Page 48 of Treasure of the Abyss

He longed for her companionship. To hear her voice, and listen to everything she had to say, to share his meals with her, to share a den withher.

Jax wanted Macy to claim him as herown.

He wanted to be theoneshe chose. The one shejoinedwith.

“Are you ready?” heasked.

She inhaled deeply and slow released the breath. “I’mready.”

Though her features were drawn, displaying her fear, her eyes remainedsteady.

She has the heart of ahunter.

Jax smiled and dippedunderwater.

Chapter 11

Macy tightenedher hold on Jax as they submerged. She waited for water to fill her ears, nose, and mouth, to drag her to depths that couldn’t be penetrated by light, but she was met with only silence. Her lungs filled with fresh, cleanair.

The light in the mask made it difficult to see through the dark water surroundingher.

“Sam, could you turn off the insidelight?”

It turned offinstantly.

Ice flowed through her as she was plunged into darkness. Her heart thundered, and her breath grew shallow. The ocean was terrifying enough, but the ocean in totaldarkness?

“Would you like the external lamp switched on, or would you prefer to activate nightvision?”

A gentle glow filled her vision. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust, and another few to understand the source of the illumination — Jax. His stripes emitted soft, bluelight.

“I…don’t need anything right now,Sam.”

She stared at Jax in wonder as they descended toward an opening on the cave wall, near the floor — a tunnel. Her hold on him strengthened while he guided them through the opening. Keeping an arm around her, he pulled them along with his free hand and tentacles, maneuvering around the turns and avoiding juttingrocks.

Macy was glad she hadn’t been brave enough to attempt this route on her own. She had no doubt she would’vedrowned.

Soon, she saw a light ahead; Jax’s skin dimmed as they neared. They emerged from the tunnel soonafter.

The ocean was as she’d never seen it before. Rays of morning sunlight streamed through the surface at harsh angles, lighting up the sea floor below — swaying seagrass, sand, and colorful bits of coral. In the shaded spots, the plants gave off their own light, all in various shades of blue. Fish and other sea creatures — some that she’d never seen before — swam alone and in schools or scuttled along thebottom.

She raised her eyes and looked straight ahead. It was so open and blue, sobeautiful, soterrible, and she was an insignificant thing that could be swallowed up at anymoment.

Except she had Jax. Jax, who’d sworn to keep her safe. This washisworld, and she trustedhim.

Admitting that to him — and to herself — had eased her fears. She didn’t have to carry it on her own. Jax was strong, and he was here to lessen her burden, to ensure she wasn’t crushed beneathit.

Macy turned her head toward him. He was watching her intently, and hadn’t loosened his hold onher.

“I’m okay,” shesaid.

He shook his head and gestured to the side of his head — where his ear hole waslocated.

He can’t hearme.

She released her hold on his neck and placed a hand on the center of her chest. With her other hand, she pointeddown.

Jax nodded and swam toward the bottom. His movement was strange, in open water; he’d fan out his tentacles and bring them all together, thrusting himself forward. Each thrust propelled them far, their speed diminishing just before he spread his tentacles again. They reached the seafloor within seconds. Various creatures scurried away, kicking up clouds of sand as they sought shelter amidst rocks, pieces of coral, and clumps ofgrass.

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