Page 10 of Jewel of the Sea

“To me it is, because I know you. Jax has his suspicions, but this is all still new to him, too. He hasn’t decided if he thinks there’s anything to it, yet.”

“Does...Aymee know?” A chill flowed through Arkon, strengthened by its contrast to the heat that had coursed beneath his skin moments before.

“She only wrote about you when she realized I wasn’t sending the rocks. Otherwise, she hasn’t said anything more to me.”

Arkon nodded and backed away.

“You’ll talk to her next time, won’t you?”

He inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with the Facility’s clean, bland air. “Yes. I will.”

“Good.” She regarded him with that ever-present smile on her lips. “She’ll love you, Arkon. I do.”

Lovewas one of those words which — until recently — held little meaning to the kraken. Even Arkon hadn’t known what it truly entailed. But Macy was showing them. It was as beautiful in its simplicity as it was overwhelming in its complexity and nuance.

To Macy, Arkon was a dear friend, a part of her family. He longed for a different sort of love from Aymee. How could that be achieved? What were the methods, the natural progression?

Shared passion.

His first opportunity, perhaps hisbestone, would be on that beach in a week. Would it be enough time to prepare? Would it be enough time to create something worthy of Aymee’s attention?

He thought again of her dark eyes, curly hair, and lovely smile, of the way his name had sounded from her lips, of the interest in her eyes as she’d gazed upon him.

Warmth blossomed inside him. Yes, it was time enough.Shewas reason enough.

“Thank you, Macy. You’ve been an immeasurable help.”

“Of course. And as much as I love you—” she reached behind her and lifted the folded letter, holding it up for him to see, “—I’m going to ask you to leave so I can read my letter fromAymee.”

Arkon smiled. “I can read it to you. The practice wouldn’t hurt.”

“Uh-uh. If you want to know her secrets, you’ll have to discover them yourself. From her.”

“At least I can say that I tried. Rest well, Macy.”

“Thank you, Arkon. I’ll see you later.”

He raised a hand to wave as he exited the room. Patterns swirled into being within his imagination, complex and colorful, and he pieced together what each would require. Gathering enough stones wouldn’t be the issue; gathering therightstones would be, and he’d have only a brief window of time during which he could bring it all together.

For the chance to talk with Aymee, it would be well worth the challenge.

Chapter 3

James Everett released a hiss of pain as Aymee unwound the bandage on his foot.

“Is papa’s foot going to fall off?” asked Daniel, James and Maris’s five-year-old son.

“Daniel!” Maris exclaimed.

“He’s only curious.” Aymee smiled at the boy. “Your papa had to give up his toes, but his foot’s just fine. See?” She removed the remaining bandage, eliciting another hiss from James. The cloth was stained with ointment and rust-colored spots of blood that indicated his stitches might have seeped, a sign that he might have walked on it despite her orders.

“Excuse me,” Maris said.

Color draining from her face, Maris put a hand over her mouth and turned away.

The healing process for such wounds could be a gruesome sight. Vorix venom caused necrosis around the bite that, when left untreated, could spread with surprising speed. Aymee had spent so much time here in the clinic with her father that she wasn’t bothered by such things.

James was fortunate it had only been his toes.

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