Page 25 of Treasure of the Abyss

He accepted the offered morsel, lifting it close to his face to examine with narrowed eyes. After turning it from side to side and giving it a few squeezes, he brought up his other hand and, delicately, tore off a smaller piece with the tips of hisclaws.

“If you’re not going to eat it, give it back,” Macy said after swallowing anotherbite.

Jax swung his gaze to her. Without breaking eye contact, he opened his mouth and placed both pieces onto his tongue. His brow furrowed as he chewed. “This no longer tastes likefish.”

“It does. Likecookedfish. The leaves add some flavor to it, too.” She nibbled on another chunk; only a few tiny bits remained on the first leaf. “At home, we use spices to alter the flavor of our food and create variety in thetastes.”

He ran his tongue over his teeth. “Like the smell, the taste is not unpleasant. But it seems like too much trouble when it already tasted fine as itwas.”

She shrugged and picked up the other bundle. It had cooled enough not to burn her fingers. Unfolding it, she ate insilence.

“Still, it would be interesting to try these…spices,” he said after awhile.

“Spices come fromplants.”

Jax frowned, dropping his gaze to the charred leaves she’d used to wrap thefish.

“My dad loves his food spicy. He makes things so hot it feels like your mouth is on fire. I don’t know why he enjoys it, but he does, even if it makes him turn red and poursweat.”

“So…spices make your mouthburn?”

“Not all of them. There are all kinds, and if you use them right, they can enhance the natural flavor of whatever food you use them on. There are even sweet spices we use to make treats.” She tilted her head. “You probably don’t know what most of that means, doyou?”

“I don’t fully understand. I have heard some of the words before…but they have never held meaning to my people. Still, I think I understandenough.”

Macy finished her fish and slid the leaves into the fire through a slat on the crate. She sat quietly; only the ceaseless burbling of the waterfall broke the silence. This was the second day since she’d been brought here. She didn’t know if Camrin had survived, didn’t know if anyone would even consider them missing,yet.

How long before her parents thought they’d lost another daughter to thesea?

Here, Macy had no one. Jax came and went, and they were two different people from two different worlds. She felt…lost.

Warm tears slid down her cheeks. She hurriedly wiped themaway.

Jax leaned toward her, gaze intent on her face. “Why are your eyes leaking, Macy? Is it somesickness?”

Macy got on her knees. “I swear I won’t say a word about you or yourpeople.”

“I will not argue with you on this again.” He turned away and moved toward the water, his skindarkening.

“Where are you going?” she asked, brushing away moretears.

He didn’t answer, didn’t slow hismovement.

“Jax?”

He continued forward. Macy’s heart quickened, and she scrambled to her feet. She didn’t want to do it again. Didn’t want to spend endless hours alone, caged in with nowhere to go, with no one to talk to. All she’d have were her thoughts, herguilt.

Herfears.

“Jax, please!” She raced after him, and — without thinking — plunged into thewater.

He finally turned toward her. His features were hard, but he watched silently as she waded towardhim.

“Please. D-don’t leave me. Don’t leave me alone here again.” Macy sagged forward, despair sapping her strength. This was all toomuch.

Jax was there suddenly; rather than falling face-first into the water, she fell into the solid, velvet-draped planes of his muscles. His tentacles brushed her legs, unseen beneath the surface. She threw her arms around him andsqueezed.

The thundering of her heart filled her ears. After ten beats, Jax embraced her and lifted her from the water. He cradled her against his chest. She slipped her arms around his neck and buried her face against him, letting her tears flow freely as she sought comfort in hisnearness.

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