The days Macy had spent waiting to be back in Jax’s arms were the longest she’d ever experienced; now that she was in his embrace again, she never wanted to let go.

Arkon and Dracchus crowded around Jax in the entry chamber, waiting for the water to drain. Macy caught Arkon’s gaze and smiled at him. She doubted she’d be able to adequately express her gratitude — he and Dracchus had gone to The Watch with Jax and waited for days to ensure she was safe.

“Pressurization normalized,” the computer said, and the interior door slid open. “Welcome back, diver one-two-seven.”

Macy removed the mask and tugged off the hood as Jax carried her through the doorway.

He placed her gently on her feet and shifted a hand to her stomach. Her breath caught; there was barely contained emotion on his face. “Is it true, Macy?”

She placed a shaky hand over his, hating that the suit was between them, and nodded. “Aymee showed me the scans before she erased them. I…I never thought it was possible. Even when I noticed the changes in myself, and displayed the symptoms, it never crossed my mind.”

“Never thought what was a possibility?” Dracchus asked.

Jax held her gaze, brow creased in question. Macy nodded.

“She is carrying a youngling,” Jax said. “Our youngling.” A slow smile spread across his lips.

“That…how…I don’t understand,” Arkon stammered.

“How doesn’t matter, only that it is,” Jax said. He tipped his head forward, pressed his forehead to Macy’s, and closed his eyes. His hand moved slowly over her belly.

“A youngling?” Dracchus stared at Macy.

She placed her hand on the back of Jax’s neck. She was excited and terrified at once; there was no going back to The Watch, now, and she didn’t know anything about childbirth. What if something went wrong? What if something was wrong with the baby?

Aymee’s scans had put some of Macy’s worries to rest. She’d nearly cried when she saw the baby’s tiny hands and short, thin tentacles and heard the beating of its three hearts. By all appearances, their baby was a kraken. It was everything else that concerned her — would it heal like Jax? Would it grow claws to protect itself?

Would the baby be able to breathe underwater?

“This…this could be a blessing to our people,” Arkon said. “If we can reproduce with humans, perhaps we can overcome the way we were designed, and return from the brink of extinction.”

Macy pulled back from Jax and stared at Arkon; now that she knew the truth, she couldn’t forget about the past conflict between their peoples.

“Why are you looking at me that way?” he asked, tilting his head.

“If the others found out, what would they do, Arkon?” Macy asked. “The kraken have hated humans for so long, and if they discover this… What will this mean for human women? What would the kraken do?”

“Nothing.”

All eyes fell on Dracchus; Macy guessed the others were as surprised by his response as she was.

“The kraken have struggled,” he continued, “but that does not mean we will provoke another war against the humans. If our people can come together, you are the start of it, and you will need to be the example we follow.”

His words were a relief, but a kernel of doubt remained. What she’d seen of most of the other kraken hadn’t been reassuring, thus far, and she couldn’t guess how they’d react to this news. She hoped Dracchus was right…

But desperation could drive people to do terrible things.

“We do not need to discuss this now,” Jax said, running a hand down Macy’s back. “Are you ready to return to our den?”

“I’m ready.”

They thanked Arkon and Dracchus again and said their goodbyes. Jax bent down and carefully lifted Macy to his chest; her leg throbbed, but the pain was nothing compared to what it had been. He carried her through soothingly familiar corridors, past several rooms that held surprisingly fond memories, and, finally, into the cabin she’d chosen to share with him.

“Is my imprisonment reinstated?”

“No. They’ll not keep you here like that again. You are kraken, now, but more, you are mine. No one will treat you that way again, so long as I live.”

He set her down on the edge of the bed and sank to eye-level before her, raising his palms to her face. The pads of his thumbs brushed over her cheekbones. “I almost lost you, Macy. I have never been so afraid.”

“I know, and I’m sorry.” She placed her hands over his and searched his eyes; the echoes of his fear lingered in their emerald depths, but his love shone brighter. “I just couldn’t stand by and do nothing, Jax. I can’t… I hate feeling useless. When I heard Melaina was missing, I thought of Sarina, and how devastated Rhea would be if she lost her daughter. I needed to help. I know you and the hunters would’ve done everything you could to find her, but I…I had Sam.”

“I do not want apologies, Macy. It was dangerous and foolish, but you saved a life. And now…” Jax dropped his gaze. “You are safe, and that is all that matters.”

He drew her into an embrace, and she wrapped her arms around him, pressing her cheek to his warm, solid chest. She took comfort in his presence, in his strength.

“I’m so glad they didn’t hurt you, Jax.”

“I would do it again, even at risk of death…because they saved you when I could not. You gave up everything for me, Macy, and I would do the same and more for you.”

Macy lifted her head and kissed him, taking in his breath, tasting his essence. “Thank you for saving me that day.”

His tentacles slipped around her, drawing her even closer. “You are by far the greatest treasure I have ever taken from the sea.”