Chapter 11

11

K yree’s heart pounded, and her breath tightened so hard in her chest it was harder to breathe with every passing second. She tried to calm herself, tried to ease the panic and fear, but it was no use.

Honour swam after Hudson, and a part of Kyree’s very essence tore away from who she was. Despite Honour’s shorter and slimmer build, she swam fast and powerfully against the buffeting of the current made by the kraken.

The unnatural ripples in the water caused bumps to rise over Kyree’s arms. They didn’t belong here. Not in their sea, and not on their planet. From what she had learned, these humans had come from an entirely different world, bringing these monsters to destroy life.

Kyree shuddered as she did her best to hide in the shadows, but not at the detriment of being able to see Hudson and Honour.

They were together now, and the image filled Kyree’s heart with hope and joy. Of course it did. She would never wish death upon any of her fellow creatures. But she knew if she were able to examine it, it would be far more than simply that.

It was easy to push the thoughts away as the two of them looked at each other, words she could hear left their lips, followed by head movements in the negative and then the positive. They swam crossing over each other’s paths without interference or complication. They were a melody on the water, and they were beautiful.

Two halves of a whole.

But the clicking and whirring grew louder.

So loud, it seemed to come from all directions. Kyree could hear it everywhere as water buffeted her.

Two, Hudson said there were two.

Turning around, Kyree caught the sight of several tails as mer men charged at the second kraken that had came up behind her. Her breath caught as a merman, Talon she was certain, was grabbed by one of the kraken’s claws.

It took only a moment for those claws to clamp together, cutting the merman in half. The two parts fell away, blood trailing after him as he floated down into the darkness of the deep soundings.

“No.” She breathed out the horrified word. Tears warmed the water in front of her as she whipped back around, desperate to find her mermaids, desperate to know that Hudson and Honour were safe and out of reach of those horrific claws.

Memories surfaced of Honour fighting against the claw that first hurt her, the one she had swum toward in her attempt to rescue Soulara from the monsters controlling these metal beasts.

Whipping her head back and forth in the water, she searched for them.

There!

The relief that washed over her didn’t last long as tentacles snaked out from the cloud of dust that surrounded the impromptu battlefield. Her view of Honour and Hudson kept being blocked by the clouds of things, both natural and decidedly not, that waved in and out of the fight.

Dark brown and red smears in the dust made her heart constrict each time one of them disappeared again from view.

But they were incredible to watch, despite the fear for their lives that weighed her down. They weaved around each other with ease as though this were a dance they had performed countless times.

There were others who fought alongside them. She recognized some of Hudson’s men, the ones who had dragged her and Honour to that cave.

She did care about them all, at least about the lives they were currently risking. She mumbled a prayer of protection over all of them, prayers for the lives already lost, and prayers for the lives she knew were about to be lost.

But she couldn’t focus on any mer other than Hudson and Honour.

Each time they appeared again, Kyree’s heart sputtered with hope and bled into another wave of fear. Despite the damage she could see being done to the metallic monstrosities, the noise continued to grow. She had never imagined just how loud battle was. In between clangs and the tearing of flesh and rock, Kyree caught snatches of words, of the mers fighting for a future for their people, risking their own lives to do so.

Her heart sputtered back to life once more as Hudson and Honour turned, almost as one, and stared at her. A quick look back to the other—they could have been mentally connected with how similar their movements were and how their faces contorted in unison. They both opened their mouths and headed in her direction.

Blinking, she tried to understand what was happening.

Bubbles flew from their mouths, quickly carried away behind their bodies. Flukes slammed up and down with speed and force, but Kyree still couldn’t hear the words.

And then the ripple of the water behind her shifted. Her body froze, her heart stilled in her chest. She couldn’t move. She couldn't turn to see what she knew was so close.

Danger.

“Swim.” She didn’t know if it was Honour or Hudson. Perhaps it was both, but the word wouldn’t force her tail into movement or her arms out of their paralysis.

“Kyree!” Honour screamed as she pushed herself faster—faster than Kyree had ever seen her swim.

“Now!” Hudson yelled as Honour’s fingers wrapped around Kyree’s wrist.

In an unexpectedly beautiful movement, Honour’s body bent in half, her direction shifting from Kyree directly up toward the lighter water.

