Page 71 of Treasure of the Abyss

“It is,” Macy replied. “My friend Aymee is tanner than me, and her hair is brown. Some humans have lighter or darker skin, and different colored eyes and hair. I guess it’s just not something I think about much because it’s normal to me. The colors I see on you and Jax are different…and we don’tchangecolors,either.”

“They do,” Jax corrected, “but it is much subtler, and they cannot controlit.”

Arkon moved closer still, stopping immediately in front ofMacy.

Jax tensed for a moment. His instinct was to protect, but he trusted hisfriend.

Lifting a hand, Arkon brushed his fingertips over Macy’s hair. Jax recalled his own curiosity and fascination all too well; neither had truly diminished, but it didn’t make it easier to watch another male touchher.

Arkon’s nostrils flared, and he met Jax’s gaze. “Yourscent…”

Jaw clenched, Jax nodded. He hadn’t anticipated this reaction in himself, couldn’t have guessed he’d feel this way, but there was no denying it. Macy washis, and he wasn’t comfortable withanyonetouchingher.

Arkon dropped his hand and backed away. “You mated with a human?” His expression was too conflicted todecipher.

Jax waited for a flash of shame, for the sense that he’d betrayed his people, the guilt of committing an unspeakable wrong. All he felt was contentment. What shame was there in what he and Macy hadshared?

“Um…he cansmellthat?” Macy’s rubbed her reddened cheeks. “Of course he can,” shemuttered.

“This…” Arkon’s eyes darted between Jax and Macy. “This isamazing. Everything…everything worked? It all fittogether?”

“Wha…? Oh god.” Macy hid behindJax.

“Arkon,” Jax growled, baring histeeth.

“Take no offense, please. This is simplyfascinating.”

“I’m not offended,” Macy said. “It’s just… People don’t usually talk about that so openly. But, um, yes. We…fit.”

Jax glanced at her over his shoulder, brow low. “If you answer him, it will only encourage him to askmore.”

“My silence didn’t deteryou.”

“So you are willing to answer questions that make you uncomfortable?” Jax asked. When she nodded, he moved away, allowing Macy and Arkon full view of one another, and leaned against the wall. “Consider yourselfwarned.”

Arkon grinned. “Jax,what—”

“Shehas agreed to answer your questions, Arkon. Notme.”

“Someof them,” Macysaid.

A thousand questions flitted across Arkon’s face, but he gave voice to none of them immediately. The tips of his tentacles writhed ceaselessly on the floor. Jax had rarely seen him soexcited.

After a long hesitation, Arkon turned to the wall and swept his eyes over the painting. “How did your people createthis?”

“With paint and brushes. Something that size, with that much detail, would’ve taken a long time tofinish.”

“But…how?” Arkon reached forward, trailing a fingertip over the paint. “When you look at it in little pieces, it’s a mess. A jumble of uneven colors, lacking precision. But when you step back, it somehow comes together to make something…real.”

Macy tilted her head and smiled. “You almost sound like Aymee. She sees more detail in everything than I ever could, especially when shepaints.”

“You know someone who can dothis?”

“Yeah. She could probably even teach you.” Macy’s smile faltered. “She’s back in The Watch,though.”

Jax didn’t miss the sorrow on Macy’s face, or the way her shoulders drooped. She’d given up everything she’d known for him. This was another reminder that her old life was over, that she’d never see the people she cared aboutagain.

Something splashed in the waterbelow.

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