Chapter 4
“Friend?” Claud calls as I wander with no real path in mind.
“Hey, Claud.” I try to smile but it’s fake.
“Why friend cry?” Claud wraps a huge hand around me and picks me up, one huge eye trained on my face.
“I’m fine, buddy, really.” I pat his hand. “How are you? Have you built anything interesting lately?”
Maybe my subconscious brought me to Claud on purpose. The cyclops is so childlike and filled with wonder no one can stay sad around him.
“What wrong?” he asks again, ignoring my question.
“Nothing you need to worry about. Just the stuff with the war coming.” I sniffle.
“Claud help.”
“Yeah, buddy, you’ve helped a lot. You made so many amazing weapons for us. It’s a huge help.” My shoulders slump.
“No, help Beth.” One big finger jabs me in the shoulder.
“I don’t think anyone can help me, friend.” I sigh. “I’ll be fine. I just need to stop being selfish.”
“You? Selfish?” Artemis pops in next to me. “Those two things don’t belong in the same sentence.”
“You have no idea, Artemis. What the fates and your brother are asking of me… it’s too much.”
“Then say fuck it and fuck you to all of us if that’s what you want. I wouldn’t blame you one bit, little sister. You’ve saved us all and we just keep asking more of you. I think the gods forget that you still have a mortal heart, even if you’re mostly a goddess now.”
“You really wouldn’t blame me, would you?” I ask.
The open expression on her face tells me everything.
“I’ll even take you and Jayden somewhere no one can find you and the two of you can ride out the end of days together in peace. You didn’t just save me, Beth, you gave something back to me I lost millennia ago. I will be forever grateful to you for that.” Artemis smiles down at me.
“I believe you, but we both know that’s not an option for me.
The queen will never stop searching for me to punish me for existing.
I didn’t ask for any of this, Artemis. That’s the worst part.
I didn’t ask for any of it, but I stepped up when I was needed over and over again. When is it going to end?”
“Do you want the truth, or do you want me to lie to you?” she asks and I laugh.
“Lie to me. I need someone to just be on my side without expectations.” I pat Claud’s hand, and he sets me down on the soft moss of the forest.
“I know you said to lie but I’m going to give you some truth with it. This is the last hurdle in the war against the queen and either way, whether you choose to fight and win or if you run away, it’s almost over and no one will ever ask anything of you again.”
“I was wondering when you were going to get to the actual lie part.” I pick at the grass.
“I can’t promise you that no one will ever ask anything of you again because you will be the damn savior of the world, but you will be able to tell them to fuck off if you want to.” Artemis shrugs.
She sits in the grass next to me and crosses her legs as we stare out at the view of the academy below.
“I know how badly it sucks, Beth, but those kids down there? They are counting on you, and you can decide to say fuck you to the expectations, but I don’t think you will because that’s not the type of person you are.” Artemis squeezes my shoulder.
“It wouldn’t be so bad if Nereus hadn’t performed that stupid test,” I grumble.
“This isn’t the choice you think it is,” Artemis says. “Did you ask Adrian if Jayden dies in the battle?”
“What?” I ask. “No, I didn’t get the chance. Their expectant stares weighed me down too much, and Dax threw a fit.”
“Apollo sent me to have girl talk with you and he may have let something slip. You and Jayden are the first mates in the history of demigods. You will feel it if he’s in real danger. To top that off, you’re like a supercharged demigoddess now. You can do anything.”
“So, you’re telling me to quit being a baby and throwing a pity party?” I raise a brow at her.
“Absolutely not. If you want to rage on the world, I’m here for the chaos. You know I’m always down for a bit of mayhem. If that’s what you really want, I’ll bring my lion and we can make it a party.” Artemis grins, bumping my shoulder with hers.
“The lion I took out a whole-ass zoo for you to take?” I raise a brow.
“The humans are searching for him until this day. He’s somewhat of an urban legend in Oklahoma City now.”
“Why am I not surprised?” I giggle and it feels good to laugh.
The weight of everyone’s expectations fades away for this small moment of levity before a war that will change the world.
“Well, he did escape during a blackout and has never been seen again. People think they’ve seen him stalking the woods sometimes.” Artemis shrugs.
“Do they really think that, or did you have something to do with it?” I raise a brow.
“Me? I have more important things to do than to terrorize humans.”
“Somehow I doubt that very much.” I lie back on the grass, staring up at the blue sky.
“In all seriousness, though, we both know what you will end up doing, so why are you letting it destroy you like that?” Artemis asks.
“Wow. You just go for the jugular, huh?”
