Page 60 of Rising from the Depths

“I was attacked by a razorback once,” Macy said, breaking the silence.

Eva turned her rounded eyes to Macy. “What?”

“While I was in the Facility, a young kraken girl, Melaina, went missing. She was a wanderer, much like my mate, Jax. She loved to explore, but she never quite understood the danger.” Macy’s fingers idly brushed over the sandwich wrapper. “I didn’t understand the danger either, but it didn’t stop me. All I could think of was how terrified she must’ve been. That she could’ve been killed at any moment, and how that would’ve broken her mother’s heart. It reminded me so much of my family, and how we lost my sister that I just…acted. I didn’t waste time waiting for one of the males to return or hoping one of them would find her. Iknewhow I could find her, so I just acted.

“I was wearing one of the diving suits when it happened. I remember the crushing pressure and the pain when its teeth finally broke through it. I’ve never been so terrified in all my life. I was able to kill it before it did any more damage, but I’ll never forget those moments. The fear, the pain, the feeling of loss when I realized I might never see Jax again. And had I not been wearing that suit…”

Macy reached down at pulled up her pant leg. Pale, jagged scars ringed her calf, nearly in the same place Eva had been bitten.

“Thanks to Arkon’s quick thinking, I got patched up pretty quick, so I wouldn’t bleed to death…but an infection set in,” Macy continued. “I would have died had Jax not risked himself and his people by bringing me back here.”

Lowering her pant leg, Macy placed her hand atop Eva’s. “I’m so sorry for what happened to you and your friends, Eva. If you’d ever like to talk, or just hang out, you’re always welcome in my home.”

Eva turned her hand and squeezed Macy’s. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”

Macy smiled. “You havenoidea how happy I am for Kronus. When Aymee told me what he was doing for you, it seriously blew my mind. I didn’t believe her. Kronus and ahuman.” She shook her head, chuckling. “I didn’t think I’d see the day. But I am happy. For both of you.”

They talked until the whistle blew, announcing the next rotation. Macy followed Eva into the field and worked alongside her. Time slipped away as their conversation continued. Although Eva’s body felt as though it would collapse at any moment, she pushed on to the final whistle.

Anticipation thrummed within Eva, though she knew it was likely too early for Kronus to be home yet. The sun had dipped, painting the sky orange and gold, and ushering in cooler temperatures that felt wonderful on her sweat-slicked skin. She stared at the sunset for a time, wondering if Kronus was looking at it and thinking of her, too.

She and Macy walked side-by-side through town, chatting easily with one another. Eva’s leg pained her, worsening her limp, but she didn’t care. It was wonderful to feel so carefree. To feelnormal.

Macy was in the middle of a story about how Jax thought she was going to die after she drank fresh water when Eva was brought up short by someone grabbing her arm. Eva’s laughter died.

She spun on her right leg and stumbled, nearly losing her balance until she was pulled securely against a broad chest. She gasped, startled; her arms were caged between her body and the man holding her. A familiar scent tickled her nose, mixed with alcohol fumes.

No, not now! The day was going so well!

“Eva—”

“Let me go, Blake,” Eva said stiffly.

“Please just let me ta—”

“She said let her go,” Macy said, her sweet voice turned hard.

Blake tensed, his arms tightening around Eva for a moment before loosening. He drew back from her, but took hold of her upper arms, keeping her in place.

“Eva, please come home,” Blake pleaded. “I miss you. It’s…it’s not the same without you. Other women aren’t the same—”

Eva jerked out of his grasp, catching her balance by slapping a hand against the side of a nearby building. “After everything you’ve done, after I’ve moved on and foundhappiness, you really have the nerve to ask me to go back to you?”

Blake stepped closer, but his advance faltered when Eva held her hand up and retreated.

“No, Blake,” she said.

He pressed his lips together and frowned. His hair stood on end, his shirt was rumpled, as though he’d just thrown it on after picking it up off the floor, and there were dark circles under his eyes. Eva had no reason to feel guilty. He’d chosen his path when he walked away from her, when he renounced her. But deep down, she still cared for the man who had once been her husband, who had once been her friend.

“Blake,” she said softly, “you need help. You…you might not have shown your pain in the beginning, but now… I think you should talk to someone.”

He shook his head and stepped closer. “I just need you, Eva. Let’s start over. Remember how we used to be? How we couldn’t keep our hands off each other? We could have that again. I wouldn’t even mind your…” his eyes dropped to her left leg, and he cringed, “deformity. I can learn to ignore—”

“That’s enough,” Macy said, moving to Eva’s side.

“This is none of your business!” Blake snapped, glaring at Macy.

“She’s right, Blake,” Eva said. “That’s enough. I am not coming back to you. I belong to Kronus now.”

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