Page 62 of Protected By Artemis

“Perfect, I’ll have one too.”

Geri’s face softened, and she nodded. “Okay, an espresso martini it is.”

Aphrodite, who had been watching, waved her hand, and two drinks materialized on the table in front of them. The goddess of love raised her glass. “To girls’ night,” she said, her voice carrying a warmth that made it impossible not to smile.

Artemis lifted her glass, clinking it against Geri’s and Aphrodite’s. She was glad Aphrodite was with them so Geri wouldn’t press for details about the trip to Turks and Caicos or what they had uncovered. There was no way she could pretend that everything had gone smoothly or that she and Cade had simply fallen for each other like it was inevitable.

How had it even happened? One moment, they were hunting for answers, and the next, she found herself drawn to Cade in a way that defied logic.

She’d spent millennia guarding her heart, ensuring no one could get too close. Yet, he had slipped through her defenses, making her feel things she hadn’t felt ever.

But it hadn’t been enough for him, she reminded herself bitterly. The pain of his rejection was still raw, and she wasn’t ready to face it—let alone explain it to Geri.

Artemis sipped her drink, grateful for the strong flavor that helped dull the ache in her chest.

Aphrodite was chatting away, filling the space with light conversation. The goddess of love sat across from Artemis, exuding an air of effortless grace as she lounged on the settee. Her golden hair cascaded in soft waves around her, and her skin seemed to glow with an inner radiance like the first light of dawn breaking over a tranquil sea. She appeared older than Artemis,not in a way that suggested age, but with a refined elegance and an ageless wisdom that only deepened her allure.

Her eyes, a mesmerizing blend of cerulean and silver, held a piercing intensity as she looked at Artemis. It was as if she could see right through the goddess of the hunt, peeling back the layers of composure to the turmoil beneath. The weight of that gaze made Artemis’s heart pound faster, a paranoid thought creeping into her mind: could Aphrodite sense the love and heartbreak that tangled together within her?

Artemis shifted slightly, the feeling of being exposed unsettling. Aphrodite was known for her uncanny ability to detect even the subtlest undercurrents of emotion. Her perceptive nature was almost as legendary as her beauty. As Aphrodite continued to speak, her melodic voice filling the room, Artemis couldn’t shake the fear that her true feelings were being laid bare under Aphrodite’s knowing stare.

Artemis couldn’t help but steal glances at the two over the rim of her glass. She had arranged this girls’ night to help Geri feel more at home in Olympus, aware of how challenging it could be to settle into a world of gods and immortals. Inviting Aphrodite had seemed like a good idea, so Geri could feel more accepted among the Olympians. Also, part of her was just a tiny bit curious if Aphrodite still had feelings for her ex-husband.

It wasn’t the first time Aphrodite and Geri had met, though it was the first time they hung out. Geri had told Artemis about their meeting with Aphrodite during the interview process about her potential immortality. The goddess of love had been tough, scrutinizing every detail of Geri and Apollo’s relationship. Her questions had been probing, almost too direct, aimed at testing the strength and sincerity of their bond.

But in the end, Aphrodite had surprised them all. Despite all her questions, she had declared that she believed in the authenticity of their love. During the council meeting she hadspoken with a rare softness in her voice, a smile touching her lips as she looked at Geri and Apollo. “Love like yours,” Aphrodite had said, “is worth the risk of immortality. It should be nurtured and allowed to grow.” With that, she had voted for Geri to eat the golden apple, sealing her fate as an immortal.

Now, Artemis wondered if those words referred to something else, perhaps a regret in her heart that she’d kept buried all along?

As they sat together, Geri seemed at ease, her eyes sparkling as she took delicate sips of her drink. Artemis watched her sister-in-law, noticing how she leaned into the conversation with Aphrodite. Seeing Geri so relaxed and finding her place among the gods made her happy. This was what she had hoped for—Geri feeling at home, embraced by Olympus.

Aphrodite, for her part, seemed genuinely interested in Geri’s adjustment to immortal life. She asked thoughtful questions about Geri’s experiences, her challenges, and what she missed most about the Upperworld. It was clear that Aphrodite was trying to connect, and Artemis appreciated it.

She wanted to focus on Geri and the success of their night together, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Cade. His words, his apology, the raw emotion in his voice when he spoke of his fears and regrets lingered in her mind like a haunting melody she couldn’t quite shake.

But tonight was about Geri, and she wanted to be present, to be there for her. She turned her attention back to the conversation, trying to match Geri’s enthusiasm. Artemis smiled warmly, listening as Aphrodite shared a story about one of her many escapades in the Upperworld with her mortal lovers, her voice rich with humor and naughtiness.

Her phone pinged, and she subtly glanced at the screen, careful not to let the others notice. It was a message from Hephaestus asking about Cade’s pack.

She bit the inside of her cheek, trying to keep her expression neutral as she typed out a quick reply: “You should text Cade.” And then she sent him Cade’s mobile number.

She tucked her phone away, trying to shake off the tension that crept up at the mere mention of Cade. He was back in Alaska, and yet, he kept creeping into her night.

Geri gave her a look. “Everything okay?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Hephaestus asked about the pack, and I told him to text Cade.”

“Hephaestus?” Aphrodite sniffed. She took a slow sip of her drink, her eyes narrowing just a touch. “How is he?”

Artemis shifted in her seat. “He’s…fine,” she replied cautiously. While she was curious, she didn’t want Aphrodite to suspect that she was fishing for more information. “He’s helping out with an issue Cade’s pack is having.”

Aphrodite’s eyes sharpened, her lips quirking up into a small smile. “How industrious of him. He’s always liked keeping busy with his little projects.”

Geri leaned forward, clearly curious but trying not to seem too nosy. “Is he doing okay? I mean, with everything going on?”

Artemis nodded. “He’s been helpful. Whatever else is going on, at least I can always count on him to be thorough when it comes to his work.” She carefully kept her tone neutral, not wanting to spark any more tension between the god and goddess.

Aphrodite chuckled lightly, but it wasn’t exactly warm. “Yes, thorough.” She let the word linger in the air as though it carried more meaning than it appeared. After a moment, she softened and added, “Well, at least he’s staying out of trouble.”

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