Page 40 of Zeus' Spark
I cringe as I watch.
Will someone be able to get the stupid wolf out of the way before the boar guts him? I hope so. There’s a reason the Oracle said we need him.
“Raven, be ready,” I yell to my friend.
She’s the closest and needs to get the idiots out of the way in time.
She winks back at me. “I’ve got them. Make sure the doors are shut.”
Jogging over to the door, I wait for the boar to catch up and rush Greyson. At the last second, Raven yanks Greyson out of the way.
I dive out of the way and the boar barrels past me into the doorway to the barn.
Jayden releases his shadows, and the chains wrap around the boar’s legs and neck just before I slam the door.
The boar crashes into the metal door, denting it, but by some miracle, it holds. The roars finally cut off, and we all breathe heavily.
When Jayden nods, I open the door a crack. He must feel the beast is gone because his magic dissipates.
“It fucking worked. Thank fuck for that,” I groan as I slide to the ground.
My leg is throbbing, and I remember I’m supposed to be putting the burn cream on every couple hours.
“Beth, we can’t stop. We have to go.” Jayden crouches in front of me and notices the burn on my leg is still there. “Shit, you have some explaining to do about lying to me, babe.”
“Don’t call me that.” I grit my teeth and nearly yell at the overbearing asshole, but his strong arms wrap around me and lift me against his hard chest. “Jayden. It’s just uncomfortable. I can still walk.”
“I don’t care. You’re injured, and I’m carrying you back. End of fucking story.”
I don’t even argue this time.
I pick my battles because my leg does hurt, and I know I’m going to need my strength for what’s coming next.
9
“You took a wrong turn.” Greyson’s growl wakes me.
I sit up groggily in my seat. It would be so much easier if we could use GPS, but no, that attracts monsters.
“Shit, I hate using stupid maps. Where does it say we’re going?” Jayden asks, keeping his eyes on the road.
Greyson squints down at the map. “It says we’re going to a little desert town called Hesperia.”
Do wolves have night vision? It’s dark, and he’s not using a flashlight, not that we have one.
Note to self: we need to get a flashlight at some point because it’s dark, and if Greyson ends up falling asleep, I’m not going to be able to see the map.
“You’re kidding, right? You don’t think…” I stare in horror at Jayden.
“It’s the desert, Beth. I don’t think the apples could grow in the desert,” Jayden says with a sigh.
Greyson frowns at us. “What are you two talking about?”
“Do you know what the Hesperides are?” I ask slowly, and Raven starts cursing, probably because she just put the similarities together.
“The myth about Hera’s garden of golden apples?” He scratches his head, as if trying to remember.
“Shhh, don’t say her name.” I scan our surroundings, looking for any possible attack. “I’m apersona non gratawith the queen of the gods. She’s vengeful to any children of Zeus.”
