Page 74 of Treasure of the Abyss

“And what right do you have to forsake your people for a human,Wanderer?”

“He didn’t,” Macysaid.

“What reason would I have to take the word of a human? The Wanderer has refused to hunt, so he has forsaken oursurvival.”

“One refused hunt isnota betrayal.” She placed a hand on Arkon’s arm and peered aroundhim.

“Humans must be foolish, to believe such. Without food, the kraken will die, and no hunter is more skilled than Jax the Wanderer.” Dracchus bared his teeth as he spoke. A few of them were smeared withcrimson.

“And I havealwaysgiven, despite what you and all the rest think of me,” Jax growled, tugging back on Dracchus’s neck. “I have taken for myself, for once, and it is immediately abetrayal?”

Dracchus grimaced. “What have you told her? Have you already betrayed our home? Ouryounglings?”

“Jax has told me nothing to endanger your people or your home,” Macysaid.

“He has mated with you; you wear each other’s scents. What will come of that? When humans come to seek revenge for the past, will Jax say he did not mean for it to come tosuch?”

Macy stepped around Arkon, shrugging off his restraining hand, and approached Dracchus. “I never knew of your existence, not until Jax saved me. No one knows. Jax has refused to let me go back, despite his guilt, because he cannot — and will not — betray you. And Ichoseto stay with him.” She met Jax’s eyes for amoment.

Silence settled over the chamber as Dracchus stared down ather.

“It may not mean anything to you,” Macy continued, “but as much as he cares for your people, he also took responsibility for me. He knows I can’t survive without him, just like you say the kraken cannot survive without hunters, and he has selflessly provided for me. He didn’t have to save me. He didn’t have to keep his word to me. But he has…he’s protected me, just like he’s continued to protect the kraken. Withhonor.”

Dracchus narrowed his eyes, flared his nostrils, and clenched his jaw. He leaned his head back, finally breaking eye contact withher.

“You speak true. The Wanderer keeps his word…but he has also chosen to mate somethingother. A human. It isunnatural.”

Macy refused to react to the disgust in his voice, refused to be ashamed for what she and Jaxshared.

Jax moved suddenly, swinging Dracchus around and slamming him face-first into the wall. His tentacles wrapped around Dracchus’s arms, pulling them back, as he pressed his forearm against the back of his captive’shead.

“You will not speak of her in that way again,” Jaxgrowled.

Dracchus’s cheek was on the stone, his expression a blend of anger, pain, andstubbornness.

Macy touched Jax’s shoulder. “Don’t.”

“It is less than he deserves,Macy.”

“Didn’t you think the same of me, in thebeginning?”

Jax turned his head toward her, frowning. The fury on his facefaded.

She ran her hand down his back, careful to avoid his wounds. “You’ve been taught to hate humans your entire life. It’s not something you can stop immediately, and no amount of punishment will changethat.”

“You would have died, Macy.” His voice was low, raw,desperate.

Macy glanced at Dracchus. “I…I don’t believe he meant to hurt me. At least to that extent. You didn’t know humans could drowneither.”

Jax’s posture was tense with conflict, and Macy couldn’t guess what he meant to do, couldn’t guess at what he’d choose. She had no doubt that he’d kill Dracchus if he deemed itnecessary.

“What was your intent toward her, Dracchus?” he finallyasked.

“To bring her before our people. As proof of your treachery, and as a warning that we must remain aware of the humansnearby.”

“She will not be brought to the kraken for judgment,” Jaxsaid.

“As I said, Wanderer, you have bested me. I will not defy your will in this. But I will not keep it from our people,either.”

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