Macy remained in bed for the rest of the day after the computer’s revelations, overcome with shock and nausea. She ate nothing that evening, and very little through the following week.

She was as worried as Jax; each time he came with food, already filleted and cooked, it sent her stomach into revolt. All she’d been able to keep down was a bit of naba. She hated that Jax had to venture onto land by himself to obtain it.

Arkon visited her several times throughout the week, relaying new information he’d gleaned from the computer. Now that he knew how to access it, he spent hours questioning it, delving ever deeper into its data.

Finally, as the week ended, Macy woke without queasiness. She rose cautiously and slipped out of bed. Jax was nowhere to be seen; he must’ve left while she slept. After relieving herself and showering, she felt better than she had in a long time. Her middle seemed rounder, as though — despite eating almost nothing for days — she’d gained weight.

As she dressed, she nibbled on one of the last pieces of naba. Had Jax gone out to find more? Wherever he was, she couldn’t sit here and wait; this was the first time she’d felt well in weeks. She strapped on the thigh holders for her knife and gun and left.

Macy had just stepped into the main building when she saw movement from the corner of her eye. Startled, she retreated, fixing her gaze on an open doorway down the hall. No light came from within the chamber.

The hairs on the back of her neck rose.

“Hello?” she called.

No answer.

Frowning, Macy approached the doorway. Her hand fell to the butt of her gun. Something slid across the floor inside.

“Hello?” she repeated.

A small, bald head poked out from the doorway, around the height of Macy’s waist. Two big, yellow eyes met her gaze.

It took Macy a moment to realize what she was looking at — a kraken, but far smaller than any she’d yet seen. This was a child. A female child, if its delicate facial features and body structure were any indication.

Crouching, Macy smiled at the kraken. “Hello.”

The girl’s eyes dipped, and her lips twitched into a smile.

“Do you know who I am?” Macy asked.

“Human.”

“Yes, but I won’t hurt you. My name is Macy. What’s your name?”

The kraken child hesitated, glancing over her shoulder nervously. “Melaina.”

“That’s a beautiful name. What brings you here, Melaina?”

“I was curious.”

“About me?”

Melaina nodded.

“What would you like to know?” Macy asked.

The girl moved forward until she was before Macy, raised her hand — her claws were short and dull compared to Jax’s — and touched Macy’s hair.

“It’s so soft,” Melaina whispered.

Macy chuckled. She understood the kraken’s fascination with her hair, but Melaina’s innocence leant her curiosity a certain charm.

The girl lowered her arm. “Is it true you are Jax’s mate?”

“It is.”

“How long will you mate him for?”

“What?” Macy’s brows lowered. “What do you mean?”

“How long will you be mated to Jax?”

“Forever, I suppose. For as long as I live if he’ll have me.”

Melaina tilted her head. “Even after he gives you a youngling?”

“A…youngling? You mean a baby? No.” Macy shook her head and smiled. “No, no. I’m human. We can’t have… It doesn’t work like that for us.”

“If you cannot have young, why does he choose to stay with you?”

Macy inwardly flinched. This was just a child’s curiosity, with no malicious intent. As far as Macy knew, female kraken chose to mate only to produce young and moved to new males frequently. It made sense, given what the computer had said — babies were so rare that the kraken had to join often to sustain their existence as a species.

“We just really care for each other,” Macy said.

Melaina looked at her skeptically.

The idea of choosing a single person to join with for life had been strange even to Jax, and he was one of the most open-minded of his people. Of course it would be difficult for other kraken to imagine.

Macy smiled; she needed to steer their conversation elsewhere. “Would you like to play a game?”

The girl’s face brightened. “What game?”

“It’s one I used to play with my sister. Have you ever played hide-and-seek?”

“What is hide-and-seek? Is it like hunters-hiders?”

“How is that played?”

Melaina’s tentacles twitched and curled in her excitement. “One team is the hunters, and the other team is hiders. The hunters have to find all the hiders.”

“Yes! It’s exactly like that. Would you play with me? I haven’t played in a long time, not since I was little.”

Melaina clapped her hands. “Can I hide first?”

“On two conditions — no camouflage, and we stay in the cabin area.” Macy gestured to the tunnel behind her.

“Camouflage?”

Macy touched Melaina’s arm. The girl recoiled slightly. “Changing your skin color. My skin doesn’t change like yours, so it would be unfair.”

The girl inched forward and reached out tentatively, pressing her fingertips to Macy’s forearm. “It doesn’t change at all?”

