Page 15 of Artemis’ Bow (Halfling Academy #5)

We have to take every bit of happiness we can get while we can, because with a new vision, we are in more danger than ever before.

“I’ll get you for that later,” he whispers in my ear.

I shiver as his hot breath tickles my neck. He may be an idiot sometimes but he’s my idiot and I’m not wrong either. He loves my sassy mouth more than he’ll ever say out loud.

“Promises, promises,” I tease him.

Jayden lunges for me but I dance away as we make it to the academic building. I pull open the door and dart inside before Jayden can catch me, giggling like a teenager as he races behind me.

“Really? I thought you all were the best of the miscreants that I have to teach daily,” a voice says from the shadows before Professor Cross steps out of the dark hallway.

“Professor, we figure if we don’t laugh, we’ll cry and then all hope will be lost.” Raven grins.

“That’s fair. What are you all doing in the admin building after hours?” he asks with a raised brow.

“Vision.” I point to Adrian over my shoulder. “We need to speak to the headmaster to get permission to leave.”

“Can you do that without disturbing the entire building?” Cross sighs.

I deflate. We weren’t doing anything terrible. Why do we have to be the adults when the actual adults won’t even be the adults? We’re in our early twenties with more on our shoulders than any world leader and he can’t give us a break? That’s just rude.

“Yes, Professor.” I sigh.

Killjoy, we were having fun and if everyone expects us to risk our lives for them repeatedly, the least they can do is let us enjoy those times in between the bullshit. Is that too much to ask?

“Don’t be too hard on him, Beth.” Thad grips my shoulder. “It’s hard on the professors being stuck here while we go on missions since they have to stay behind to watch the other students while we risk our lives.”

“I hadn’t thought about it like that, yet he shouldn’t try to rain on what little happiness we can get from this life in between missions to save the entire world.” I shake my head.

“You’re not wrong.” Jayden wraps an arm around me as we turn the corner to Chiron’s office.

I raise my hand to knock on the door as a gruff voice calls out to us to enter. I push the door open to find Chiron standing on the balcony with his tail swishing in agitation.

“Did you get a vision?” he asks Adrian.

“Yes, sir. We need to go as soon as possible.” Adrian rubs his eyes. “It’s bad.”

“I can imagine with the huntress missing,” Chiron says, inclining his head. “Do you know where to go?”

My shoulders slump because I know what’s coming. The doubt and the uncertainty behind the vision make everything harder.

“Adrian’s visions have never led us astray before,” I say.

“I know, but Apollo isn’t exactly on our side in this and wreaking havoc on the skies currently, so how far can we trust them?” Chiron asks.

“I don’t think this vision was from my father. It feels different from those in the past. Something older and wiser than the god of prophecy.” Adrian shrugs.

“I still don’t like or trust it. You could be walking into a trap,” Chiron says.

“It wouldn’t be the first time, Chiron.” I shrug. “We have walked into traps on more than one occasion and came out unscathed.”

“Your arrogance will get you killed,” he yells. “Or it will end in the death of everyone on the planet.”

“And what will happen if we don’t go? Everyone will die anyway.” I cross my arms over my chest.

“You’re not wrong. Where are the visions sending you?” Chiron asks.

“New Orleans, sir,” Adrian says. “They also alluded to former allies helping along the way but only if we go ourselves.”

“Okay, but you couldn’t see the goddess, correct?” Chiron asks. “Something powerful was blocking her?”

“How did you know that?” Adrian asks. “I’m pretty sure we didn’t mention that.”

“Centaurs have a small gift for prophecy. I couldn’t see the huntress either, so something powerful is blocking her for sure.” Chiron shakes his head. “Are we positive that she’s not being held at a different temple?”

“Not positive but it makes the most logical sense.” I shrug.

“We need to send other teams to the other temples. At least two other teams and one will need to go to Sparta to make sure that the queen hasn’t tried to pull anything.”

“Chiron, sir,” Adrian says. “The vision was clear that it has to be us who go after Artemis. The four of us along with Greyson. Anything else and it could end in disaster.”

“I’m not sending anyone else to Ephesus, but we need to clear her other temples to be sure.” Chiron stamps a hoof.

“This is dangerous and no one else has the experience dealing with this as we do. They don’t have the power we do. If you send others, will they return or are they just cannon fodder?” I ask.

“We aren’t sure where the goddess actually is. They may have separated her and the bow in different temples. It will do no good to retrieve the bow without saving the goddess.” Chiron glares at me, unflinching.

He’s not wrong, but this decision isn’t sitting right with me. My gut is screaming that we’re the only ones who can do this. It isn’t my ego. More students could be lost to us if we do it his way.

“You trusted me to be the headmaster of this academy and help the students here survive and end this war, Beth.” Chiron clamps a hand down on my shoulder. “Trust me to help you now and give us the best chance for success on this next task.”

“I still believe that we are the only ones who can save Artemis and retrieve her bow,” Adrian argues.

“I understand your concern, young seer, but you all trusted me with the job of guiding you and now you must allow me to do it,” Chiron says.

The frown on Chiron’s face is the only outward sign that he’s uncomfortable with this decision. We don’t have much choice in the matter, though. He’s not wrong that we should send someone to each temple, and if we could be in two places at once, this whole situation would be less dire.

“I don’t like it, but it makes the most sense. Send two other teams to other locations but no one can be told where we are going.” I cross my arms over my chest.

“Agreed. No one will be informed of where your group will be going so they can’t tip off the enemy accidentally.” Chiron nods.

That’s settled now but my gut churns with unease. We could be making a terrible mistake that could cost our friends their lives, but the alternative is worse than anyone is prepared to deal with.

It would be the end of everything.