Page 114 of Treasure of the Abyss

He was silent for a time, glaring at Jax. Without another word, he turned and left, sliding one of the doors open only wide enough to shovethrough.

The female looked atJax.

“Let me out,” he said. “Take me toher.”

Regret filled her eyes. “I can’t dothat.”

“I will break out if Imust.”

“That’ll make things worse. A lot of people think you’re dangerous, and that’ll just prove to them their fears are justified.” She stepped closer, her gaze moving over him, pausing first at his claws, then histentacles.

A few more blows and the tank would shatter. He’d be free to findMacy.

And how would that help? He didn’t know The Watch, didn’t know where she was, and the place was full of humans. Though they’d escorted him here with simple weaponry in hand, he’d seen the long guns the guards carried now. They’d kill him, and he’d never know for sure if she wassafe.

“Ineedto see her,” he rasped. It brought her eyes back tohis.

“Macy just woke up. She…told meeverything.”

“So you know I did not harm her. You know I am only here to ensure she issafe.”

“Yes. And I believe her. Believe you. But there are a lot of folks here who won’t. Camrin and I are her friends, but others… They’re not going to see past what you are very easily. Being here could be dangerous for you, and now, forher.”

The concern in the female’s voice broke through Jax’s desperation for a moment; she cared for Macy, deeply. “You areAymee.”

She smiled. “She talked aboutme?”

He nodded. “Yes. With…love.”

“And I love her, which is why we need to get both of you out of here. Not now, but soon. Can you trust me enough to give me sometime?”

Aymee held his gaze as he searched hereyes.

“Macy trusts you. So doI.”

She nodded. “Thankyou.”

“What did he mean, Aymee? What monster is growing inside ofher?”

“Not a monster. A baby.Yours.”

Jax froze; his muscles refused to move, his breathing ceased, and his hearts were still. It seemed like many moments passed in that state. The entire world was motionless. When he could finally move, it was a struggle to speak. “She…how? How can youknow?”

“She told me how your kind were made. That you have human DNA. When her father brought her in, I was the one to check her, and I…saw it. It doesn’t look like a normal human fetus. And she’s… It’s far more developed than it should be by now. She’s only been gone for a month and a half, but the fetus looks like it’s in its second trimester. How long do your kind carrybabies?”

“Four months.” He barely heard his own response. Offspring were so rare for the kraken, so precious… The thought of procreating with Macy had never crossed his mind. How could it even bepossible?

What would their youngling be? Human, kraken, or something else entirely? What would his people think of the child? Would they rejoice, knowing that there was a chance to grow again, to thrive, or would they think such offspring abominations to bothkinds?

The doors opened wider, and light from outside streamed into the building. Aymee glanced behindher.

“I have to go. Please, be patient. I’ll talk to her, and we’ll make a plan. Just know that she isokay.”

He nodded numbly and watched as she turned and hurried out, gesturing to the guards on her way. Jax closed his eyes and dropped to the bottom of the tank. His mind swirled like the churning sea beneath a fierce storm, but he took some solace in the knowledge that Macy had woken up and waswell.

Aymee had given herword.

Jax would see Macysoon.

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