“Only a little, but I can’t match it to my surroundings like you.” Macy stood. “Okay, I’ll count, and you hide. Ready?”

“Yes!”

They played for an hour. Melaina’s initial distrust quickly evaporated as their laughter echoed through the corridors.

Though Macy thought herself and Sarina had been good at hiding as children, Melaina’s skills were superior — even without camouflage. The young kraken was able to squeeze into spots that should’ve been too small to fit in, and proved surprisingly adept at climbing into high places Macy hadn’t initially expected her to reach.

When they tired of the game, they went to Macy’s room and turned on the music player. After she overcame her startlement, Melaina was thrilled. She danced around the room with Macy and laughed until they were lying on the floor, breathless.

It was between two songs when they heard the calls from somewhere in the corridor. Melaina perked up, and Macy turned off the music.

“Melaina!”

“Oh no,” Melaina groaned, scurrying across the room and into the hallway.

Macy followed. “What’s wrong?”

The question was answered once Macy stepped through the doorway. Another kraken was approaching, and its features contorted with rage when it met Macy’s gaze. This was another female — an adult female. She was built lighter than the males, with a narrow waist and small breasts, her dark nipples bare.

As soon as she was in reach, one of the kraken’s tentacles darted out to take hold of Melaina’s wrist, pulling the girl back. The female imposed herself between Macy and the child.

“What are you doing with my youngling, human?” she demanded.

Melaina poked her head out from behind the female. “I was cur—”

“Silence!” The female twisted to look at the girl. “What have I told you about wandering?”

For a moment, Macy pitied the child; was this how Jax had been treated in his youth?

“We were only playing,” Macy said.

The kraken turned her narrowed gaze on Macy. “My daughter will not play with humans, or talk to humans, or have anything to do with humans.”

Whatever joy Macy had felt moments before fled from the female’s animosity. “She was only curious, and I enjoyed her company.”

The female’s lip curled in disgust. “Such curiosity leads to kraken like Arkon and Jax. I will not have my child follow that path.”

Anger pulsed through Macy. “There’s nothing wrong with either of them.”

The kraken dropped her gaze, sliding it over Macy’s body, and smirked. “Jax’s wanderings took him to my den, and led him away from me. Do you think he will not leave you? A human with no limbs? A human who cannot dance, who cannot defend herself, who cannot bear young?” She swept her hand down to her waist, where her slit unfurled like a blooming flower, revealing her open sex. “Do you think you can please him like his own kind can?”

Macy’s eyes widened, and she lifted her gaze to the female’s. Though she tried to push the kraken’s words aside, they lingered, taking root in Macy’s mind to build upon her doubts. “Jax cares for me.”

“For now. You are a…curiosity to him. He will tire of you soon enough. He always does.” The female turned away.

“How long did Jax stay with you? A week?”

The kraken whipped around with a growl, baring her teeth.

Macy lowered her hand, draping her fingertips over the grip of her gun.

“Jax has betrayed us again. Arming a human.”

“I am one of you while I’m here.”

“You will never be one of us, human.” The female gathered Melaina and led the child away.

Macy stared after them, lifting a hand to wave when Melaina glanced backward with rounded, sad eyes. Once they turned a corner, Macy went back into her room. She released a long, shaky breath; the adrenaline that had pumped through her veins was already wearing off.

How much of what the female had said was true? Could Melaina be his child? Jax didn’t know who his own father was, and if he had mated with that female…there was a chance.

Her fingers trembled as she unstrapped the gun and set it aside. She’d come so close to drawing it, and what would that have accomplished? How would Jax react to Macy shooting a kraken? How would the rest of them react?

You are a curiosity to him.

What could she do for Jax? What would make him happy, what would make him feel like she was worth giving up the freedom he so coveted?

Arkon paused on the beach, setting down the sealed container in his arms. “Fascinating, how varied the environments are up here. I knew there was more beyond the shoreline, but I suppose I’ve never really imagined anything other than cliffs and patches of sand.”

“Macy said there is land enough that a human could walk for weeks before nearing the other side.” Jax lowered his container and looked over his shoulder toward the greenery they’d just left. “As much as I crave to explore, I do not think I could venture much farther than we’ve already gone. It is…unsettling, to be so far away from the sea.”

“Yes, it is. But she is a human, Jax. They are land creatures, and that may call to her, even as the sea calls to us.”

