Page 72 of Treasure of the Abyss

“I wish I could—” Confusion halted Macy’s words and creased her brow. She glanced down; a pair of black tentacles were wrapped around herankles.

Alarm burst through Jax, but before he could move, Macy’s feet were yanked out from beneathher.

Her scream was cut off when her body slammed into the walkway. She clawed at the ground as she was dragged toward the water. Her desperate, terrified eyes found Jax just before she disappeared over theedge.

She called his name, but a loud splash swallowed hervoice.

Jax darted forward and leapt off the walkway. He landed in churning water. Bubbles obscured his vision as Macy struggled against her attacker, granting Jax only glimpses of her golden hair and the black skin of akraken.

Dracchus.

Chest burning with rage, Jax charged into the writhingtentacles.

Macy kicked and thrashed as her captor attempted to subdue her. Jax forced his tentacles between them and sank his claws into Dracchus’s limbs, tinting the water red with blood. Arkon entered the fray a moment later, attacking Dracchus from behind, and together they pried Macy away from hisgrip.

Skin crimson, Dracchus shifted his effort toJax.

To the surface,Jax signed to Arkon, thrusting Macy towardhim.

Arkon hurried away withher.

Dracchus wound a tentacle around Jax’s throat, dragging him back into thefight.

Rather than pull away, Jax pushed himself toward Dracchus, slamming into him. Their limbs became a tangled mess, tentacles coiling and grabbing, claws slashing, each vying for the advantage. Dracchus sliced open Jax’s cheek; Jax retaliated by jabbing his claws into Dracchus’sribs.

Jax couldn’t see much, between the dim light and flowing blood, but it didn’t matter. Dracchus wouldn’t back down; he was everywhere, exerting his superior strength, crushing and tearing. Jax didn’t try to overpower his foe. He movedwithhis foe’s effort, twisting and redirecting momentum, attacking through every opening left by the largerkraken.

In Jax’s rage, the pain of his wounds was distant. Years of rivalry and challenge made no difference now — Dracchus had laid hands on Jax’s mate, might well have done her harm, might havekilledher. This wasn’t about who was the strongest, or who was best suited to lead. Their people were not here to witness thisbattle.

Thick tentacles wrapped around Jax’s abdomen and dragged him close. Before he could escape, Dracchus clamped his hands over Jax’s throat, cutting off the path of his siphons. Jax buried his claws in his opponent’s forearms, but Dracchus didn’trelent.

Jax clenched his teeth. He would not allow Dracchus to touch Macy again. Would not allow her to come to further harm. He needed, more than anything, to get back to her. To know she wassafe.

He dropped his hands to the tentacles encircling his waist as the edges of his visiondarkened.

If Dracchus meant to have his victory today, there would be a steepprice.

Macy brokeinto a coughing fit the instant her head broke the surface. She hacked up water, her nose and throat on fire. Once her coughing subsided enough, she took in a ragged, burning lungful of air. Her vision — which had been failing due to lack of oxygen — clearedslowly.

The strong arms holding her were notJax’s.

She called his name, searching for him, but she couldn’t see him in the thrashing water. She only knew he was fighting, and that she was being moved away fromhim.

“I have you, Macy,” Arkon said. “Please calmdown.”

“Where’s Jax?” She tried to turn in Arkon’s arms, but he held hertight.

“Jax has faced worse. His concern is for you,now.”

Macy gulped air desperately as Arkon swam to the wall. He removed an arm from her without loosening his hold and pulled himself up the ladder with seemingly little effort. Only when they were on solid ground did he releaseher.

Ignoring the trembling in her limbs, the ache in her chest, and the sting in her nose and throat, she crawled to the edge and stared down into thewater.

Where is he? Where isJax?

Arkon sank down beside her. “Are you all right,Macy?”

“I’mfine.”

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