Page 87 of Treasure of the Abyss

“Perhaps we’ll figure out how to paint them, at some point. One matter at a time, though.” Arkon moved toward the door; at its core, his dragging gait was similar to the way Jax moved on land, but Arkon was somehow moregraceful.

She followed him out of the pool room. “Arkon?”

He slowed and twisted to look at her over his shoulder. “Hmm?”

Catching up to him, she glanced down at her hands. “I know we’ve only just met, but you are so easy to talk to you and…and I would like it if I could call you myfriend.”

“Of course, Macy.” He dipped his head. “I have never had a female friend…it is not the way of our people. But I can now boast that my number of friends hasdoubled.”

Something inside her chest warmed. She missed Aymee, and Jax’s frequent absence had left her lonelier than she’d been since their first few days together. Arkon’s friendship was a balm for the wounds her heart hadsuffered.

“The others don’t deserve you,Arkon.”

Water still drippedfrom Jax as he entered the area Macy called theCabins. He’d waited an eternity for the water to drain from the entry chamber and had considered trying to force the interior door more than once. Macy had been sick, as of late, and leaving her alone made himanxious.

He wished he didn’t haveto.

The door to their den was open, as it usually was when they were awake and not otherwise engaged. He entered; Macy wasn’t on the bed, at the table, or in the shower. He called her name and returned to the hallway, callingagain.

There was no answer, no sign ofmovement.

He hurried through the nearby corridors, shouting for her, checking every open room. His hearts pounded, their pace increasing with each emptychamber.

What if she had wandered off and fallen ill? What if another kraken had come, knowing Jax was gone, and takenher?

The surface of Jax’s skin prickled like it was on fire, but he was coldinside.

He left the cabin area, pulling himself through the tunnel with arms and tentacles, and reentered the main building. All was silent save for the gentle hum of the Facility itself. His calls echoed off thewalls.

Along the way, he leaned into every room, both hoping and fearing that he would find her inone.

She wasnowhere.

He found nothing to indicate the recent passage of other kraken, but he’d been out for a long while; any such trails might have dried upalready.

“Macy!” he shouted as he reached the intersection of two maincorridors.

“Was that Jax?” Macy’s voice was unmistakable, though it was distorted bydistance.

He rushed toward it, finally stopping in the doorway of a large room full of screens and controls. Macy and Arkon both looked at Jax from their place at the centralconsole.

“You’re back!” sheexclaimed.

Relief rushed through him, a soothing tide washing over the beach. “You’re all right.” The receding tide left anger in its wake. “Why are you here? You shouldn’t wander far from our den; it is notsafe.”

She frowned. “I needed to get out of there for a littlewhile.”

“What if Kronus had come across you, alone in the hall? What if you had fallen ill in some room that is rarely visited, and I couldn’t find you?” His hearts hadn’t slowed, and the heat on his skin onlyintensified.

“I feel fine, Jax. I was withArkon.”

Jax’s gaze flicked briefly to Arkon, whose expression was unreadable. “You will not leave the cabins again,” he growled, moving into theroom.

“What?” For a moment, her eyes were wide, and her lips parted in shock. Then she straightened, her body going rigid. She glared at him. “I am not an object, Jax! You can’t keep me like I’m some trophy you pulled out of the ocean. I’d think you of all people would understandthat!”

He clenched his jaw; her words struck to his core, twisted inside him like a blade. His voice nearly failed. “Ineedyousafe.”

Jax was no better than the rest of them; he was pushing her into a smaller cage, even though he sought to free her from the one his people hadcreated.

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