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

“ T his is bullshit,” I say, mopping the sweat on my forehead.

“It’s been days, and the gods are completely silent.” Raven swings her blade at Jayden and he blocks at the last second.

“No head shots, remember?” Jayden snarls.

“Is the enemy going to fight fair?” Raven asks. “They will definitely try to take your head off.”

“Let’s leave the decapitation attempts to the enemy, yeah?” I say.

A breeze cools my heated skin, and I sigh with relief. This never-ending sun is destroying my sense of time and any ability to keep cool. We need to find out what’s happening.

“Training’s done. Let’s contact Hades and see if he knows anything about what might be happening to Artemis,” I say.

“Why my father?” Jayden asks.

He whips his shirt over his head wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead with it.

“He’s the only god that gave us permission to contact him for assistance other than Hermes and try as I might, I haven’t been able to pin down the trickster god with the shell.”

“That makes sense,” Jayden says.

My gaze tracks a bead of sweat running down his chiseled pecs to his lickable abs and I mentally shake myself to get my brain to continue functioning properly.

“You need to put that shirt back on, Jayden. I can’t think with you like that.” I wave a hand in the general vicinity of his chest and abs.

Jayden chuckles, sauntering closer, and grips my hand. “You can touch them if you want to.”

He yanks me closer. I lose my balance, falling against him, and reach a hand out on his chest to keep from falling.

“Ew, you guys can’t focus for a second, can you?” Raven gags. “I thought we were contacting Hades, not groping each other in public.”

“The sun shining constantly has fried my brain,” I say.

“That’s a lie. Jayden’s abs did that, not the sun.” Raven giggles.

“It was at least the combination of the two.” I shrug.

We grab our water bottles and clean up the discarded weapons before heading to the dorm building to contact Hades. Jayden wraps an arm around me, and I sigh at the comfort he’s offering even as the niggling in my brain tries to warn against me getting too close.

He chose another life. He didn’t want the responsibility of saving the world. What if you have to make that choice again? You’ll be forced to choose between him and the world.

I shake my head to clear the intrusive thoughts. This is Jayden. Yes, we have had our issues in the past, but he would never ask me to stop trying to save everybody. If only I could force my brain to know what my heart already understands.

“We’ll figure this out,” Jayden says, kissing my temple.

He thinks the issue is Artemis. While that is a huge issue, it’s not what has me stiffly marching up the stairs right now. It’s Jayden’s arm around me while I ponder a choice I never want to have to make again. Is the third time the charm? That may just break me for good.

Raven glances at me from the corner of her eye. My best friend knows something’s up, but she won’t say anything in front of the group. That’s why I love her.

“It’s useless to worry over something you can’t change. We will fix this as Jayden said and meet the evil gods head-on. Together,” Raven says with a conviction I don’t feel.

“We don’t really have another choice, do we?” I ask.

“Not if we want to keep breathing,” Raven grumbles.

We get to the eleventh floor and even though there is a breeze in the building, sweat continues to pour down the back of my neck. The heat is unbearable which makes me wonder if we’re right about the possibility of an ice age after all.

‘C’mon.” Jayden pulls me into his creepy dorm room.

“Ugh, do we have to do this in here?” Raven complains. “The skulls are super creepy.”

“My father is more likely to respond if we’re in a place more suited to him. Do you have a better idea?” Jayden crosses his arms over his chest.

“This is the best option,” I say as my gaze travels down Jayden’s naked chest again.

Shit. I need to focus, damn it.

“How about you put a fresh shirt on before we call your dad and he gets the wrong idea about what’s going on here?” I say.

“Yeah, because that’s what you’re worried about.” Raven laughs. “You have a bit of drool there.”

“I do not.” I smack her arm with the back of my hand.

“I’ll go get a new shirt. I don’t want my dad any more distracted with possibilities than usual either and Olympus forbid Persephone to be there to witness it. She already has hearts in her eyes and I’m sure she’s planning a wedding in her head.”

“A wedding?” I splutter. “Is that… ugh, nope, need to save the world before we open up all that.”

I’m only twenty-one. I’m so not ready to get married. No matter how I feel about Jayden, that is a long way off for us.

“Try telling her that,” Jayden grumbles.

“As soon as this war and all the crazy is done, I will definitely be having that conversation with your stepmother,” I growl.

She may be a millennia old goddess of spring, but she will not bully me into getting married before I’m ready. I’m not like the gods.

