Page 8 of Jewel of the Sea

“Just drifting on the current of my thoughts,” Arkon replied. He slid the supply canister into his hands and held it to Macy. “Fresh off the beach. Well, it was fresh a few hours ago. It depends on your personal criteria for freshness, I suppose.”

Macy chuckled and took the canister from him. She set it beside her, removed the lid, and peered inside. “I can’t thank you enough for doing this for us. You know Jax is more than willing to make the exchanges, so you don’t have to leave so often.”

“It is no trouble. Jax has spent years attempting to get me out of this place more regularly. He may count this as a small victory.”

“I wanted you to explorewithme,” Jax said. “No matter the wonders I described to you, I could rarely draw your attention away from your work. Why are you so eager to leave now?”

Macy glanced at Arkon from the corner of her eye. “Maybe he’s found inspiration elsewhere.”

Though there was no malice in Macy’s expression, Arkon found it unsettling. It was a knowing glance. “The more I can do to keep the three of you together during these early days, the better. I am curious to see the results of a youngling raised by mother and father simultaneously.”

He moved closer to the bed and leaned forward, looking down at little Sarina — hisniece, according to Macy. She was surrounded by a nest of blankets, tentacles drawn up tight to her body, green eyes open and alert. In most ways, she was a normal kraken, but she’d inherited a few traits from her mother — a delicate nose, soft features, and fine, dark hair on her head and at her brows.

She was the first baby he’d interacted with. Kraken younglings remained with their mothers — who largely kept to themselves — until the males were old enough to join the hunters.

“You make it sound like we’re an experiment,” Macy said.

Arkon slid the tip of a tentacle to Sarina’s hand. She clamped her fingers around it, her tiny claws pricking his skin. “Every situation is an opportunity to learn.”

“It is,” she agreed, taking a letter out of the canister. Arkon glimpsed Aymee’s handwriting upon it. She set it aside and proceeded to rummage through the other contents.

“The females will be gathering soon in the Mess,” Jax said, sliding off the bed. “I will take Sarina this time if you’d like some quiet to read your letters.”

“Are you sure?” Macy asked. “I don’t mind going.”

Jax brushed the backs of his fingers over Macy’s blonde hair and leaned down to press a kiss on her lips before gathering their daughter. Sarina put up a brief struggle before relinquishing Arkon’s tentacle.

“Rest, Macy. Read your letters. The females will most likely ignore me while they dote on Sarina.”

“They’d better,” Macy grumbled. “I’ve seen Leda eyeing you.”

“I belong to you, Macy.”

“You do, and she better remember that.” She wore a hint of a smirk on her lips.

Not everyone approved of the changes since Macy’s arrival. Leda was one of them. Most recently, she’d sought after Jax, Arkon, and Dracchus, and all three had turned her away. Many females clung to their ways, seeking males who would be the best providers for as long as they chose to keep that male as a mate. Arkon didn’t doubt that Macy would fight for Jax, if it came down to it, though she was physically outmatched by any of the female kraken.

Jax kissed Macy again and looked at Arkon. “May the stones fall as you would have them lie.”

Arkon smiled. “And the currents carry you where you would go.”

After another peck on Macy’s cheek, Jax left with Sarina.

Macy drew back the blanket and stretched her legs. “How was the swim?”

“The same as it usually is.” At a casual pace, it was two hours of his heartbeats steadily quickening, of his mind racing over countless possibilities, of his imagination summoning images of Aymee. “The currents are strengthening. Storm season is building rapidly.”

“And you haven’t seen any more razorbacks?”

“No. Perhaps you finally taught them fear.” Arkon smiled, but the expression soon faded. Macy had nearly died saving a kraken youngling from a razorback and still carried the scars from the battle. It had been a frightening time for everyone.

“Hey,” she said, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed, “stop thinking about what might have happened. I made it. You saved my life, and we’re all okay now.” She grinned. “I single-handedly killed a razorback. Of course they’re scared.”

She was right, but it sent his thoughts along an unexpected path. Macy had faced her greatest fear — the open ocean — alone, just because there’d been a chance of her locating the missing youngling. Despite the terror and pain she must’ve experienced, she’d persevered.

And Arkon couldn’t muster the courage to speak with Aymee a second time.

“Arkon, what is it?” She tilted her head, humor fleeing her expression. “You’re fidgeting.”

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