Page 47 of Treasure of the Abyss

“Okay,” she repeated. Her voice was different, somehow. She sounded more like theghosts.

“Are you all right?” heasked.

Macy’s eyes shifted to Jax. A soft light inside the mask illuminated herface.

“I’m fine.” She offered him a large smile. “Just…surprised. It’s strange, but I think it’llwork.”

She lifted her left arm and touched the white piece on her wrist. A small hologram appeared in the air over it, filled with shapes and symbols. The symbols moved when she touched them with her fingers; after a few swipes, the mask released with a quiet hiss of air. She took it in bothhands.

“Yeah, it’ll work. Just wanted to make sure it came off.” She brought the mask up to her face, and it resealed. Then she paused, eyes drifting upward, and nodded. “Okay, Sam. Thankyou.”

“What?” Jaxasked.

“You can’t hearhim?”

“Hear who? Theghost?”

“Yes. Sam. He’s talking to me in the suit.” She tilted her head. “You can hear me, but nothim?”

“I have not heard him since he disappeared, Macy.” The ghost was speaking to her in her head? It made Jax uneasy, but if she trusted it, so would he…though he’d remainwary.

“I guess his voice doesn’t project like minedoes.”

She walked to the edge of the island and lowered herself into the water; with the receding tide, it only reached to her middle. Her hands skimmed over thesurface.

“It’s so different. Like I’m not even in the water at all,” she said, looking over her shoulder at Jax. “It’s not evencold.”

Jax moved into the water as well. Macy bent down, submerged her arms, and swung them slowly back and forth. He eased himself as deep as his shoulders and swam backward, toward the underwatertunnel.

“This way,Macy.”

The water rose as she followed. She didn’t stop until it reached her neck, head tilted back to keep her chin above the waterline. Her rounded eyes were locked on the dark water beforeher.

“Macy?”

“I’m…I’mscared.”

He swam to her side and placed a hand on her arm; the suit felt different, now that she had it on, and seemed to vibrate faintly beneath his palm. “What is there tofear?”

She laughed. “Everything. Humans aren’t meant for thesea.”

“And kraken are not meant toexist,” he replied gently, “but that hasn’t stopped either of ourpeople.”

She stared at him, her gaze unwavering. “Will you…will you keep hold ofme?”

“Yes.” He moved to her front, facing her, and put an arm around her waist. She hugged his neck and didn’t struggle when he raised two tentacles to support her legs and lift her feet off thebottom.

Slowly, Jax swam backward. Her body tensed. The suit’s low thrum pulsed throughhim.

“I will protect you, Macy. I will keep you safe. Trust me inthis.”

Macy encircled his hips with her legs, holding herself that much closer, and searched his face. She nodded. “Ido.”

“Good.” His chest swelled with pride and, somethingmore.

Their position was very near the tangle of limbs that was two kraken mating. His shaft, still hidden, was pressed between her legs. It ached to bereleased.

Their relationship had changed so much in so short a time; a few days ago, she would’ve slapped him if he laid a finger upon her. Now, she clung to him like he was her rock during a storm. But his physical attraction to her was only a small part of his desire forMacy.

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