Page 9 of Jewel of the Sea

He exhaled through his siphons and forced his tentacles to still. He’d hunted countless times, had battled razorbacks and sandseekers, had faced the challenges of kraken larger and stronger, and had never known fear through any of it. But all of this was so new, so uncertain.

“I am in need of advice, Macy.”

Her brows rose; usually, she sought advice from him. “Of course. What can I help with?”

“I... I have never approached a female. Some have come to me, but the interest has never been mutual. I have never given over to the notion of being used merely as a tool for the prosperity of another being without any reciprocation. It has always seemed so unfulfilling…”

Her features softened. “You want more.”

“I do. You and Jax have shown me what could be, and it would be dishonest if I said I didn’t want it, too.”

“Is there a female who has caught your interest?” That knowing gleam had returned to her eyes.

“Yes.” Arkon’s chest tightened. “Very much so.”

“And does this...female know of your interest?”

He’d sent Aymee gifts, and she’d sent gifts in return, but did that mean to her what it did to him? His knowledge of human culture had come from Macy, and it was limited. Male kraken gave gifts to females to display their ability to provide, but Jax hadn’t won Macy in that fashion.

Did Aymee see their exchanges simply as two artists sharing in one another’s works?

“I don’t know.”

“Arkon, why haven’t you approached Aymee?”

He recoiled, mouth dropping open in shock. “I... How…” He moved closer to the bed. “Has she...has she mentioned me?”

“She told me about the pretty rocks you’ve been sending for her. At first, she thought they were from me, but I didn’t know what she was talking about until she described them in her next letter. She even drew a picture of one of them to show me.” Macy smiled. “Theyarevery pretty, Arkon.”

He looked down, his thoughts careening into an indecipherable mess. “She likes them, then?”

“She’s told me so. She would have told you, too, had you spoken to her.”

“I cannot simply... It’s not that easy.” The tips of his tentacles writhed on the floor, and he forced them to still once again. “When we spoke the day you left The Watch, I was not myself. I do not believe I left a good impression.”

Do you not speak English as well as Jax does?Aymee had asked after Arkon’s stammering.

He’d made a fool of himself in front of the only female who’d ever caught his interest.

Macy frowned and leaned forward, hands on her knees. “How so? Aymee isn’t a judgmental person, and if that day was the only time you’ve spoken to her, then you have nothing to worry about. When she came back after meeting with you, she was excited. Even more than when she first met Jax.”

His hearts pounded, and heat suffused his face. Fleetingly, he felt a strange sense oflightnesshe’d never experienced in the air. “She was? Was it... Was she excited aboutme?”

She laughed and touched his arm. “Arkon,talkto her. She’s not like the female kraken.”

“But what should Isay? I do not know how to initiate that conversation.”

“You both share something you’re passionate about. Use that. You’ve already introduced yourself, you’ve been sending her gifts, and if I know Aymee — which I do — I’m sure she’s been sending things back. Just be yourself.” She paused and grinned widely. “And don’t tell her that you’llfit.”

He didn’t fully understand her meaning until he met her gaze again. His color deepened to violet. The first time he met Macy, he’d been brimming with curiosity and fascination, especially when he’d learned that humans and kraken could mate. Jax had deemed Arkon’s questionsinappropriate. Still, he smiled at the memory. “I do not believe myselfthatinept at this. Close, perhaps, but not quite.”

“I’m only joking with you, Arkon.” She took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

Kraken rarely touched one another, but he’d grown used to it in the months he’d known Macy. Humans used touch to layer emotion and meaning into their communication, and it was like a language unto itself. Early on, Jax hadn’t liked Macy touching Arkon, and it had taken time for him to accept that the affection conveyed in such contact was innocent.

“Iknewshe was why you’re so eager to make the exchanges.” She released his hand.

“Is it that obvious?”

---