“She is a human, but I don’t think there is anyone like her — human or kraken.” A pleasant breeze flowed over his skin, and the sand was warm; he’d never expected to find so many little things to enjoy on land. Everything above the surface was so dry, hard, and heavy, but there were many new sensations to experience.

“And she really eats these plants?” Arkon patted the lid of the container.

“It seems to be all she can keep down, lately.” Jax frowned, staring at the container before meeting his friend’s gaze. “I worry for her, Arkon, but she acts as though I shouldn’t be concerned.”

“She doesn’t want to cause you any more trouble, Jax.”

“What trouble has she caused me?”

Arkon huffed through his siphons. “You truly don’t see it?”

“See what?”

“She sees how unhappy you are,” Arkon replied with a frown. “She counts the hours you’re away, and she blames herself. Macy thinks she is the reason you feel chained to the Facility, and that you will come to resent her for it.”

“That is foolish.”

“Is it, Jax?”

“Yes, it is, Arkon. Why would she think she could cause me such distress, or that I would hold her responsible for things she has no control over?”

“Because you are not yourself when you are in that place, and you’re gone more often than not. What is she meant to think of it?”

“I love her!” Jax shouted, whirling toward Arkon. Sand flew around his tentacles.

Arkon recoiled slightly at Jax’s sudden outburst, eyes wide. He tilted his head. “You love her. What does that mean? Not to her or her people, but to you?”

“You know what it means, Arkon. You know what everything means.” Jax turned away and looked out over the rolling blue waves.

“I have some idea of what it means to humans. But I want to know what it means to you.”

Jax gritted his teeth and clenched his fists; he didn’t have to answer to Arkon. Didn’t have to explain himself, or open himself up to judgment.

“She…is my home,” Jax finally replied, closing his eyes. “I would never wander again, so long as she were safe. Anything I have, anything I can give, I would give to protect her, to see her smile. But she is not safe in the Facility, amongst our people. And she is not happy living in a cage.”

“And your answer is to stay away as much as you can?” Though there was no malice in Arkon’s voice, the words cut deep.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, Jax turned to Arkon. Their friendship had never been one of secrets or mistrust. “I have been away because I have been gathering supplies and searching for suitable dens.”

Arkon’s expression slackened. “You mean to take her away.”

“I do.”

“You’re the foolish one, Jax.”

Anger swept through Jax’s chest like fire, but Arkon spoke again before he could open his mouth.

“You should have told me. Anything I can do to aid you, simply ask. Along the same lines, why haven’t you told her? Do you know how much that would have eased her worries?”

Just as quickly, Jax’s anger was snuffed out, replaced by a deep, gnawing guilt. Arkon had always been the clever one; Jax was a hunter, an explorer, and secrets and subtleties were unnatural to him.

Jax bent down and lifted the container full of greens. “I will tell her upon our return. She needs to know…the only one at fault has been me.”

“It will do you both well.”

Macy was not in the main room of their den when Jax returned, but he could hear the shower running. He placed the containers on the floor near the table for her to sort through later.

His hearts pounded as he approached the lavatory. The door was open, and steam hung near the ceiling, making the air warm and thick. He should have realized the things Arkon told him long before, should have noticed the effect he was having upon her, should have shared his plans with her weeks ago. He’d only refrained because he didn’t want to give her false hope.

There had to be someplace farther than the other kraken’s willingness to follow, a place beyond the reach of humans, where Jax and Macy could make a den. He just needed time to find it.

Her body was a dark shape through the foggy, curved glass of the shower stall. She had her fingers in her hair when she turned around.

“Jax?” Macy asked, rubbing away a patch of condensation to peer through at him. She smiled when she met his eyes.

“Perhaps you could wipe the rest clear,” he said with a smile of his own.

Macy laughed. Instead of wiping away the rest, she ran a finger through the condensation, making two large circles below her face. He didn’t realize what they were meant to be until she made a smaller circle at the center of each.

Jax grinned. Despite everything, she still found it in herself to joke, to laugh, to play little games that made them both smile. Her personality brought him as much joy as their physical connection — even more.

“I missed you,” she said, turning the water off.

“And I you.”

She cracked the door and reached out to grab the towel hanging on the wall nearby, providing him a glimpse of her bare shoulder. She wrapped the towel around her body, slipped one leg through the shower opening, and angled her foot to flex her shapely calf.

Though the conversation he needed to have with her weighed heavily upon Jax, he didn’t think he could resist her teasing for long.

