Page 104 of Treasure of the Abyss

Nodding, Arkon leaned over her leg. With two fingers, he pushed one of the gashes closed. Macy whimpered. Arkon pressed the tip of the gun to her skin and pulled thetrigger.

Macy’s entire body tensed, and her mouth opened in a scream that was, for several terrifying moments, silent. She thrashed, pulling her leg away, and nearly rolled off thebed.

“I thought you knew how to use it!” Jax shouted, catching Macy by hershoulders.

“I do! But…I’ve only seen it used on unconscious individuals.” Arkon grasped her ankle to hold her leg still. “It’s working. Hold her down, and I will seal her wounds as quickly as Ican.”

Jax met Macy’s glistening, desperateeyes.

“I need something to bite down on,” shesaid.

Jax tore a piece off the sheet and twisted it into a tight bundle. She opened her mouth, and he placed it between her teeth. She bitdown.

He leaned over her, repositioning his tentacles to take hold of her thighs, and pressed some of his weight atop her. “Focus on me,Macy.”

Her eyes widened for an instant before she squeezed them shut again. She writhed beneath him, and Jax increased the pressure on her limbs so she wouldn’t jar Arkon as heworked.

“On me, Macy,” he repeated, more firmly. “Listen to me. Hear me. What you did was foolish. You are luckier than you may ever know to be alive rightnow.”

The cloth in her mouth muffled her scream. When she was able to open her eyes, she kept them on Jax. Her gaze was filled with pain, but there was something else beneath it.Determination.

“I told you to stay here, for your own safety, and you disobeyed me,” Jax continued. “Somewhere beneath my worry is anger…but the youngling is alive because of you. You saved her life, and though you risked death, this is not your final day. You have proven yourself a hunter today, awarrior.

“My pride for you is beyondwords.”

Moisture flowed from her eyes. She grasped his arms tighter, digging her blunt nails into hisskin.

Arkon turned her leg and squeezed the triggeragain.

Macy arched her back. Jax shifted his weight to keep her pelvis on the bed and her thighs pinned. Her pupils expanded before rolling up, displaying only whites, and she sagged, limp, onto thebed.

“Macy!”

“What happened?” Arkonasked.

Jax pressed a shaky hand to her chest, trying to ignore his pounding hearts. He closed his eyes, clenched his jaw tight enough that he risked breaking his teeth, andstilled.

Faintly, he felt the beat of her heart under his palm; it was slow and weak, but it was there. Relief eased some of hispanic.

“She lost consciousness,” he replied. “Finishquickly.”

As Arkon resumed his work, Jax cupped Macy’s cheek. Her skin was cold and clammy; less than an hour before, she’d been warm, vibrant, full of life. “Youwillbe fine, Macy,” he said, voice rumbling from hischest.

Chapter 21

“Iwant to see the human.”

“She is resting, Rhea.Leave.”

It hadn’t been the voices that woke Macy, but the pain radiating from her leg, blazing along every nerve. Her throat was parched, and she was too warm. She afraid to move, even to open her eyes, and longed for the oblivion that had claimed herbefore.

“I will not. I want to see the human,” Rhea said again, voice hard with authority. “Let mepass.”

“No.” Jax’s tone was equally firm. “I will send for you when she is awake, so she can turn you away by her ownchoice.”

“I don’t want to fight,” Macy said. She opened her eyes and slowly turned her head toward the doorway, where Jax barred Rhea’sentry.

Jax twisted to look at Macy. His features eased with relief, but he didn’t move. “There is no fight. Rhea isleaving.”

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