Page 26 of Jewel of the Sea

Cyrus twisted away, holding the sketches out of her reach. “Well, what do we have here?”

Randall stepped forward and caught Cyrus’s wrist. Their limbs trembled as Randall forced Cyrus’s arm down. “Give them back to her, Cyrus.”

“Just wanted to take a—”

“You have no right!” Aymee growled, wrenching her satchel from his grip and holding out a hand for her drawings.

Scowling at Randall, Cyrus opened his hand and let the papers fall to the floor. Randall thrust the man back as he released his arm, and Cyrus stumbled into a nearby table, barely catching himself on the top.

“To your bunk, ranger,” Randall commanded. “Now.”

There were heavy steps approaching, but Aymee ignored them. She knelt on the floor and swept the papers into a pile. Her hands shook with fury and concern.

“Known the kid since he was shitting his pants, and now he’s puttingmeto bed,” Cyrus muttered as he walked away.

“Come on, Cyrus. You’ve had enough,” another man said.

Randall crouched near Aymee and reached to gather some of the scattered papers, but his hand froze in midair. He tilted his head and slid one of the pages aside, revealing the sketch beneath.

One of the drawings of Arkon’s hand.

He met Aymee’s gaze. Her heart stopped.

Without a word, she collected the remaining sketches and stuffed them into her satchel, tying the lacings to secure the flap.

“Are those what I think they are?” Randall asked, voice flat.

“So what if they are?” she retorted, casting a brief glare at Cyrus.

“How many of those drawings do you have, Aymee?”

“It’s none of your business.” She rose and stalked toward the door, pausing to retrieve her coat and shove her arms into the sleeves.

Randall pushed himself up and followed. “Aymee! Don’t just leave.”

She rounded on him. “I will not stay here to be judged and treated this way!”

“If those drawings are accurate, they’re important information. I need to—”

“They aremine,and I willnotaid your hunt!” She flung the door open, wishing for some of Arkon’s strength to tear it off the hinges and throw the whole damned thing at Cyrus. She plunged into the wind and rain without a backward glance.

“Aymee!” Randall called. His boots splashed in the water behind her as he hurried to catch up. “Stop, please!”

She marched into the wind without slowing, barely aware of the stinging raindrops hitting her face. Randall caught up and moved alongside her, but she didn’t look at him.

“I’ve already made myself clear,” she said over the storm. “That man had no right, and I will not give up my sketches for you to study.”

“He didn’t have any right, and I’m sorry that happened. But…any information I have on those creatures can save lives. Ours, and theirs.”

“They are not a threat!” she shouted, stopping and spinning toward Randall. “No lives were at risk before you came, and I refuse to reveal secrets that aren’t mine to give!”

Randall’s clothes were soaked — he hadn’t put on his parka — and rivulets of water streamed down his face. “I’m just trying to do right by everyone, Aymee. Some people say these creatures aren’t a threat, but a lot more people think they are.”

“Either way, I don’t have to aid you, not when I know what is at stake.”

“Doyou know what’s at stake? Do you really know what they are,whothey are? We’ve survived this planet by taking nothing for granted and fighting every day for our survival, and if the kraken are anything like us, they’ve done the same, and they’ll view us as just as much of a threat!”

“They are people! People who want to be left alone. It’s you,” she pointed at him, “who would disturb that peace and bring war to them.”

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