Page 112 of Treasure of the Abyss

“Three days. It was bad, Macy. If he hadn’t brought you here…you would have died. We pumped antibiotics into your bloodstream to kill the infection, but your fever only broke last night.” Aymee grinned. “Your leg is a mess. Whoever patched you up had no idea what they were doing, but it probably saved your life. Whatever sea creature did that to you, you’re lucky you didn’t lose your legoutright.”

“Jax and Arkon savedme.”

“Arkon? Do you mean…there are more likehim?”

Macy hesitated. This was Aymee, who she’d trusted more than anyone in the world. Still did. But she understood, now, Jax’s early hesitance to share anything about his people. “Yes. There aremore.”

“Are they good?” Aymeeasked.

“They distrust humans. They had a…bad past. But yes, I believe they are. They’re more like us than you can imagine, Aymee. Humansmadethem.”

After having Aymee help her sit up, Macy told her friend everything, from the disastrous boat ride to her battle with the razorback. She apologized several times for the hurt she’d caused by allowing everyone to believe her dead. Macy left nothing out, not even her relationship withJax.

Aymee listenedraptly.

“So…you had sex with him?” There was no disgust in Aymee’s voice, onlycuriosity.

Macy’s cheeks heated, but she nodded and smiled. “I know it sounds strange, maybe unnatural to some, but…yes. And I love him, Aymee. He’s mine, and I’m…I’m his. Wejoined.”

Aymee bit her lip, browcreasing.

“Please,” Macy begged, clutching Aymee’s hand to her chest, “don’t judge me.Don’t—”

“I’m not, Mace. Never. It’s just…” She inhaled deeply and met Macy’s eyes. “There’s something I need to tellyou.”

Macy frowned. “What isit?”

“My dad had me scan you when you were brought in, and I found… At first, I thought…” Aymee closed her eyes for a moment, inhaled deeply, and opened them again. “Did you and Camrin go through with yourjoining?”

“What? No! No, we never even made it to land before the stormhit.”

“You’re pregnant,Macy.”

Macy recoiled as though she’d been slapped, hands falling to rest on her stomach — her slightly rounded stomach. She stared at Aymee with a mixture of shock andfear.

She and Jax were too different, practically alien to one another. The possibility of a child had never crossed her mind. How could it even bepossible?

And yet, Aymee wouldn’t lie about this. The kraken were part human…human enough that she and Jax had created alife.

Macy hugged her abdomen. What would it look like? What would itbe? Would…would it beokay?

No, notit. Herbaby.

“What?”

Macy and Aymee started, snapping their heads toward Camrin. He stood in the doorway, his expression shocked as he stared atMacy.

“Y-You and…thatthing?”

“Camrin!” Macy called, but he was gone, the door slamming behind him. She turned to Aymee, her heart pounding. “What will hedo?”

“I don’t know. Stay here. My orders. Yourdoctor’sorders. I’ll make sure he doesn’t do anythingstupid.”

“Thank you,” Macy breathed. “Don’t let him hurtJax.”

“Iwon’t.”

The fishin the other tanks swam in endless circles, clustering in schools that moved with uncanny coordination. Jax had seen it in the sea; here, it looked strange, and reminded him of the funnel of water he’d once watched rise out of the water during an intensestorm.

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