Chapter 8

"Nerissa?"The name escapes my lips, a whispered echo of the countless times it has resonated in the chambers of my mind since I welcomed my delicate mate into the sanctuary of my kingdom.

She was a vision of vulnerability, her exhausted body bearing the scars of survival, and I knew all too well the weight of her ordeal. In her fragile state, she was hardly ready to absorb the profound depths of her importance to me and to our realm. I watched over her rest, patiently waiting for the moment she would be strong enough to understand the connection that fate had spun between us.

When she finally stirred from her deep slumber, I discreetly withdrew from her presence, leaving her in the capable hands of my trusted attendants. It was their duty to gently acclimate her to the strange new world that is to become her home. My own appearance, I knew, could be unsettling. A creature of my stature and nature rarely instills calm in those unaccustomed to the sights of our species. Therefore, I reluctantly retreated into the shadows—my heart heavy with the knowledge that my very being might overwhelm her fragile senses.

"Nerissa?" My voice barely rises above a whisper, filled with a mixture of longing and concern. I can"t see her, yet the intoxicating scent of my mate"s fragrance wafts through the air, guiding me toward a large changing panel against the wall. She"s concealed herself behind it, and the sound of her pulsating heartbeat—a rapid, delicate thrum—echoes faintly in the quiet room. It speaks clearly of her fear, an unwelcome contrast to the reunion I had imagined.

This isn"t the beginning I had hoped for us, but I'm determined to put her mind at ease.

"Who are you? What are you?" Nerissa's voice quivers, each word trembling with palpable fear as it cuts through the silence. Her fear, though understandable given the shock of a world beyond her wildest imagination, sends a pang of sorrow through me. The realization that she fears not only this unknown realm but also me, stings deeply. It is my solemn duty, from this moment forward, to protect her, and my heartfelt privilege to love her. Yet, this path seems fraught with challenges if she remains wary of my presence. Earning her trust will be a daunting task if she keeps her distance.

"My name is Egon. As for what I am, that might be a bit more difficult to explain. Centuries ago, we were known as Leviathans by mortals who wrote terrifying tales of us—monstrous creatures sinking ships and ravaging coastal villages. Among ourselves, however, we have always been Kraken." Cautiously, I peer behind the panel to better gauge her reaction, sensing the novelty of this revelation for her. It's clear she is unaware of her lineage, how deeply her family's history is entangled with my own.

"Like the Kraken from mythology?" Nerissa's voice rises, her eyes alight with a mix of fear and fascination.

"Those stories were greatly exaggerated, crafted more for entertainment than truth. We were never the monsters chained to the bottom of the sea, released only to wreak havoc. We have always valued our solitude—attacked only when provoked. That's the very reason we retreated to this sanctuary—a realm fashioned for magical beings," I explain, struggling to make the unbelievable sound plausible to her newly awakened senses.

Nerissa edges closer, her eyes expanding with awe as she absorbs the reality of my being—perhaps grappling with the sheer improbability that someone like me could exist. "Are you the one who saved me? Did I somehow stumble into this world by mistake?"

I extend my hand toward her, the gesture laden with silent hope. My heart pounds with the anticipation of her touch, yearning to feel the warmth of her skin against mine once more. "I brought you here," I confess, my voice catching slightly as I brace myself to reveal the truth. I swallow hard, the admission heavy on my tongue. "It was no accident—I guided you to the Otherworld, driven by reasons deeply tied to both our destinies."

"Our destinies?" Nerissa whispers, her voice a blend of wonder and uncertainty. Tentatively, she places her hand in mine, her fingers interlocking until I secure our grip, gently guiding her from behind the panel that shields her. "I don't understand what that means." Her gaze drops to our clasped hands, seemingly finding comfort in the sight rather than meeting my eyes. The fear I sensed earlier seems to have dissolved, replaced now by a burgeoning curiosity. The magnetic pull, the unspoken bond that ties fated mates, is an undeniable force that no one can elude. If she feels even a fragment of the profound connection stirring within me, her desire to uncover the truth will inevitably grow.

"Do I feel familiar to you?" I ask, the closeness to my mate infusing my body with a potent mix of desire and anticipation. Gently, I curl a tentacle around her waist, guiding her toward the door.

Surprisingly, she offers no resistance—instead, her free hand caresses my sinuous limb, tracing its contours with fascination. She is unaware of the intensity of sensation she evokes; each of my tentacles is laden with nerve endings, as sensitive as any erogenous zone. Her touch sends ripples of pleasure through me, stirring a deep yearning. Unbeknownst to her, this caress is part of a traditional mating ritual among Kraken. Her actions, perhaps driven by an innate instinct, resonate deeply with our ancestral customs, suggesting a connection that goes beyond coincidence.

"I don't know. Everything feels too unreal to think straight," Nerissa confesses, her voice tinged with a blend of awe and confusion. She lifts her head, and our eyes lock—an electric connection sparking as her green eyes widen, visibly dilating in response to the sight of me. Her gaze roves over me, lingering on each detail, exploring every contour with an intensity that leaves me feeling exposed yet deeply desired. As she takes in my form, I can feel her emotions shifting from bewilderment to recognition. Her lips part slightly, and she murmurs almost inaudibly, "Thank you for saving me." The vulnerability in her voice, coupled with the gratitude, stirs a protective instinct in me, and I pull her closer, my tentacles gathering around her thighs.

"I will always save you. I will always protect you. Long ago, the gods destined us for each other. This reality might be new to you, but I have waited six hundred years for this very moment," I confess softly, my words filled with longing and a trace of urgency. As we move together through the hall, I guide her gently toward the exit. An intuitive sense tells me she needs reassurance—to know she is not confined, not a prisoner in this strange new world. It's my duty, my purpose, to ensure her happiness and to show her the freedom and care that now define her life here. "Forgive me if I seem overly eager."

"Will you take me to the surface? I need…need to breathe air and—" Nerissa"s words falter, her voice a whisper of longing as her gaze lifts to follow the sun"s light filtering through the water above us. It"s a common plea among newcomers, their bodies might adapt to breathing underwater, but their minds often wrestle with a phantom pressure, an imagined weight on their chests making the aquatic environment feel confining.

I nod in understanding, and we begin our ascent slowly, our eyes locked in a silent communion. As we rise, the sun"s rays draw closer, casting an ethereal glow around us, illuminating the moment of our union. Each upward movement feels like a step toward a new beginning, the water around us shimmering with the promise of shared futures. I have never been more grateful to the divine forces that sculpted our destinies. They did not abandon me. My mate, long awaited, is finally by my side.