Page 32 of Artemis’ Bow (Halfling Academy #5)

“You called them our mates?” I ask. “I don’t have a mate. Jayden and I are demigods, not shifters. Do demigods even have mates?”

“You’re not entirely demigods anymore, are you?

You four are something the world has never seen.

That can be dangerous, or it can save everything, so why wouldn’t you have a mate?

The other half of your soul to keep you grounded?

We don’t know what you do or don’t have because there has never been another like you. ”

I stare at her, mouth agape, unsure what to say to the old woman when a bellow comes from the parking lot and I watch in amusement as she tackles Jayden to the ground and screams.

“Don’t make her choose.” The old woman smacks Jayden on the back of his head and then in his side for good measure.

“What did she just say?” I ask in horror as the blood drains from my face.

No. No, no, no, no. She couldn’t have said that, right?

“Ohh, dear, Aggie’s gone and done it now.

She’s said too much.” The woman tuts. “I’m sorry, dear.

Seeing all the threads of fate can be harmful even to those who clip those strands and twine them together, but trust me and trust your mate.

Your strands are woven so tightly together, not even we can unravel them. ”

She pats my shoulder and hobbles past me and out the automatic glass doors. She says something I don’t quite catch, and the two women vanish as if they were never here in the first place.

Did that really just happen?” Raven asks in disbelief.

“Yes, it did. They ran from her like naughty children,” I say to lighten the mood, but it falls flat.

“You okay?” Raven grips my shoulder.

“Sure, I just need to get the chips. We can’t just eat candy the whole time.” I turn.

“Sure, and chips are so much better,” Raven scoffs.

“You’re right. We should see if they have the little premade sandwiches in the cold case.” I hurry away, not wanting to face the conversation Raven clearly wants to have.

I can’t. That woman just blew up my whole world with several revelations at once and I need to fucking process that my biggest fear and terrible nightmare was just brought to life in a damn gas station parking lot.

I gather the rest of the things in silence with Raven close by and make my way to the counter to pay for our purchases. Raven stares at me with concern but the only thing that runs through my head on a loop is the woman. The fate screaming at Jayden.

“Don’t make her choose. Don’t make her choose. Don’t make her choose.”

Is there a possibility that she saw a version of our future that set her off? Is there still a possibility that I could have to choose again? My thoughts spin out as I walk to the SUV on autopilot. Jayden glances at me and the color drains from his face.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” Jayden reaches for me, but I sidestep him to put the snacks and sandwiches in the vehicle.

“She was visited by the fates and so were you, dumbass,” Raven snaps at him.

“It’s okay, Raven. It’s not his fault.” I wave them off and robotically climb in the front passenger seat and close the door.

“Everyone, get the fuck out of the car for a second,” Jayden snarls.

Greyson, Adrian, and Thad jump from the vehicle and shut the doors as Jayden rips my door open, scoops me in his arms, and then sits with me on his lap in the passenger seat and slams the door.

“Talk to me, my love. Don’t shut me out. All I did was evade the old woman until she caught me and hit me a couple times.”

“It’s not what you’ve done. I heard her scream at you,” I whisper, swiping tears from my cheeks.

“Fuck. I won’t ever make you choose. I told you this.”

“Why would she scream that if she hadn’t seen a thread where you make me choose?” I ask between sobs. “Her sister said that she said too much and that seeing all the threads of fate even takes a toll on them. What if that thread is still a possibility?”

“I have told you on more than one occasion that if it comes to me or the world, you must choose the world, love.” He kisses my temple.

“I don’t think I can,” I scream, sobbing harder. “That test from Nereus broke something inside me and I don’t know if it will ever mend.”

“I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so sorry you went through that. I don’t know how you managed to forgive me after seeing the indifference in that test.”

“In my heart I know it wasn’t you, but my mind isn’t a nice place to be, and it hasn’t caught up with the facts yet.” I sigh.

“What if I promise to be careful, and if I find myself in a situation I might not get out of, I’ll run. It will hurt my pride but who cares as long as this extra burden isn’t weighing you down when so much is already heaped on your shoulders.” He presses his face into my throat and breathes deeply.

“You would really do that? You would run if it came to it?” I ask, turning my gaze to his.

“The only stipulation is if you’re at risk. I’ll do anything for you. Don’t ever doubt that. I would die a thousand deaths to make sure you’re safe.” Jayden kisses my shoulder.

“No, you won’t be doing that. You will run if it gets too bad.” I kiss him softly.

Someone bangs on the window, and I break the kiss and glare at Raven. “What?”

“We have a goddess to save, remember? It’s not time for a make-out session,” Raven says with a chuckle.

“She’s right.” I sigh.

I shove the door open, smacking Raven in the ass. Jayden chuckles into my neck, sending vibrations down my spine that are inappropriate for the current situation.

“Ow, bitch,” Raven grunts.

“You want me to hurry up and move, so hurry up and get out of my way,” I snark back.

She could have let us have that sweet moment. The kiss was over before it really began because Raven cock-blocked me.

We all pile into the SUV and all the snacks are passed around as Jayden pulls back onto the freeway. I glance up about a mile away from the gas station and notice the firebird in the sky again. It is definitely following us.

I’m not sure how long I watch the firebird, but Raven gasps sometime later.

“B, you have to see this,” she whispers, pointing her finger at the windshield.

“Oh gods, what did that?” I ask.

The sign leading to the ruins of the city has a huge hole in it as if a rampaging bull just ran through it and destroyed everything in its wake.

“That has to be something Greek,” I whisper in horror. “There’s nothing in the modern world that big. Not even a damn elephant.”

“How are we going to fight that?” Raven asks.

“I don’t know but we don’t have a choice. If we don’t fight and destroy it, everyone dies… including us.”