Page 98 of Jewel of the Sea

“He’ll be okay,” Macy said, wrapping her arms around Aymee’s shoulders. The worry in her voice was overpowered by a practical optimism. Aymee drew strength from it.

“This is a human male?” Rhea asked.

“Last I checked,” Randall replied, slurring slightly.

“Hmm.” She tilted her head as she studied him, then lifted the blanket to look beneath. Her eyes widened. “He is extruding.”

Macy laughed, pulling her arms away from Aymee as she straightened.

“Two women in one day,” Randall said.

“What does he mean?” Rhea asked Macy.

“People seem awfully interested in getting a glimpse of me, lately,” he replied.

Rhea’s attention returned to Randall. “He is not unattractive, for a human.”

“I’ll take that as a victory.” Randall’s voice trailed off as he succumbed to his weariness.

Macy brought a chair closer to Arkon’s bed. Aymee thanked her and sat down.

“Jax and I are going to check on Sarina. We’ll be right back, and I’ll bring you a change of clothes. Do you need anything else?”

Aymee shook her head. “No. Thanks, Mace.”

Dracchus and Rhea followed Jax and Macy out.

Sitting on the edge of the chair, Aymee slipped an arm around Arkon, laid her head on his chest, and closed her eyes. His hearts thumped beneath her ear, steady but weak. She squeezed him tight.

Exhaustion settled over her. Her body felt leaden, her eyelids heavy, but she kept her gaze on Arkon’s sleeping face. As much as he needed his rest, she wished he’d wake so she could see the vibrant violet of his irises.

I nearly lost him.

Tears rolled down her cheek to wet the blanket beneath her.

The emotions she’d pushed aside rushed back, and all she could do was hold onto him as she cried.

“Don’t leave me,” she whispered, clutching the blanket against the pain in her heart.

Macy returned with Rhea shortly after, carrying clothing and food. Aymee stripped out of the diving suit and pulled on a shirt and a pair of loose pants. She didn’t touch the food, and Macy’ didn’t push it on her. They sat in silence, watching over the males, Rhea helping Randall sip water whenever possible.

The same wouldn’t work for Arkon — the kraken hydrated naturally by being in water. After some searching, Dracchus and Jax brought in a large basin filled with seawater. They set Arkon into it as gently as possible, positioning him so his head was underwater, and he breathed through his siphons.

When there was nothing left to do but wait, Aymee sank to the floor, keeping a palm on his chest. Each beat of his hearts was a pulse of reassurance.

Chapter 20

Arkon opened his eyes. The overhead light stung, and he squinted against it. Everything was a white blur until his vision adjusted.

The lights weren’t bright at all; they were dimmed. He knew the ceiling overhead, but his mind could not reconcile its presence.

He’d been in the Broken Cavern — the Darrow Nautical Outpost — not the Facility.

Something warm and scratchy was laid over him. He lifted his head, wincing as his neck cramped, to see a heavy blanket draped over him. Aymee’s arm was atop the blanket; she lay against him in the narrow space between Arkon and the bed rail.

“Arkon?”

He turned his head. Jax stood beside the bed, the shock in his expression quickly giving way to relief.

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