“I have a surprise for you,” she said.

His curiosity had always been easily provoked, but her words were particularly tantalizing — what could she mean?

“And?”

She opened the door fully and stepped out of the shower, her fingers gliding over his chest as she neared him. Her touch sent tingles across Jax’s skin and heated his blood.

Macy leaned forward and kissed him. He opened his mouth to her, kissing her back in a slow, sensual caress of lips and tongues. She bit his lip.

Jax started, eyes flashing open. Had a female kraken done that, his lip would have been torn to shreds, but Macy’s bite only excited him further. He growled and reached for her.

She laughed and retreated out of his reach. “You have to find it.”

“Find what?” He extended a tentacle and brushed it along her inner thigh, skimming it around the back of her leg to tickle the sensitive skin behind her knee.

“Your surprise,” she said, voice husky. She swayed toward him.

Jax advanced, and she didn’t back away this time. He cupped her cheeks, and ran his hands down her neck, over her shoulders, and to the top of her towel. “Is it…under here?”

“Maybe.”

He gradually loosened the towel. Her eyes gleamed with anticipation and desire. Jax parted the fabric with deliberate slowness, allowing it to caress her breasts. His eyes moved over her flesh as it was exposed bit by bit.

When the towel was open, he released it; it was forgotten before it hit the floor. He slid his palms over her nipples and down her sides, trailing them over her slightly rounded belly to her pelvis.

“Where…where is the hair?” He brushed the backs of his fingers over the smooth, bare skin that had once been covered by a triangle of soft, golden hair, and down across her exposed slit.

“I shaved it off.”

“Why?” Confusion and arousal vied for supremacy within him, but neither was strong enough to overpower the other. He lifted his gaze to hers; there was something in her eyes he couldn’t place, and she quickly looked away.

“I…thought you might like it.”

He hooked the side of his finger beneath her chin and lifted her face. “There was nothing wrong with it. Why do you think I would like this better?”

Her eyes met his fleetingly. Jax frowned.

“Your females don’t have hair to…to cover themselves. So, I thought you might like to see it better, without…”

He stilled at those words; he’d never described what female krakens looked like to Macy, had never explained the differences.

Who had approached her? Who had shown her?

“Macy. Look at me.”

She did, but now her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Y-You don’t like it.”

“I don’t like why you did it,” he said, too harshly; she flinched at his tone. He exhaled through his siphons. “Do not ever think, Macy, that you need to change yourself to appease me. I love you as you are.”

She searched his face and blinked. Tears slid down her cheeks. “You love me?”

“Yes. I do.”

Her face crumpled, and she threw her arms around his neck. Jax smoothed back her wet hair as he embraced her, gently grazing the tips of his claws over her scalp.

How could he have missed her vulnerability? How could he not have realized he was starving her of companionship? He’d never intended for her to feel inadequate, or less than the female kraken, or…alone.

“I am sorry, Macy.”

She sniffed and pressed her cheek to his chest. “For what?”

“For not being here for you. For not making you feel as loved and important as you are. And…for not telling you why I have been gone so often.”

She pulled back and looked up at him. “You can tell me now.”

He lifted her and laid he laid her upon the bed, climbing in after to draw her against him. His throat was tight; once he spoke of his plans to her, they were as good — in his eyes — as a promise. “I’ve been preparing for us to leave this place.”

“What?” She raised her head, damp hair falling onto his chest.

“When you agreed to stay with me, your condition was that you be allowed the freedom to venture out with me. I’ve failed you in that because of our situation here.”

“You didn’t fail. You’ve never failed me, Jax. This…this is beyond our control.”

He tucked her hair behind her ear and twined a strand around his finger. “No, it’s not beyond our control. My people will only venture so far. We just need the right place to go, and we can leave here and never worry about them finding us.”

“But they’re your people. What about Arkon?”

“I will miss him…just as you miss your Aymee and your family. But the rest of them…they mean nothing, next to your happiness. If they feel I have betrayed them, they have certainly betrayed me, as well. I owe them nothing more.”

Macy brushed a hand over his cheek, his jaw, down his neck. “All this time you’ve been gone, you were doing it for us?”

He nodded, brow furrowing. “If I had told you, it would have saved you much worry. That is no one’s fault but my own.”

“I forgive you.” She pressed her lips to his; her kiss had never tasted quite so sweet. “You truly love me?”

“You are my home,” he rasped, tightening his hold on her. “I will always return to you.”