Page 21 of Protected By Artemis

They continued to mingle, repeating their strategy with each new group. Artemis’s charm and his steady presence made them an effective team. They moved smoothly from one group to the next, she effortlessly engaging in conversation while he quietly scanned the devices. There was a rhythm in their actions, a seamless partnership that seemed almost natural. He felt a growing respect for her ability to navigate the social landscape easily, and he appreciated how her presence made their task a little less daunting.

By the time the stars started to come out, he suggested they get some dinner since the hors d’oeuvres being passed around hadn’t been enough for him. He looked at the crowd and noticed Asher had just joined the group. Nudging Artemis, he pointed him out.

“Oh, I want to see what he looks like,” she said, peering at Asher. She smirked. “Oh, he’s okay, but my brother is way better-looking than he is. I need to text Geri.” She pulled out that ridiculous bejeweled phone of hers, and he shook his head at her, sipping his drink while she texted.

“Okay, done,” she announced, reaching for his hand. “Shall we see if Asher should be on the suspect board?”

They approached Asher, whose eyes narrowed upon seeing him. Asher was tall, with brown eyes and brown hair and could almost be described as handsome, but there was a coldness to him that marred his features.

“Andersen. Not surprising to see you here,” Asher scowled.

Cade gave a curt nod. “Asher. It’s been a while.”

Asher’s gaze flickered briefly to Artemis, who stood close to Cade, then back to Cade with a dismissive smirk. “I heard about the bombing at your place. Hope everyone’s okay.”

“Yes, no one was hurt,” Cade replied, keeping his voice steady despite the irritation simmering beneath the surface.

Asher’s smirk widened. “Well, I guess things just blow up sometimes, huh.”

Cade clenched his jaw. “Sometimes. But it’s not something I’d wish on anyone.”

Asher shrugged. “Well, accidents happen. Just part of life, right?”

“So, Asher, why are you here alone?” Cade snapped. “Couldn’t find anyone to accompany you?”

Asher’s smirk faltered for a split second before he recovered. “I prefer to travel solo. Less baggage that way.”

Cade’s expression remained neutral, but the satisfaction of seeing Asher momentarily unsettled was enough. “Interesting,” he said, glaring back at Asher.

Artemis’s hand on his arm caught his attention, and he glanced at her. She smiled and nodded, signaling that she had gathered enough information. “Well, this is Artemis. Artemis, this is Asher.”

“Hi. Nice to meet you,” Artemis stepped forward slightly, drawing Asher’s attention.

“Likewise.” Asher barely acknowledged her.

“We’re going to get some dinner,” Cade declared, not wanting to waste another moment with Asher. “Enjoy your evening, Asher.”

“You too, Andersen,” Asher’s smirk never wavered. “Try not to let anything else blow up.”

As they walked toward the clubhouse, Cade felt the tension in his shoulders ease. “Thanks for the save back there,” he said, glancing at her.

“No problem. I could tell you were about to lose your cool,” she chuckled.

“So, what’s the verdict on Asher?”

“He’s got an attitude, but I didn’t sense anything particularly off about him. He’s just as arrogant as you said he’d be.”

“Let’s see what the app says,” he said. He glanced at the screen and then back at her. “Yup, it says Asher is an asshole.”

She laughed, a bright, melodic sound that made Cade smile despite himself. “It doesn’t really say that, right? I can’t imagine Hephaestus making something that would do that.” She continued to giggle, leaning over to look at his phone.

He showed her the screen. “No, it doesn’t. But it should.”

Her laughter bubbled up again, and she playfully nudged his shoulder. “You almost had me there. For a second, I thought Hephaestus had developed a sense of humor.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, well, maybe he should add that feature in the next update.”

She grinned, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “I’ll suggest it to him next time I see him.”

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