Kyree was pulled along behind, a force she couldn't have stopped if she tried. But she didn’t want to try. She gave no resistance as Honour pulled her away from the danger. She used what little movement she could with her fluke to help, but she thrashed her head around, looking for Hudson.

Where is she?

Another metallic beast rose up beside her, a scream strangled out of her throat.

Before her body froze up once more, Hudson’s arms were around her, pulling her away from the man-made kraken.

Honour’s fingers released her wrist before she dove forward, slamming herself into a tentacle that had reached out to grab a hold of Kyree. Hudson pushed Kyree behind her as she joined Honour in attacking and defending them against the flailing silver limbs.

Kyree’s chest rose too fast and hard as she watched.

“No.” She squeaked out as a tentacle collided with Hudson’s gut. A grunt escaped Hudson, but Honour was there, pulling Hudson away and turning her back toward the next blow. Honour’s body arched, a scream ripping from her throat as the metal hit her in the back.

“Fuckers!” Hudson roared, and the two of them turned back toward the beast. Their bodies already showed evidence of the fight, skin blooming in bruise-colored patches, trickles and smears of blood making Kyree’s heart leap and breath catch.

“Let’s show them how it’s done.” Honour roared, and Kyree held no doubts as to how this beautiful woman became a leader in the ranks of the royal warriors.

“Come on, then.” Hudson laughed, threw her head back and moved forward beside Honour.

Kyree ducked behind an outcrop of coral but couldn’t drag her eyes away from them as they attacked, ruthless and unstopping until the thing was more torn metal and missing parts than it had ever been a creature of their sea.

Honour and Hudson turned to each other, all wild eyes and big smiles as they let the thing float, heavy and useless, away from them.

Kyree’s heart continued to jump in her chest. But there was something new in the sensation. An electricity that fired her blood and pooled arousal beneath her slit. Her clit hummed and throbbed, and she caught her breath as they turned toward her as one again and met her eyes.

“Are they all gone?” Her words came out so hushed and frail. She would have rolled her eyes at herself if she hadn’t been so overwhelmed by the mix of emotions that filled and confused her.

“These three are, yes.” Honour pulled forward and wrapped her arms around Kyree. The sensation was surprising but appreciated. Kyree rested her head on Honour’s shoulder, and her tail around the end of Honour’s own.

“We need to get out of here, though.” Hudson was behind Kyree. When had she moved there, and why did it cause another flood of arousal to rush through her body?

“What about your men?” Honour asked.

“They are taking the wounded to a new camp. They know what to do next.”

“Hmm.” Honour almost looked as though she approved of Hudson’s words.

Kyree had no idea what it all meant in a strategic way, but the dynamic of the two women intrigued her more and more with every moment.

“Where can we go?” Kyree asked. “I don’t want to go back to Reine. Not when Nylah is still somewhere out here.”

“We’ll find a camp,” Honour replied. “We need to assess our injuries anyway.”

Relief washed over Kyree as Honour stopped herself from arguing about her determination to find Nylah. She didn’t think she could take another argument. Not right now, and definitely not with Honour.

“Let’s go then.” Hudson’s wide grin was back, and the laughter in her words caused all manner of flips in Kyree’s stomach.

They traveled in silence, Hudson on one side of Kyree and Honour on the other.

Kyree couldn’t remember the last time she felt so calm and safe. She was being protected by these warriors who were so similar it was no wonder they clashed and fought against each other.

But when it mattered, neither of them put herself first.

Kyree filled with warmth and joy at how they protected her. When everything else happened, she became their focus and their priority. Kyree couldn’t remember the last time she had been anyone’s priority. Perhaps she never had been, not once in her life.

“Damn, I needed that.” Hudson rolled her shoulders as she lay down in the sandy bank they had found. It was out of passing sight and would be difficult for anyone to find them, especially if they weren’t being looked for.

“You needed to lie down?” Honour smirked and raised an eyebrow in Hudson’s direction. “I would have thought you had better stamina than that.”

“Oh!” Hudson chuckled, and Kyree watched from her own place on the bank, resting against a stone. “I have more than enough stamina to keep up with you, old-timer.”

