Page 18 of Artemis’ Bow (Halfling Academy #5)

R aven’s roar reaches outside the doors to the cafeteria. “You’re an alpha wolf shifter and fucking gods touched . Don’t let my idiot brothers intimidate you.”

“Aww, shit,” I groan. “She’s doing this in the cafeteria?”

“It sounds like it.” Jayden chuckles.

“Just what we need before a dangerous mission. Especially since three of her brothers are going on missions of their own.”

“Hey now,” Dax demands. “It was just a bit of hazing the guy who was in love with my little sister.”

“You shut your stupid hole, Dax,” Raven snaps.

“Maybe for you,” Greyson grumbles. “The others were complete assholes.”

I push open the cafeteria doors and storm inside with Jayden at my side. “Do we need to involve the headmaster because people are not adhering to the zero tolerance policy on bullying?”

I grab Jake’s ear, pulling him up from the Ares table and giving him no choice but to stumble after me.

“Beth, what are you doing? Let go of me,” Jake whines.

“Is this one of the assholes?” I ask.

The glare Greyson shoots the son of Ares is confirmation enough, no words needed. I twist his ear between my fingers, and he cries out in pain.

“Listen to me, Jake. I didn’t even know your name until I noticed you bullying people, and then I find out you have been bullying one of my closest friends?

What the fuck is wrong with you? You’re lucky you’re going on a mission, or I would punch you until I broke something.

If I catch you bullying my people again, I will make sure you’re expelled. You got it?” I shove him away.

Jake stumbles and drops to his knees.

“Look,” Jayden yells. “This is going to end. You’re telling me that the students here whose parents are on the wrong side deserve to be treated like the enemy because of their parents’ choices? Every single one of our godly parents has done something terrible at one point or another.”

Jake shifts uncomfortably from one foot to another.

“My father is guilty of trying to overthrow Zeus. Am I the enemy?” Jayden asks, spreading his arms out.

Raven steps next to Jayden. “My dad tried to help his overthrow Zeus. Am I the enemy? You, Jake, are your own worst enemy.”

“My dad was arguably one of the worst. He raped Medusa and allowed Athena to turn her to a Gorgon while pregnant with his children,” Thad yells. “Am I to blame for my father’s misdeeds?”

Adrian steps forward next. “All of our godly parents have done things that are unforgivable, some more than others. That wasn’t us.

And it’s not us now. Anyone who stayed at the academy understands what these selfish gods tried to do to us multiple times and are fighting back.

Stop bullying them because their parent took the wrong side. They chose right. Period.”

The cafeteria is silent for a long moment, and I turn, stalking to the buffet to grab my lunch. I scan the room for the other two teams so we can give them their supply bags and tell them when to meet with Chiron to go over the plan for them to leave.

Once my tray is piled high, I make my way back to my table with a huff and plop down next to Jayden. “Were you able to get an idea of the route we should take?”

“For the most part, yeah. We’ll be going through Arizona again, probably get to Phoenix by tomorrow night.” Adrian nods.

“At least we aren’t going back through Winslow.” I shudder.

“The giant snake and the fountain were destroyed. At least we don’t have to worry about that again.” Jayden squeezes my shoulder.

“Let’s just hurry and eat so we can meet with the other teams and get ourselves ready for the start of our trek tomorrow.” I sigh.

We all fall silent as we eat and it’s nice not hearing everyone on campus screaming bullshit at each other for a change. Maybe the bullies will finally listen and stop being idiots. We are all on the same side.

When I’m finished eating, I take my tray to the bins and leave it to be washed and go in search of Dax and Jake. I find them both at the Ares table, talking loudly to their brothers.

“Here, your supply packs have first aid kits, water, protein bars, and the credit cards we use for provisions when we go on missions. Report to Chiron. Your teams will be leaving at different times from different gates today to limit the possible risk of drawing attention to what we’re doing.”

“You okay, Beth? You look exhausted,” Dax says.

“Thanks, Dax. I always love hearing I look like shit. If I wasn’t constantly breaking up your brother’s fights, I wouldn’t be so tired.” I shoot Jake an irritated glare.

“You know I didn’t mean it like that. You should rest before you guys leave.” Dax shakes his head.

“No rest for the wicked. I have to rescue Artemis and save the world, again.” I turn on my heel and leave.

“You know he’s your friend and just worried about you,” Jayden says.

“You’re sticking up for Dax now?” I raise a brow at him.

“He’s not so bad when he’s not after my girl.” Jayden chuckles.

“I’m so glad you get along now,” I say with an eye roll.

