Chapter 15 #3
Macy stepped around Arkon, shrugging off his restraining hand, and approached Dracchus.
“I never knew of your existence, not until Jax saved me. No one knows. Jax has refused to let me go back, despite his guilt, because he cannot — and will not — betray you. And I chose to stay with him.” She met Jax’s eyes for a moment.
Silence settled over the chamber as Dracchus stared down at her.
“It may not mean anything to you,” Macy continued, “but as much as he cares for your people, he also took responsibility for me. He knows I can’t survive without him, just like you say the kraken cannot survive without hunters, and he has selflessly provided for me.
He didn’t have to save me. He didn’t have to keep his word to me.
But he has…he’s protected me, just like he’s continued to protect the kraken. With honor.”
Dracchus narrowed his eyes, flared his nostrils, and clenched his jaw. He leaned his head back, finally breaking eye contact with her.
“You speak true. The Wanderer keeps his word…but he has also chosen to mate something other. A human. It is unnatural.”
Macy refused to react to the disgust in his voice, refused to be ashamed for what she and Jax shared.
Jax moved suddenly, swinging Dracchus around and slamming him face-first into the wall. His tentacles wrapped around Dracchus’s arms, pulling them back, as he pressed his forearm against the back of his captive’s head.
“You will not speak of her in that way again,” Jax growled.
Dracchus’s cheek was on the stone, his expression a blend of anger, pain, and stubbornness.
Macy touched Jax’s shoulder. “Don’t.”
“It is less than he deserves, Macy.”
“Didn’t you think the same of me, in the beginning?”
Jax turned his head toward her, frowning. The fury on his face faded.
She ran her hand down his back, careful to avoid his wounds. “You’ve been taught to hate humans your entire life. It’s not something you can stop immediately, and no amount of punishment will change that.”
“You would have died, Macy.” His voice was low, raw, desperate.
Macy glanced at Dracchus. “I…I don’t believe he meant to hurt me. At least to that extent. You didn’t know humans could drown either.”
Jax’s posture was tense with conflict, and Macy couldn’t guess what he meant to do, couldn’t guess at what he’d choose. She had no doubt that he’d kill Dracchus if he deemed it necessary.
“What was your intent toward her, Dracchus?” he finally asked.
“To bring her before our people. As proof of your treachery, and as a warning that we must remain aware of the humans nearby.”
“She will not be brought to the kraken for judgment,” Jax said.
“As I said, Wanderer, you have bested me. I will not defy your will in this. But I will not keep it from our people, either.”
“They will demand an explanation from you, Jax,” Arkon said.
“They will demand justice.” The intensity in Dracchus’s eyes was unwavering. “Whether she is a threat on her own or not, her people have always been a danger to us. Our people deserve to know.”
“I will not bring her before them. They have no say in my choice, no say in her life!” Jax snarled.
“I’ll go,” Macy said, despite her fear. Jax and Arkon hadn’t hurt her, and while Dracchus hadn’t necessarily been gentle, he’d not meant her true harm. If he’d wanted her dead, she wouldn’t have survived her sudden trip into the water. She had to believe the other kraken would act the same.
The chamber was silent, and the gazes of all three kraken weighed heavily upon her.
“You’re not going,” Jax finally said.
“There is enough strain between you and your people. You don’t need this. You don’t…don’t need to keep me secret.”
“I do not know what they will do, Macy. I cannot protect you against all of them.”
“It…doesn’t matter. What would happen if you didn’t bring me? Would you be hunted, banished, imprisoned? I need to go to them, Jax, and…we’ll figure out what to do from there.”
“No. I do not need that place. Do not need them. I will face the consequences, but I will not bring you directly into danger.”
Macy stepped closer and cupped Jax’s cheeks. “I’m going.”
“Do not dishonor her courage, Wanderer,” Dracchus said. “I cannot work against the will of our people, but I give you my word that I will help protect her from unjust harm.”
Jax clenched his jaw, teeth bared, and searched Macy’s face. A faint tremor ran through his limbs. With a grunt, he released Dracchus.
“Whatever may come, Jax, I am beside you,” Arkon said.
Dracchus pushed away from the wall and rolled his neck and shoulders.
Jax turned to face Macy, settling his hands on her upper arms; his grip was just a bit too tight. “You are certain of this?”
Macy nodded, flattened her palms against his chest, and leaned forward to kiss his lips. “I am.”
His frown didn’t fade. He drew her into his arms, holding her head against his shoulder, and wrapped a pair of tentacles around her waist. Macy returned his embrace.
“We are not beholden to them,” he rasped.
“But they are your people, and they are all you have.”
“You gave up your people.”
Macy glanced at Arkon and Dracchus; the two stood silently, watching. Lifting her head, she looked up at Jax. “I have you.”
Tortured emotions played across his face; pain, sorrow, confusion, guilt. “I will do everything to keep you safe.”