Page 61 of Protected By Artemis

“I was wrong. Please let me make it up to you.”

Her expression shifted, her eyes narrowing with a look he recognized all too well. It was the same look she got when she’d made up her mind or was concentrating intensely on something. A chill ran down his spine as he realized what was coming.

Before he could say another word, she took another step back from him. “I can’t accept your apology. Not right now.”

And just like that, she disappeared, leaving him alone in the clearing.

“Artemis, come back now!” he roared.

A sudden gust of wind swept through the space, snuffing out the candles he’d painstakingly lit. The darkness that followed felt suffocating, pressing in on him from all sides.

Panic surged in his chest. He rushed to the altar, fumbling with the matches, trying to relight the candles, but no matter how many times he struck the match, the flames refused to catch. It was as if the air itself was conspiring against him, mocking his efforts.

“Artemis!” he shouted into the night, his voice echoing off the trees. “Don’t do this! Don’t shut me out!” His heart pounded, desperation clawing at him. He couldn’t let her slip away like this, not after everything they’d been through.

He dropped to his knees, clenching his fists in the dirt, and prayed with everything he had. “I’m not giving up. You can shut me out, you can disappear, but I’m not going anywhere. I’ll keep praying. I’ll keep calling to you until you hear me.”

The forest was silent, and the only sound was leaves rustling in the breeze. He waited, hoping for a sign, anything to show that she’d heard him. But the night remained still, offering no comfort, no response.

But even as doubt gnawed at him, he refused to give in. He stayed there, kneeling at the altar, his resolve hardening with every passing moment. “I won’t give up,” he repeated, his voice low but firm. “Not on you, not on us.”

He would keep calling out to her no matter how long it took. He’d prove to her that he was worth the risk, that he was ready to face his fears and fight for what they had. And he wouldn’t stop until she believed it too.

Chapter 12

Artemis

Artemis was lost in her thoughts, Cade’s words echoing endlessly in her mind. Flashes of what had happened a week ago replayed vividly, like an unshakable dream. She had been so excited when she first felt the pull of a prayer, something she hadn’t experienced in centuries. It stirred something ancient within her, that primal connection she once had with mortals. The thrill of it, the sense of being called upon after all these years—it was almost intoxicating.

But then, she recognized his voice.

“Artemis. Please, hear me. I miss you.”

His voice had cut through the excitement like a blade, the pain of his actions flooding back into her body. The betrayal, the heartbreak—all the emotions she had buried in the days since their breakup surged back to the surface. She had felt a pang of hope when she realized he was calling to her, but it was quickly swallowed by the bitterness of what he had done. He had pushed her away, broken her heart, and now he was praying to her?Ti malakas!

She had wanted to ignore it, to turn away and pretend she hadn’t heard. But she couldn’t.

She had gone to him anyway.

The thought gnawed at her as she sat, staring off into the distance. Why had she gone? Why hadn’t she let him stew in the silence, let him face the consequences of what he’d done? But no—she had appeared before him, her emotions barely contained. The moment she saw him, standing there with that desperate look in his eyes, the wall she had so carefully constructed around her heart had wavered.

She clenched her fists, frustration bubbling up inside her. She was a goddess, and yet…she couldn’t keep away from him. It made her feel weak, like the power he held over her was something she couldn’t shake, no matter how hard she tried.

“I was wrong. Please let me make it up to you.”

Her mind raced back to the look in his eyes when he had spoken. The vulnerability, the rawness. It had been so unlike Cade to show that side of himself, to admit he had made a mistake. But it wasn’t enough. Not yet.

Why did I go to him?She knew the answer. Deep down, she knew. Because despite everything, despite the pain, she still loved him. She wasn’t ready to let go—not completely.

But that didn’t mean she was ready to forgive him either.

She tried to push his words out of her mind, but they kept echoing. Geri’s voice pulled her out of her swirling thoughts, anchoring her back to the present. She blinked and took in her surroundings—the relaxing lounge area in Geri and Apollo’s home in Olympus. The subtle luxury of the space, with its soft cushions, marble accents, and golden light filtering in through the high windows, was a far cry from the turmoil of her mind. The room was designed for comfort and serenity—but her heart was anything but.

Geri was sitting across from her, eyes filled with concern, her brow furrowed slightly. “Artemis? What do you want to drink?” she asked, studying her with concern.

Artemis forced a smile. “Right, girls’ night. Sorry, I’m a bit out of it. What are you drinking?”

“An espresso martini,” Geri replied, holding up her glass.

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