Page 24 of Treasure of the Abyss

“When I have more reason to trust you, you may have it as atool.”

“Damnit, Jax! What do you think this is going to do to you? It’d be stupid for me to eventry.”

His brow fell low, and his pupils expanded to a strange hourglass shape. Macy held her ground — and his gaze. Finally, he lowered his arm in silentacceptance.

“Thank you,” she said softly and glanced at the fish. She raised her emptyhand.

Jax passed the fish to her without a word and followed when she went to the edge of the water. He eased down beside her to watch; she wasn’t sure if it was an extension of further trust, or if he’d realized she truly didn’t pose any threat to him, knife ornot.

She worked quickly, slicing open the fish’s belly to gut it before cutting a slab of meat from each of its sides. Her father had taught her the motions when she was young, and her hand moved with confidence and familiarity. Whenever she cleaned a fish, she couldn’t help but remember those days spent with him, before they lost Sarina. Her father often sang when he performed such tasks, making up the words as he went and never missing a beat in his huskybaritone.

Her chest ached, and she paused. Her parents were likely worried sick if they didn’t already believe herdead.

One problem at atime.

After she’d stripped the skin from the two fillets, she rinsed the meat and her knife in thewater.

“Are you not going to eat the rest?” Jaxasked.

Macy glanced at the discarded pieces — skin, guts, bones, head, and tail — and wrinkled her nose. “No.”

“That is a waste of goodfood.”

“All yours,” she said, getting to herfeet.

He gathered the scraps, leaving only the bones, and drew his tentacles together to raise historso.

Macy entered the shelter, turned, and sat on the ground before the fire. She set the knife atop its cloth. Jax lowered himself into his version of a sitting position to her left as she selected the largest of the leaves from her pile. She folded them around herfillets.

The wraps sizzled when she laid them atop the crate, releasing a surprisingly sweet smell. She glanced at Jax and immediately regretted doing so; he was slipping fish guts into his mouth and chewing themslowly.

“That’s still gross,” she muttered, keeping her attention on her hands as she wrapped her knife in its cloth and tucked itaway.

“Is that what you think of me, Macy? That I amgross?”

She looked up at him with a frown. Their differences were stark, but they didn’t matter; she’d grown accustomed to his appearance during their short time together. He was more intriguing than anything. There was undeniable beauty to his form and the way hemoved.

“No, Jax. I don’t find you gross.Just…”

“Just goodfood.”

“It’s uncooked, and you’re eating itsbowels.”

“There are no fires underwater, and all the soft bits are good. Perhaps humans don’t appreciate it because you have so manyplantsto eat.” He curled his lip slightly, giving her a glimpse of a pointedtooth.

“I doubt you’ve ever eaten the plants we do, so you can’t say anything about it. And humans don’t appreciate the parasites that come with eating raw meat.” She carefully flipped the meat, drinking in the aroma of cookingfish.

The sky was rapidly shifting to its normal blue, and the air was warming as sunlight streamed through theopening.

Jax’s nostrils flared. “The smell is…notunpleasant.”

The corner of her mouthlifted.

After giving them a bit longer to cook, she plucked both bundles off the crate and lay them on the ground beside her. She opened one, barely allowing it time to cool before she tore into the juicy, flakey fish. It was hot; she inhaled through her mouth to keep from burning her tongue as she chewed, but it was damnedgood.

“Its color is unnatural,” Jax leaned closer and studied the meat with unmaskedcuriosity.

Macy stopped her hand just before she slid another chunk into her mouth. She glanced down at it and held the piece out. “Want to tryit?”

---