“You do need to rest. Let’s go to the dorms and get some sleep before we need to plan anything else.” He wraps an arm around my waist.

“I would rather get all the planning done and then sleep.” I shrug.

“What’s going on, Beth? You’re not sleeping, are you?” Jayden turns me to face him.

Sleep? How can I sleep when the nightmares haunt me on an endless loop. I wasn’t lying when I told Dax there’s no rest for the wicked. I don’t remember when the last time I slept all night was.

“I’m just having trouble sleeping. It’s no big deal.”

“It is a big deal, though. We are getting ready to leave on a dangerous rescue mission tomorrow and you are dead on your feet. C’mon, we’re going to the dorms. You’re taking a nap.”

“No, Jayden. There’s too much to do.” I pull away from him.

“Either you’re going to walk your sexy ass to the dorms or I’m throwing you over my shoulder and carrying you there.” Jayden grabs me, pulling me flush with his body.

“I will zap you,” I growl.

“No, you won’t. Don’t worry, I’ll sufficiently wear you out so you have no choice but to sleep,” he whispers against my lips, sending shivers down my spine.

“So, there is an ulterior motive. You just want to get me naked,” I breathe.

“I always want to get you naked, but no, that’s not what this is about. You may be a goddess but you still need sleep.” Jayden kisses my forehead.

“Fine, you can wear me out, and then I’ll take a nap and recharge.”

His arms tighten around me as he presses his lips to mine too briefly.

“Beth is exhausted and not sleeping well. Can you handle preparations so she can rest?” Jayden asks someone over my shoulder.

“Of course,” Raven says. “You okay, B?”

“Yup, just tired.”

“Get some rest and we’ll see you later.” She pats my shoulder as Jayden tugs me to the entrance.

Jayden practically drags me to the dorm building and up the stairs. I lag about halfway up the twelve flights and Jayden bends at the waist, picking me up in a bridal hold and kissing me hard.

“Thanks, I guess I didn’t realize just how tired I am.”

“It’s okay, baby. I’ll take care of you,” Jayden whispers into my hair. “Let someone take care of you instead of you taking care of everyone else all the time.”

“Okay.” I rest my head on his shoulder as he carries me up the last of the stairs to my floor.

I press my hand to the door, and it swings open for me. Jayden’s lips are on mine the second the door shuts behind us. He sweeps his tongue across the seam of my lips, coaxing me to allow him to deepen the kiss and I gasp, giving him entrance.

Jayden sets me back on my feet and shivers roll down my spine as his hands trail up from my hips and under my shirt, tracing the bare skin there.

He pulls my body flush with his, pressing his hard cock to my belly as his fingers roam higher, pinching my nipples through my bra. A moan escapes just before my shirt is ripped over my head and he unclasps my bra, letting it fall to the floor, exposing my breasts to his greedy gaze.

“I could play with these for eternity and be a happy man,” Jayden whispers.

Jayden trails kisses down my jaw and over my neck as he makes his way lower. He runs a thumb teasingly over my nipple before dropping to his knees in front of me and sucking the peak into his mouth.

“Fuck, Jayden,” I groan.

“Go lie down on the bed. I’m going to help you out of those pants.” He nips my breast.

I saunter to my bed and lie back on my elbows to watch him as he stalks closer to me. He runs his hands up the outside of my thighs to my waist and grips the waistband of my leggings, sliding them down slowly.

He kisses my hip, continuing the kisses to every bit of skin he reveals. He inhales through his nose and his eyes dilate as a growl rumbles in his throat.

“You’re so fucking sexy. I’m going to devour this pussy until you’re screaming and begging me to fuck you hard.”

“Yes,” I pant.

Black shadows swirl around Jayden as he releases them. He grips my inner thighs, spreading them wide so he can see all of me. Jayden leans forward, licking me slowly as his shadows writhe, crawling up my body to my breasts and pinching them, tugging on the nipples.

Jayden circles my clit with his tongue. My arms give out and I crash back on the bed with a moan. Something wet laps at my breasts as Jayden flattens his tongue and licks up my center. His grip on my thighs is bruising as he devours me, lapping up my juices.

It’s not enough. I need more. More of him, more of everything.

“Jayden, please,” I beg. “I need you.”

“You haven’t come yet, baby. I need you to come all over my tongue first.”

“Fuck,” I yell.

I arch my back as something slides inside me much too large to be his fingers. He’s fucking me with his shadows as he sucks my clit between his pouty lips. I thrash my head as a whimper escapes me.

Euphoria builds within my stomach much faster when his shadow hits that spot inside of me over and over again, sending shock waves through me. I’m a writhing, twitching mess when my first orgasm rips through me.