Page 111 of Treasure of the Abyss

Jax.

Jax!

“Jax,” Macy rasped, her broken voice thunderous in thesilence.

She opened her eyes. Her vision was a blur of bright light; it cleared slowly, until she realized she was staring at a whiteceiling.

“You’re awake!” cried a lovingly familiarvoice.

Aymee’s arms slipped around Macy in a tightembrace.

Macy raised her hand and brushed her fingers over Aymee’s soft curls. When she turned her head, she saw her parentsapproaching.

“Oh, we were so worried!” Macy’s mother, Madeline, said, brushing tears from her face. “We all thought you were gone. We thought you were…d-d…”

“Dead,” Macy said. That had been the idea. She’d never meant to come back here, but now that she had, her own eyes misted. She’d missed them so damnedmuch.

Breckett stepped closer and swept the hair from her forehead. “It was a close one, Macy. If it weren’t for that…” He looked away, browfurrowed.

“Jax.” Dread flooded Macy as she searched her father’sface.

Where was Jax? He’d brought her here, had promised to if she got worse. She remembered…remembered…the dock. Jax with his head bowed, arms spread; a stance of surrender. He’d revealed himself. Forher.

“Where is he,dad?”

“That monster?” Madeline asked. “He won’t hurt youanymore.”

“He’s not a monster, mom. Jax would never hurt me!” Macy fixed her gaze on Breckett. “Dad,whereis he? Is he here? Is hesafe?”

“Shh,” Aymee soothed, pressing a hand to Macy’s chest and guiding her backdown.

Macy hadn’t realized she’d been struggling to situp.

Aymee glanced at Macy’s parents. “I think you should both go, for now.” She shook her head before they could argue. “She’s my patient, and she doesn’t need to get any more worked up right now. She needsrest.”

Breckett frowned, staring at Macy. Finally, he sighed and leaned forward, pecking a kiss on her brow. “We’ll see you soon, Macygirl.”

Once they’d said their goodbyes, Breckett led Madeline from theroom.

“Where is he, Aymee?” Macy asked as soon as the doorclosed.

Aymee settled down on the bedside and searched her face. “This…Jax… He really isgood?”

“Yes. He’d never hurt me.” Macy caught one of Aymee’s hands and clutched it between her own. “Please, tell me he’sokay.”

“He’s here. The people are wary of him, and there has been talk that he was the one who hurtyou.”

“That’s not true!” Macy exclaimed, struggling torise.

Aymee carefully guided her back down. “I know, I know. I believe you. People are just scared right now. He’s…different.”

Macy recalled the first time she’d seen Jax — his claws, his teeth, his inhuman lower half… She’d feared him then, too. She understood, and yet she hated to hear him called amonster.

“Is he safe?” sheasked.

“Yeah. They have him in one of the storage tanks in the warehouse. Your dad and some people from the town council have tried questioning him for a couple days now, but he refuses to answer them. He just keeps asking if you’reokay.”

Relief eased some of Macy’s tension; they could ask as many questions as they wanted, so long as they didn’t harm him. “How long have I beenhere?”

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