“I’m going to change. You two have a seat,” Jayden says, pointing to the black overstuffed sofa in the middle of his common room.

Flopping down on the couch, I blow out a breath. I’ve tried to keep it together, but at some point, enough is enough. How many times are we going to be expected to save the world?

“You good?” Raven asks, sitting next to me.

“I have to be, right? I don’t have a choice but to be good.”

“You’re not a robot. It’s okay to break every once in a while.”

“I’m still struggling with what happened on the island,” I whisper. “I have nightmares about it.”

“You never told me exactly what happened.” Raven nudges me.

I glance at the hall to make sure Jayden isn’t heading back and sigh in relief. “I don’t think the events bother me so much as the way it made me feel. I was so tempted to just stay there and forget the rest of the world was in danger. What does that say about me?”

“It wasn’t real. It was a test that you obviously passed. It was meant to shake you. Don’t let it. So what if for a split second you considered saying fuck it and staying there. You made the right decision in the end. You’re stronger than I am.”

“It was Jayden,” I whisper. “I had to choose between Jayden and saving the world.”

“That’s diabolical. If I ever see that meddling sea god, he’s going to wish he was never created!” Raven yells in outrage.

“Shhh, I haven’t told Jayden yet. I’m afraid.” I clap a hand over Raven’s mouth.

“What’s going on in here?” Jayden rushes down the hall.

I remove my hand from Raven’s mouth. “Nothing.”

“I thought I heard Raven threatening murder.” Jayden raises a brow at her.

“It’s not important. That can wait. We need to get a hold of Hades.” I pull the shell out of my backpack.

“I wish there was a way to warn him so we don’t witness something I may never recover from,” Jayden groans.

“Don’t look and I’ll tell you when we have the all clear.” Raven grins.

Shaking my head at Raven, I hold up the shell and call, “Hades, god of the underworld.”

A few seconds tick by while nothing happens, then mist clouds in front of our faces, forming a picture inside of Hades seated on his throne with a giggling Persephone in his lap.

“Son,” Hades booms, grinning. “Why do you have your back turned?”

“He was afraid of what we might interrupt.” Raven bumps her shoulder with mine.

Jayden turns as Hades’ booming laugh fills the room. “It must be important if you were willing to risk interrupting us to contact me. What’s happening in the mortal realm? I’ve been getting some odd reports from Thanatos.”

“We don’t know what’s happened, but our best guess is something has happened to Artemis, but I can’t contact Hermes.” I shift in my seat.

“Hermes has been cloaked while he runs an errand for me. As soon as that is complete, I’ll send him to Olympus to find out what’s happened to the huntress and report to you.”

“We need this soon, Father. The sun has been shining nonstop for over a week.” Jayden runs a hand through his hair.

“The moon isn’t in the sky? Hmmm, that would explain the bizarre reports from Thanatos about freak storms in the desert.” Hades taps a finger to his lips.

“Freak storms in the desert?” Raven leans forward.

“Yes, the number of dead mortals has increased due to unexpected weather events. It makes so much sense now.”

“You see now that this is an emergency?” Jayden asks.

“Yes, I shall recall Hermes and send him directly to my brother to find out what has happened.” Hades nods.

Persephone sits up, grinning. “Now that the serious business is out of the way, how are the little godlings doing? Have you noticed any new and exciting powers?”

“I feel stronger, but I haven’t tried testing my power.” I shake my head.

“No, I think we have all been focusing on the coming war and trying to recover from the last battles.” Jayden glances at me.

“Yes, that was a tough one, not just physically.” Persephone’s expression shows sympathy, but I turn away, unable to handle it from her.

Jayden squeezes my shoulder, gently offering his support even though he’s inadvertently the problem.

It’s not his fault but I can’t stop the pain.

I don’t know what I’ll do if faced with the same choice as before.

I want to believe I would do the right thing, but when do I get to just be selfish for once?

“Hermes is on his way to Olympus to find out what’s happening,” Hades says.

“Just like that?” Raven asks.

“We are gods.” Hades chuckles. “You younglings are still thinking like you’re human. The sky is the limit now for you three.”

“We don’t really have a limit, my love,” Persephone says. “But let’s not overwhelm them. You must come to visit soon.”

“We will,” I say. “Just as soon as the war with the other gods is over.”

“We must be off now. Lots to do to prepare for the war.” Persephone finger waves at us as the mist dissolves.

“Persephone is one of the most laid-back goddesses I have ever seen.” Raven leans back on the couch.

“Her and Artemis both.” I sigh.