Page 115 of Zeus' Spark
“Yeah, but the trail goes east to west.” Greyson frowns down at something in his hand.
It’s a compass, I realize.
Raven looks over his shoulder at the small object. “Did the satyr give you that?”
Greyson shrugs. “It was in the pack. I’m guessing he added it when he saw our map would be useless.”
“So, north is not the direction of the trail. We figured the crowns wouldn’t be on the trail anyway.” Jayden peers out to the north before stomping through the foliage.
“Everyone stay alert. We don’t know what’s in the wilds,” I say, following carefully behind Jayden.
Raven is at my back with Greyson bringing up the rear.
Did they plan this? The idiots are blocking us from the front and behind like we’re weak females who need to be protected.
“Are they dumb?” Raven whispers at my back with a giggle.
“I say we just let them think they’re protecting us. They know that when something comes at us, we won’t cower away.” I shrug, pushing away a tree branch and holding it so it doesn’t slap Raven in the face.
Raven grabs it but lets it go in Greyson’s face, and he groans.
“What the hell, babe?” he grumbles.
I shake my head, peering back over my shoulder at them.
“Daughter of fucking Ares, remember?” She rolls her eyes.
I bump into Jayden’s back, not paying attention to where I’m going, and nearly fall, but his shadows catch and right me before I fall on my ass.
Jayden chuckles. “We’re supposed to be paying attention, baby girl.”
“It’s Raven’s fault.” I stick my tongue out at him, dusting imaginary dirt off my body.
Jayden’s eyes heat at my immature response, and my cheeks burn with embarrassment as I glance away.
“Why is it my fault?” she asks, sounding offended.
She pulls me from my thoughts of Jayden and back to the conversation at hand. I mentally shake myself.
Focus, Beth. This is dangerous, and we need to be alert.
“You were just abusing your boyfriend, and it was funny.” I giggle. “See? Your fault.”
“Hey, there’s nothing funny about that,” Greyson growls.
“You guys are idiots putting us between you so that you can protect us when we’re usually the ones to defeat the monsters.” I shake my head, pushing past Jayden with Raven right behind me.
These guys are too much. We have proven ourselves. We do not need their protection.
“How about we all just watch each other’s backs?” Raven says, catching up and walking beside me.
“That sounds good to me.” I bump shoulders with her and step over a shrub in my way.
A huge mountain looms before us.
“You think that’s where the cliff is?” Raven asks, pointing at it.
I glare at the rocky mountain. It’s going to be tough getting up over the steep cliffs and to the peak at the top. It’s a good thing we have climbing gear in the packs.
