticed the almost shy way Pearl glanced at me and the gorgeous smile that curved her full, tasty mouth.

I must find other reasons to congratulate Pearl. I liked this kissing very much.