Page 50 of Artemis

“Actually...”

Finley raised an eyebrow, but Artemis closed her eyes, blocking out distractions. Sending out her power, she felt for the life force of her son. “Main floor. That room.” She pointed at a dirty small window to the right of the door. “There are three others in the house, but none in the room with him.” She opened her eyes again, to see Finley looking at her with awe.

“Impressive. And very helpful.” Finley paused for a beat. “Okay, here’s the plan.”

It took him less time to tell her the plan than to break through the back door. She caught sight of the doorknob as she passed it; it was crumpled beyond recognition. Swiftly, they moved through the back hallway into the living room. There were three men sitting on folding chairs. They leapt to their feet when they saw Finley, but Artemis didn’t wait around to find out what they did next, turning away from them and running down the hallway to the bedrooms.

A roar, followed by the shattering of glass, met her ears just as she reached the door she wanted. It was locked.

Of course it is.

Artemis knocked on the door and put her mouth to the edge where the door met the frame. “Alexander? It’s Mom. I’m going to get you out of here. Hang on, sweetheart.”

“Mom?” Alexander called back. “I’m scared, Mom!”

“Be brave, dear one. I’m coming.” She bent over to examine the knob. It was a standard key lock mechanism. With no key hanging next to the door, Artemis had no choice. She put her hand over the knob and pressed her power inside, forming the shape of a key and forcing the lock open.

It clicked loudly, even over the noise of the fight down the hall, and she pushed open the door. Artemis ran inside and fell to her knees in front of Alexander, scooping him up in her arms and cradling him like the baby he used to be. “I’m so sorry, I love you,” she found herself babbling into his curls as he shook with sobs in her arms. “Are you okay?”

“I did the finger thing Lee taught me,” Alexander said, hiccupping softly. “It helped.”

“Good for you. Let’s get you out of here.” She didn’t want to let him go ever again, but she asked, “Would you rather walk or be carried?”

Alexander tightened his grip around her neck with his little arms. “Don’t put me down, please, Mom,” he said brokenly.

“I’ve got you,” she replied automatically. Getting to her feet was a bit of a struggle. She must have used more power than she realized to open the lock. Her energy was vastly depleted.

Once standing, she cautiously peeped out into the hallway. The fight was still going on in the living room, based on the loud crashes and yells she could hear. At least she hadn’t heard any gunshots.

Artemis walked as quickly as she could to the back hallway, but when she reached the corner, she stopped, frozen by the sight of the fight in the living room.

Well, more like in the front yard.

The entire front wall and window of the living room were gone, as if a very large creature had been thrown through it. Finley had shifted into his dragon form, and was fighting two snake shifters and...

“Jormund?” Artemis gasped, hardly able to believe her eyes. In his snake god form, Jormund Blanca was ginormous, even bigger than Finley’s dragon form. Jormund was strong and fast, but even though Finley had experience in the fighting ring, he was used to fighting one opponent at a time.Thisfight didn’t look good.

There was no time to call for backup. Artemis was the only one who could save him. She looked down at the little boy in her arms and bit her lip.

Would he get hurt if she interfered?

In her moment of indecision, the choice was made for her.

Twin roars echoed through the neighborhood as Finley’s brothers arrived, launching themselves at the smaller snake shifters and leaving Finley to deal with the snake god.

Hera, with beautiful white wings, landed at the opening of the house. “Come,” she said, holding her hand out to Artemis. “There is nothing you can do here.”

“Like shit there isn’t!” Artemis said. “Take Alexander to Maddie. I don’t want him harmed. And call Chloe, please.”

“She’s already on her way,” Hera said. “Alexander, will you come with me?”

“Please, go with Hera,” Artemis encouraged him. “I need to save Lee.”

“Okay, Mom.” Alexander reached out for Hera and transferred to the other Goddess easily.

“I love you,” Artemis said.

“Love you!” His last word was cut off as Hera sprang upward, her big beautiful wings catching a draft and speeding them skyward.

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