I don’t know why the kraken chose me. He doesn’t like me. It’s written all over the derisive way he talks to me and the blatant distance he keeps between us. I read the contract. I know he can seduce me, but he doesn’t seem interested in doing any kind of seducing.
That should be a relief. I won’t pretend I’m not more than a little curious about the tentacles—truly, I’ve seen some inspired art in my day, and the possibility of experiencing it in real life is more tantalizing than I expected—but that doesn’t mean I want to fuck a fish. Wait. Krakens are squid, right? I’m pretty sure squid aren’t technically classified as fish. I frown and then shrug. Oh well, it doesn’t matter. His obvious distaste for me echoes far too many people in my life.
Even the tentacle-man doesn’t want me.
Truly, I just keep digging past rock bottom, deeper and deeper. I would have thought making a deal with a demon would be the worst of it, but apparently, I was not imaginative enough when it comes to disappointing those around me.
“I am not drowning you.”
I will never admit it out loud, but his voice is nice. It’s deep enough that I’d be drawn to him if not for the damned cold that permeates every aspect of his presentation. He holds out a hand, and for all that, there’s no invitation here, just a clear command for me to take it.
Now isn’t the time to fight for the sake of fighting. Azazel promised my safety, and while I don’t think he likes me very much, he’s painfully serious about the bargain itself. He won’t let King Kraken hurt me, especially not in Azazel’s own castle.
“What’s your name?”
He blinks. “Excuse me?”
“Your name. I’m assuming you have one.” I tried to decipher it on the contract itself, but it was an incomprehensible scribble that would do any doctor proud. “Unless you want me to keep calling you King Kraken.”
For a moment, it seems like he might not answer me, but he finally sighs. “Thane.”
Damn it. It’s a nice name. Not that it matters. I know my strengths, which are few, and my weaknesses, which are plentiful. If there’s one thing I’m going to do, it’s shatter myself against the wall of someone who will always find me wanting.
I manage to keep my silence as I slip my hand into his and follow him into the water. It doesn’t escape my notice that he keeps his tentacles from touching me, despite the fact I’m walking at his side and they are a mass around both of us. But why would he want to touch me more than he strictly has to? He doesn’t like me.
The water hits my thighs and the hem of my short dress. We keep going. The canal is deeper than I realized, and I’m quickly soaked to the chest. “Um.”
Thane pauses. “Yes?” he grits out.
“I suppose now is a good time to tell you that I don’t know how to swim.”
The first flash of emotion warms his face. Complete disbelief. “You don’t know how to swim,” he echoes. “How is that possible?”
My mother found public pools to be filthy and refused to let me swim in them. The same could be said for lakes, rivers, and the ocean itself, not that I had much reason to spend time in any body of water. “Just lucky, I guess.”
He’s still staring at me like I sprouted a second head, which is hilarious considering what’s sprouting fromhishead. Thane eyes the water and then me again. “This presents a complication.”
No shit, Sherlock.
“Does it?” I ask sweetly. “Are you sure you weren’t going to drown me? Because even if I could swim, I sure as hell can’t breathe underwater.”
Another of those pauses that speaks volumes. Thane shakes his head slowly. “Right. Of course. An oversight on my part. We’ll speak with—”
“Is there a problem?”
We turn to find Ramanu leaning against the wall near the stairs. They’re relaxed, as if they’ve been there for hours, and I can’t tell if they sprinted here or simply materialized, courtesy of the castle. Either way, I’m relieved to see a friendly face, even if I only spoke to them briefly today. “Ramanu!”
“No problem, demon.” It seems impossible, but Thane has gone even colder.
Ramanu grins, and I recognize that expression down to my very soul. This is another person who likes ruffling feathers. They lift their hand, and Thane stares at the bracelet dangling from their black claws. “Where did you get that?”
“I’m a bargainer demon.” Ramanu swings the bracelet idly. “We make bargains.”
“That doesn’t belong to you.”
“It does now.” Their grin never wavers. “What will you give me for it?”
For one wild moment, I think Thane really considers givingmefor the bracelet. I’m honestly not entirely opposed to the idea. Ramanu seems like fun, and they actually emote, which would be a nice change of pace from this icy kraken.