Page 45 of Salt and Knot

“Yes. I want to meet him.” She smiles slightly. “Properly this time.”

The excitement builds in me, the kraken trying to seep out through my skin, despite the lack of water.

Over the last month, I’ve fallen in love with Isla. Being her fated mate is one thing, and we have perfect chemistry, but I have these emotions that are overwhelming, as big as the ocean. Every curious question, every silly joke, every sincere thank-you for things that are only her due makes me fall for her more. Anything I can do to look after my little mate is bigger than bringing down ships or capturing gold. The connection between us that snapped into place has strengthened over time.

With one exception.

My kraken’s need to see Isla has been growing daily. And right now, he knows that something has changed. The pressure behind my eyes where he’s trying to get out—to Isla—is intensifying by the second.

I try to push the kraken away, down. We’re miles inland, this isn’t his place or time. “As soon as we’re back home⁠—”

“Let’s go.” Her eyes are shining. “Now.”

I can’t believe it for a second.

She takes a deep breath. “I love you, and I trust you.”

My heart balloons. I pull Isla into my arms and kiss her, and as my tongue reaches into her mouth, my kraken side lets out a deep, resonant call, just between the two of us. Luring his mate.

“I love you, too, little mate,” I murmur against her lips.

“Yes.” Isla clings to me, pressing herself closer.

“Oh man, you’re not serious?” Aiden cuts into our sweet moment with a grouch from the other side of the room. “Not only does the tentacle monster have a mate, he has to suck her face in front of us.”

Isla laughs against my lips, and I do too, despite myself.

“I know where we’re not wanted,” I say, tossing the comment over my shoulder. “We’ll see you next year.”

There’s a chorus of insults, laughter, and well-wishes as I walk out with my mate. Back to my home, so my mate can—formally—meet my monster.

Chapter 24

Isla

“I have two entrances to my house here. You’ve seen the ground front door, but I also have a water front door, too,” Dylan explains as we re-enter the house. I half expected to go to the shoreline, but Dylan said he has a better idea.

I frown. There’s a whole door I haven’t seen? We’ve been here together for a month. I thought I’d explored every part of the house. It’s big, but surely I’d have noticed a water door? Whatever that is.

“Come on, I’ll show you. This is the best of the indoor pools for the kraken.”

I follow Dylan, and he leads me downstairs to the swimming pool, and towards the far wall where there’s a waterfall feature. It takes me a moment to realise that it screens what’s beyond. He guides me around the waterfall, and a door is revealed.

Beyond is an entrance hall, of sorts, I realise. Lined with granite—the grey stone sparkling with clear and white quartz stones—there are hooks and places to change into other clothes. And in the centre, a huge pool set into ground level.

“The door is in the bottom of the pool,” he says, indicating it. “There’s a direct connection from there to the sea, through an underground passage and caves. It’s mainly for my own convenience. But sea folk appreciate it when they visit. Shifters even more so. It makes it easier to talk if everyone’s comfortable.”

“The water is so dark,” I observe stupidly. My instinct is to back away. “Is it open?”

“It’s completely safe.” He tugs me to his side and strokes his big hand over my hair. “The door is underwater. Stainless steel, inches thick. Don’t worry, no one will visit without my approval. It is a secure door.”

“Good to know.” I lean into him. Even though my heat has gone—for now—he hasn’t stopped with the habit of holding me close whenever he can, and I love the constant physical contact.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asks after a short silence where we both look at the deep pool.

“Yes.” And if there’s a tremor in my voice, can I really be blamed?

He nods. “I’ll get into the pool. And then…”