Page 61 of Kraken the Seal

A large delivery van sped down the street, clearly intent on ramming into Delmar. With a violent sweep of a massive tentacle, Delmar sent the van flying over several buildings. I couldn't see where it landed, but I heard the impact and a sudden explosion caused a bright light.

“That van was full of propane canisters," Archer said with a shake of his head. “Idiot was probably trying to get close and set it on fire. He must've thought he could blow Delmar up. I blame action movies.”

I looked up to see a bitterly amused expression on Archer's face. He rubbed a hand over his face and moved his gaze to mine. “None of this needed to happen.”

“I know.”

“This is my fault,” he said. Even though he was looking me in the eyes, I don't think he was talking to me. “I could've stopped this. I should've challenged Dad sooner. The moment he didn't give me an answer when I told him Abby was my mate, I should've stood up to him.”

“He was your dad,” I murmured. “And I think he might've been a good dad when you were growing up. That complicates things.”

Archer nodded but then shook his head. “My mate should've come first. I've been so blind.”

More crashing brought our attention back to Delmar. He was having a fun time systematically destroying each building on Main Street while the men had all retreated with helpless looks on their faces.

They probably ran out of ammunition.

Movement made me look to Delmar's right. Norris was there, holding a shotgun, but he wasn't aiming it at Delmar; he was running at us.

“Oh, shit!” Archer said, putting his body between me and the mayor. “Dad, what do you think you're doing? It's over!”

“If that fucking kraken is going to destroy my town, then I'll destroy something he loves!” Norris screamed. “Move, Archer, or I'll kill you too.”

“No!” Archer yelled.

I moved my head so I could see past Archer's bulk, trying to think of something I could say to get Norris to put down the gun. My mind was a complete blank, but I didn't need to think of anything.

A giant kraken tentacle slammed down on top of Norris, smooshing him like an overripe grape.

“My God,” I whispered, stepping out from behind Archer. He’d gone silent and pale, staring at the puddle that had been his father. I put a hand on his shoulder. “I'm sorry.”

Archer blinked rapidly, trying to hold back tears. “He wasn't the man I thought he was.”

Delmar lifted his head and screamed into the night. When he was finished, everything was oddly silent.

A row of shops and several houses had been destroyed, and one house was on fire from the truck exploding. It was a good night’s work. It would be a long time before any colony thought they could kidnap a selkie or kill a kraken!

I guess Delmar was finished with his rampage because he moved back toward me and Archer. The selkie ran to get out of the way, but I stayed where I was. I had no fear of Delmar, no matter how big he was.

I had a moment of doubt when he swept me up in a tentacle, but that was quickly gone. He held me in a gentle grip and carried me to the water. I thought I might need to take my seal form again, but he never let me get wet. Keeping me wrapped safely in one of his appendages, he swam us out of the harbor and into the open water.

Only the top of his mantle and the tentacle holding me were above the water. He swam amazingly fast, putting distance between us and the town. Except we were out in the open ocean. Was he going to swim us all the way back to San Diego?

When I saw his boat, I understood.

“Home,” I murmured, hugging my arms around the tip of the appendage holding me.

When he got there, he lifted me up and set me down inside the boat before disappearing under the water. It wasn’t long before a human Delmar was climbing aboard, dripping wet but completely unharmed.

I let go of the blanket and wrapped my arms around him. He hugged me back, and we stood like that for several silent minutes.

Even though we looked to be several miles from the coast, it didn't feel far enough. Many of the selkies who'd attacked us were gone, but there could be more. It didn't matter that Norris was dead, I couldn't trust one of his followers not to come looking for revenge.

“I don't want to stay here,” I whispered. “I know it's late, and you've already done so much, but can we leave?”

“I want to leave too. Let me dry off,” he said, lifting me up and carrying me inside the cabin. He set me down and then grabbed his towel from a hook. After drying himself off, he threw on some clothes.

I could’ve done the same, but I felt strangely numb. I remained where he set me down, still wrapped in the thick, soft blanket Archer had given me.