Ze is right, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m in this mess because he refused to let Azazel give him another human. Even if I were alone in the castle, the castle may or may not be sentient. I could be having adventures right now and annoying Azazel and getting to know Ramanu. Instead, I’m stuck in this keep where every kraken I come across looks at me like I’m fish food. “Is he going to avoid me for the full seven years?”
“No.” Embry puts a tentative hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “Thane has never shirked a responsibility once in his life, and he won’t start now. He just needs some time to adjust to the whole thing.”
It’s obvious that Embry thinks the world of zir brother, so I’m not going to stand here and keep poking at him. That’s a surefire way to get zir to leave and probably never come back, which would be even worse than the fact I perk up every time I hear tentacles against the ground, as if Thane has finally come back to finish what he started that first day.
It’s never him.
Which means he thinks it was a mistake. ThatI’ma mistake.
I drag in a breath and try for a smile. “I don’t suppose there’s some job I could do? I’m going out of my mind here.”
Ze hesitates. “You’re an honored guest.”
“An honored guest who’s bored out of her ever-loving mind. Please, Embry. Do I have to get down on my knees and beg?”
“That won’t be necessary.” Ze sounds mildly panicked. “I’ll see what I can do. If you really want some kind of job, I suppose there’s something we could figure out. Give me a day or two.”
“Thank you.” I beam at zir. “I really appreciate it.”
“Just... don’t make me regret it.”
“Of course. I promise.”
I really hope I’m not lying through my teeth.
7
THANE
After the encounter with Catalina, guilt chases me into the depths, and then it keeps me there for days. Revisiting the heat of her hands against my chest, the way it felt to wrap her in my tentacles, how sweet she looked as she came.
I’ve hardly been celibate since Brant’s death. Loneliness creeps through even the hardest exteriors and drives me to seek out company. Always with the clear understanding that it will never last longer than a night, that I am incapable of giving more. Those encounters have been soft and considerate and... nothing like what happened with Catalina.
I wanted to bend her to my will.
I still do, if I’m being honest with myself.
“Thane.” Embry descends through the entrance above me, speaking in the clicks and movements we use to communicate under the water. Ze looks about disapprovingly. “You’re hiding.”
“There are repairs that need to be overseen.” I motion to the window overlooking the current construction. Water is a glorious element, but destructive in the way all elements are. With the keep being mostly beneath the surface, it’s an ever-present battle to ensure the foundations stay strong and stable.
Embry crosses zir arms over zir chest. “Overseen personally by the leader of the territory instead of the foreman you assigned to the task a month ago.”
I don’t blush, but it takes effort to keep from fidgeting like a youngling caught out. Embry has always had that effect on me, for all that ze is my younger sibling. “It’s an important task.”
“Your human is causing problems.”
“Catalina is notmyhuman.”
“Isn’t she?” Ze cocks zir head to the side. “Because I don’t believe anyone else in this territory made a deal with the bargainer-demon leader to bring a human into the territory, despite the fact you’ve been very clear about your desire not to breed or displace me as the heir.”
I grit my teeth. “You know why I made that bargain.” I had to keep our territory at least appearing on equal ground as the others. If I’m the only territory leader who didn’t accept Azazel’s invitation, it would have put me at a disadvantage. When things aren’t equal between the territories, people get hurt.
“Yes, I do. I’m just remindingyouof it.” Embry sighs. “I know things got a bit out of control that first day.”
“Excuse me?”
“Don’t pull that stuffy-lord voice with me, Thane. By the time she got the courage to start exploring, your scent wasstillall over her.” Zir gaze softens. “No one expects you to replace Brant.”