Page 80 of Treasure of the Abyss

Arkon took hold of Jax’s other arm. “There is no more reason to fight, myfriend.”

“You are the one who should lead, Wanderer.” The fury was gone from Dracchus’svoice.

More than the restraining hands upon his arms, Dracchus’s tone broke through Jax’s anger. They stared at each other for a longwhile.

“I cannot,” Jax finally said. He dropped his gaze to Macy’s hand and clasped it in his own. Without further word to Dracchus, he led Macy out of the Mess and into her newlife.

Chapter 17

They didn’t encounterany other kraken as Jax led Macy into the hallway, and for that, she was grateful. Were it not for Jax and Arkon — and even Dracchus, to some extent — she would have had trouble viewing the kraken as people rather than monsters. Some of them had beeneagerto killher.

She’d never seen such behavior from the humans back in The Watch, even at their worst. She didn’t expect Jax’s people to welcome her with open arms, but she hadn’t been prepared to experience their loathingfirsthand.

I should have listened toJax.

Though she believed coming here had been the right decision, she hadn’t realized the potential cost, hadn’t realized how hard it would be to payit…

And it could have gonefarworse for themboth.

Jax set an easy pace as she followed him through the empty corridors. He stopped frequently to show her the various rooms; many had signs on the walls and doors that defined their function, but he never used their names. If the kraken had obtained most of their information from holograms and a talking computer, it was likely they didn’t know how toread.

Many of the chambers were in a state of disarray, with furniture scattered and overturned. The lights flickered in some of the rooms, and others were totally dark, but most of the place was well-lit and appeared in working order, if somewhatdirty.

“Do you have a…room here?” she asked after awhile.

“I have a den, but it is in another building.” His frown had only deepened since themeeting.

“Oh.” They entered a tunnel-like hallway with windows on either side, allowing Macy view of the sea beyond. “Will you be staying there,then?”

“No. I will stay in the den you choose for yourself…if you want meto.”

“I do! Or…I could stay in yourden?”

He stopped and turned toward one of the windows, looking out into the water. “It is in a flooded building. Kraken do not tend to den in theair.”

Another thing she was taking himfrom.

Macy frowned and wrapped her arms around herself. “What did you mean when you said I was yourmate?”

Jax glanced at her. His rigid posture didn’t ease, nor did his expression soften. “You chose me.Joinedwith me. And said you would bemine.”

He spoke the truth, but…he didn’t seem happy about it. And why would he be? Because of her, he’d been brought before his people to face judgment, and now he was trappedhere.

“I did.” She couldn’t bring herself to look at him; she didn’t want to face hisanger.

“It is none of their concern. I did not want to say it aloud, because it is for us alone. I wanted to hear it from you. Not speak it to them in hopes it would sway theirjudgment.”

Macy furrowed her brow. “From…me?”

“Your people treat such things differently. You seem to take your time with them, to consider them carefully so that when you make the choice, it is a lasting one. I wanted to give you the time youneeded.”

She lifted her eyes to meet his. “Youwantme…as yourmate?”

“I do. Inyourtime.”

Macy stepped closer to Jax. She licked her lips, hesitating before she put her hand on his chest. “And if I choosenow?”

He settled his hand over hers. “Why are so quick to choose me, when it took so long for you to decide aboutCamrin?”

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