“Old?” Honour smiled, and Kyree felt the shock at seeing the look she gave Hudson.

“Well, maybe not so old.” Hudson wriggled in the sand, and Kyree bit back a moan. Side-eyeing another look over at Honour, she saw the smaller mer staring intently at Hudson’s enticing movements.

“Kyree.” Honour turned to her, and her eyes held a wildness for a moment before they cleared and focused on her. “Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”

“I’m fine.” Kyree forced a smile, though she knew it didn’t reach her eyes. She was too distracted by the two of them to put enough effort into calming Honour’s worried soul. “I didn’t get hurt.”

Hudson pouted from where she continued to writhe, her fingers now rolling her nipples into hard points. “You mean Honour doesn’t get to take care of you? Maybe you should be the one to take care of her.”

“Take care of her?” Kyree understood the implications Hudson had purred out. Her body definitely understood them if its reaction was anything to go by, but she also heard the growl of frustration from Honour and knew there was more to this teasing then she first thought.

“I’m fine,” Honour spoke between clenched teeth.

“Oh, liar-liar.” Hudson singsonged from the sand as she rolled over, pulling her torso up to face them. “I saw those hits, and the way you’re carrying your old wound.”

“Oh no.” Kyree was in Honour’s space in a moment. “Show me.”

“I’m fine, Kyree. A few bruises. Nothing to worry about.”

“Honour.”

“Yes, Honour,” Hudson purred, her eyes alight with mischief. “Let Kyree take care of you. I’m sure it’s nothing you haven’t enjoyed before. Besides—” Hudson was suddenly there beside Kyree, fingers running up and down her arm. “—I’m sure Kyree wouldn’t mind if I watched.” Hudson leaned close to Kyree’s face until their cheeks brushed against each other. “Would you, Kyree?”

“Hudson, I need to take a look at Honour.” Determined to ignore Hudson’s pushes, Kyree sent her a smart glare.

“I know you do. We wouldn’t want her to get another infection, now would we?” Hudson moved forward so quickly Kyree wasn’t sure what exactly happened. Whether Hudson jabbed Honour with her hand, her fin, or something else.

But Honour let out a wounded yelp and bent forward.

“Honour.” This time she didn’t ask or hesitate. Kyree laid Honour down on the bank and deftly moved over her skin. Her wound that had just started fully healing had split open again in the center. It wasn’t bad, just a loose stitch of sewing, and the rest would hold. Kyree’s chest clenched tightly.

But it wasn’t from fear of being banished for good. It wasn’t fear of being held responsible for the loss of a life.

The panic that washed through her was entirely centered around the fear of losing Honour herself. Honour may not understand the ways of the deep sounding tribes, but she cared about Kyree.

No one here could deny that.

“Don’t look so worried, Kyree.” Hudson was at Kyree’s back once more.

Kyree bit back another moan as the woman’s hard pebbled nipples rubbed against her back. “She’s opened the wound.”

“She’s a tough soldier. She’ll kick it. Maybe she needs some special TLC.” Hudson’s tongue darted out and licked up the outside of Kyree’s ear.

Kyree shuddered.

The touch at her hand made her start. She looked down to see Honour’s eyes open and staring up into her face.

“I’m okay. It’s nothing,” Honour whispered.

“You need to rest. You deserve the right to heal properly. You shouldn’t have even been out here chasing after me.” Kyree’s face fell, and she trailed her fingers over Honour’s chest to check for any more injuries she might have missed.

“What she deserves is the spoils of a battle won.” Hudson pushed away from Kyree, leaving a coldness in her wake.

Kyree ignored Hudson’s words as best she could, but her face heated and her eyes locked on Honour’s. That dark look of arousal Kyree had seen a mere peek of returned, and she wondered if either of them saw her hands shaking as she tended to Honour’s wounds, touching more skin and muscle than she technically needed to.

“Make sure you let me watch when you finally get the tending to you need!” Hudson’s voice was full of joyous laughter.

“Fuck you, Hudson.” Honour growled.

“Oh, I like that idea.” Hudson cackled, and Kyree used all of her strength to focus on healing Honour instead of letting her mind wander to how much she wanted to tend to both of these warriors who had saved her life.