“I am the huntress.” Artemis lies back beside me. “Answer the question.”
“I think I have PTSD,” I say.
“After what you’ve survived? Impossible. To be honest, if you didn’t, I would think you’re a robot. Even I have a bit of it and I’m not human.” She squeezes my arm.
“From what happened with Orion?” I ask.
“Yeah…”
“I can’t do that, Artemis. I can’t watch him die. He almost died once, and I said fuck everything else. If it comes to that again…” I stare at the fluffy clouds in the sky, blinking back tears.
“Fuck the world,” Artemis agrees. “I would too but just remember that you and Jayden are the first demigods to have an actual mate bond. It’s something I gifted to my wolves, and it’s worked for them. It will work for you and Jayden too.”
“Beth?” Jayden calls from the forest.
“Your love is looking for you. Spend the time you have together wisely because we both know what decision you will make.” Artemis disappears.
“Hey,” Jayden says, sitting in the spot she just vacated. “You okay?”
“No, but Artemis offered to help us run away.” I shoot him a watery smile.
“You know we can’t do that.” He sighs.
“I know, but the thought that someone offered it is nice.” I wipe away the tears.
“Do you want to know what I think?” Jayden asks.
“Always.”
“I think if there’s a possibility that we can limit the loss of life, then I should stay.” He grabs my hand.
“What if you die and I’m not here?” I ask with a sob.
“I asked Adrian about that.” He tugs my arm, so I roll into his side.
“After I ran out of there like a hormonal basket case?” I bury my face in his chest.
“Seriously? Dax was out of line, and he knows it. He never should have went off like that and Raven nearly stabbed him after you left.” Jayden rubs my back.
“You mean she didn’t stab him?”
“It took Greyson and Thad to hold her back.” Jayden chuckles.
“You could have used your shadow chains.” I drum my fingers on his chest.
“If I’m honest, I wanted to stab him myself. No one in that room would have stopped me.” He shrugs.
“You were already in the healers’ office so that would be the perfect place to do it.”
“Maybe I should have done it, then. You’re right that it would be practical.” He chuckles.
“It would.” I sigh. “I’m so mad at him still but I feel like just being mad at him is being selfish. It’s not his fault that I have had to make these choices, and it was unfair to yell at him for his feelings.”
“No, it wasn’t unfair. People expect too much from you. Their feelings don’t matter more than yours. As far as I’m concerned, yours are the only ones that matter.”
“What did Adrian tell you when you asked about dying?” I whisper.
“Not a damn thing that’s helpful. You know how Adrian is; he can only tell us so much.”
“Then why bring it up if you don’t have an answer?” I ask.
“It’s possible but not probable isn’t a straight answer but it’s something.” Jayden nudges me. “C’mon, let’s go back to the dorms. This is gonna be the last night together for a bit.”
“You’re staying?” I ask.
“I am. You knew this was the only option, baby.” He kisses my forehead.
His shadows wrap around us in a comforting warmth and transport us to my dorm room.
“You just transported us directly to the bed? That’s presumptuous.” I grin.
“Is it?” Jayden trails kisses down my neck. “I think it’s just confident.”
“Your ego doesn’t need a boost, that’s for sure.” I giggle.
“We’re back to that?” He licks up my throat.
“Maybe. I need you to show me it’s not ego but actual skill,” I gasp on the last word.
“You’re quite familiar with my skill.” He nips my collarbone.
His shadows pulse around us and slide against my skin up under my shirt. Jayden unbuttons my shirt slowly, exposing my breasts to his greedy gaze.
“Jayden, please,” I whimper.
“Nope, I’m taking my time with you, my love.” His shadows pinch my hardened nipples.
Jayden pushes my shirt off my shoulders. His blue eyes practically glow as he stares down at my naked chest. “You’re so fucking beautiful.”
His shadows writhe and pulse along my skin. Their silky caresses travel up my legs and something wet licks up my inner thigh beneath my skirt. A moan bursts from my lips and Jayden smirks.
His hands run along my abdomen to my breasts, then he pops the front clasp of my bra. He dips his head to my chest and his wet tongue swirls around one nipple. I reach for his shirt, fisting it in my hands to pull him closer, but he grips my wrists and pins them above my head.
“I’m in charge here, love,” he whispers against my skin.
I wiggle my hips and let my legs fall open to him. Something wet circles my clit and my back arches off the bed.
“Please.”
“Mmm, are they feasting on you, baby? I can taste your sweetness on my tongue.” Jayden nips my breast and soothes the sting, lapping at it.
“Yes, more.”