Page 115 of Hades' Shadow
My stomach pitches and dizziness engulfs me as I fall from the sky with the crumbling giant.
The ground gets closer and closer, but suddenly, I’m yanked up into warm strong arms and we jump to Raven and Adrian.
Jayden runs his hands over me, checking for injuries. His eyes are back to the ice-blue they normally are and a worried frown pinches his features.
“Don’t ever do that again.” He cups my cheek and stares down at me.
I’m not sure what emotion is playing in his blue depths, but I don’t get a second to think about it as he crashes his lips down on mine.
I groan into his kiss and wrap my arms around him, threading my hands through his hair at the back of his neck.
Jayden licks at the seam of my lips as a throat clears. He breaks the kiss and leans his forehead against mine, staring in my eyes.
“You almost died three times in an hour, Beth. Don’t do that again. I don’t know that I will be able to pull myself back if something happens to you.” He kisses my forehead and we turn to a grinning Raven.
“Are you guys gonna make up now? I’m really tired of having to push you back together.”
“Shut it, Raven. We need to find my backpack or we are in serious trouble.” I scan the area but it’s clear I’m not going to find the pack under the rocks and rubble of the defeated golem.
“Beth,” Raven says, gesturing to the complete and total destruction.
“I know but our food and medicine were in that bag.” I frown.
Adrian curses and I turn to him.
We are all covered in a layer of dust, but I remember Adrian’s moves and smirk.
“You get to be the distraction from now on,” I say.
Adrian grins. “I have a few tricks up my sleeves. It gave you guys time to destroy it. How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine. The elixir fixed me up.” I turn, searching for the tree I was hiding behind and stomping over.
I crouch down and pick up a huge piece of rock and throw it away.
There’s no way the pack will be in tact but maybe there will be some things I can salvage.
Jayden squats next to me and brushes some dust and rubble out of the way.
“I’m sorry, Beth. This is all my fault.” He hangs his head.
“Not your fault. I was practically dying and you were helping. Most people wouldn’t remember to pick up a bag in the middle of a life-or-death situation like that.” I squeeze his arm and go back to my search.
“If you hadn’t been in so much pain, you would have remembered it and come back for it even if it meant your death,” Jayden says.
My shoulders stiffen at his words because they aren’t meant as a compliment. Is Jayden being his same old overbearing self again?
Can I handle it if he is?
“I probably would go back for it, but only because we have no idea what awaits us on this trip or how long it’s going to take. We need food and medical supplies.” I cross my arms over my chest in defiance.
“I meant it as a compliment. You’re fearless and it scares the hell out of me. I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you.” He shakes his head.
Raven plops down next to me.
“What is that?” she asks and wipes dust off something by her feet.
“The shell,” I say excitedly and dig into the rubble there.
