Page 46 of Artemis’ Bow (Halfling Academy #5)

“New Orleans. I’m sorry we didn’t tell you exactly where, but we were being careful. Now that we’re only a couple hours out and they already know we’re coming, it’s not a big secret.” I glance out the window again and my brow furrows.

What the fuck is that?

“I have my orders, if I find anything out of the ordinary, how do I contact you?” Chiron asks.

“You don’t. We will probably end up being transported back once Artemis and her bow are liberated.

If you find someone, just send them as soon as possible,” I say, never taking my eyes off whatever is disturbing the harbor.

“I have to go. I think I see monsters out in the fucking open in a major city.”

“What?” Raven shrieks and stares out the window. “What is that?”

“I don’t know, but we need to investigate before the humans stop being oblivious and see what’s happening here.”

The mist dissipates as Jayden pulls off the highway and I glance out the back window to make sure Dax pulls off as well. Luckily, he notices us at the last second and pulls behind us. Thank the gods because I don’t have a clue what this might be.

“What do you think that is?” Raven asks.

“I don’t have any idea, but they were huge and they looked to be fighting. I need to get closer. At least for now, they are fighting each other, not rampaging the city and outing us to the humans.”

“Well, let’s get closer, then.” Jayden turns the wheel. “If they are fighting each other, maybe one is on Artemis’ side. That’s a risk we should definitely take.”

“I agree. If one of them is on our side, that’s another ally to help Artemis in the battle at the temple.” I lean forward, trying to see more of the combatants.

There is something sparkly about both of them in the yellow rays of the sun. They shimmer like they have been glitter bombed too many times.

“What’s that glitter?” Raven asks and turns to Greyson. “Are they vampires? Do vampires shimmer in the sun?”

“They aren’t vampires, babe. You met a damn vampire the night we met, remember?” Greyson raises a brow.

“The fuck you say?” I ask, outraged.

“No one at that ill-advised party shimmered,” Jayden cuts in. “Let’s leave it at that.”

I poke Jayden in the ribs and turn my narrowed gaze on Greyson. I want to call him out and ask how close that damn vampire got to our necks without us knowing he was a bloodsucker but refrain because we have bigger problems to deal with at this point.

“You will tell me how close I became to being a snack when this mission is over.” I point my finger in his face.

“You were never in any danger of being anyone’s snack but mine,” Jayden whispers, squeezing my thigh again.

“That didn’t happen, and you know it,” I scoff.

“Not that night.” He licks his bottom lip.

“Shut up.” I brush his hand off my leg but the next second, it’s clamped down on the same spot and there’s a sly smile on his face.

“What’s the matter, baby?” he asks with faux innocence.

“You know what the problem is. Don’t play dumb.” I cross my arms as the others laugh and I turn back to the window.

“Whatever you say, baby.” He makes a show of zipping his lips and I roll my eyes.

“We’re getting closer to the water. Are they out to sea?” I cock my head to the side.

“They could be, but at the same time, at that size, they could come to shore at any time and wreak havoc with the humans,” Adrian warns.

“Yeah, which is why we need to figure out who or what they are and who is the most likely to wreak havoc if they win this battle and make sure they lose,” I say.

“Does that one have scales?” Raven asks and shudders.

“That is not a lizard demon,” I say. “It’s entirely too big. If they could grow to that size, they would have demolished us in the last battle.”

“No, it’s not like a lizard exactly.” Thad leans forward. “It’s more like a… oh fuck. I know what this is.”

“What is it?” I ask.

“Remember the giant crab?” Thad asks.

“You mean the constellation?” I tilt my head to the side before my eyes widen.

“No,” Raven says. “You don’t think…”

“I think that’s the battle that made Orion and Scorpio constellations in the sky in the first place. They’ve been brought back.” Thad glances out the window again. “But this time to slow us down rather than to kill Orion.”

“The constellation Orion. Artemis has another chance with her love?” I ask softly.

“We don’t know that. He could feel betrayed after millennia in the stars. He could be after vengeance.” Raven shakes her head.

“I don’t think so,” Adrian says. “She begged her father to save him and make him a constellation. I don’t think he would want vengeance against the goddess he loves.”

“It’s been millennia, though,” I say.

“Yeah, millennia where he’s watched over the earth and Olympus from the sky where Ouranus domain is. Where he and Gaia are constantly kept apart by the Titan Atlas. This is the definition of star-crossed,” Adrian says.

“Who knew that Adrian was a romantic at heart?” Raven giggles.

“That may be, but I don’t think he’s wrong. There’s a reason that Orion was brought back so close to the temple, and it may just work out in our favor.” Jayden drums his fingers against the steering wheel.

“Then we go see what the deal is and if needed, we assist Orion and hope that he helps us save Artemis?” I ask, incredulous.

“That’s the best option we have, Beth. What if because of their connection he can get into the temple?” Raven asks.

“That’s actually a good thought. Maybe we don’t need one of the stupid hunters that just want our men when they’re supposed to be virginal to serve Artemis.” My hands shake.

If I have to deal with her hunters after everything else, I’m going to lose my shit. Artemis may not have any hunters left. They are assholes and think they are hot shit. They’re not. Jayden loves me and would never even entertain one of the self-absorbed hunters Artemis surrounds herself with.

“We’ll have to help him and hope that he’s on Artemis’ side because this fight isn’t going well for Orion,” Raven says, pointing to the sea.

“Hurry, Jayden. We don’t want to miss our opportunity,” I say, smacking his arm.

“I’m going the speed limit. I don’t want to attract attention from the humans. We will be there soon.”

“What if we’re too late? What if he dies again before we can help Artemis? We’re completely fucked if that happens. We may be screwed either way.”