Page 105 of Treasure of the Abyss

Rhea met Macy’s eyes. “Will you let me speak,human?”

“Her name isMacy.”

Macy stared at the female kraken and gave a small nod; it was all the motion she could stand. Now that she’d regained consciousness, her leg throbbed, each beat a new wave ofagony.

Frowning, Jax shifted aside. Rhea entered, with Melaina close behind. The girl hurried past her mother and grasped the low rail on the edge of the bed, bringing her face close toMacy’s.

“Hi.” Macy forced asmile.

Melaina smiled, too, but it quickly faded. “Why are you still inbed?”

Jax took up a position beside Rhea, folded his arms over his chest, and watchedsilently.

“My leg doesn’t want to work rightnow.”

“When it does, can we dance again? I like your music. I like dancing with you, too. I am sorry this is myfault.”

“Melaina,” Rheaintoned.

“I would love to dance with you again.” Macy glanced at Rhea. “It was the best fun I’ve everhad.”

“Me, too,” Melaina grinned and lifted a tentacle, brushing it over Macy’sarm.

“If you wanted your youngling to see Macy, you should have said so,” Jax grumbled. “I would have letherthrough.”

Rhea glared at Jax. “It is not Melaina alone who wishes to speak to her. I…have a few words.” The female turned her attention back to Macy, and the heat went out of her gaze. “I was wrong. At least about you. If you hadn’t found my Melaina,she…”

“It’s okay,” Macy said, and despite her discomfort, slipped a hand through the railing and brushed the backs of her fingers against Rhea’sforearm.

The female kraken flinched, but her expression was more confused thanalarmed.

“Thank you,” Rhea said. She settled a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Come, Melaina. We must allow her torest.”

Melaina opened her mouth to protest, but she snapped it shut when she met her mother’s stern gaze. “You promise we can dance again, Macy?” she asked as she was ledaway.

“I promise. As soon as I’mbetter.”

After Rhea and Melaina exited, Jax moved to the bedside, sank down, and took Macy’s hand. “How do youfeel?”

“It hurts so much, Jax.” There was no reason to pretend, with Melainagone.

He frowned deeply, brow falling low, and touched her cheek. “You are warmer than normal, Macy, and you have not regained yourcolor.”

She closed her eyes. His palm was cool against her heated skin. “Do you remember what I said aboutinfections?”

“That infections prevent wounds fromhealing.”

“And could get worse.” She opened her eyes. “I have a fever. My wound is likely infected, and there’s a good chance thiswillget worse before it getsbetter.”

Somehow, his expression grew even more distressed. “And if itdoes?”

Macy searched his face. She hated to worry him, hated that her recklessness was doing this to him…but if she hadn’t gone out, who could say if the kraken would’ve found Melaina intime?

“It… The infection could get into my bloodstream…and I could die if it’s not treatedproperly.”

The look on his face hurt worse than her leg, if only briefly. She couldn’t imagine what he was feeling — he’d likely thought her as good as dead when he found her with the razorback, and after the frantic return to the Facility and his desperate attempts to care for her injuries, she was still in danger ofdeath.

“How do we treat it?” His voice was surprisinglysteady.

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