Page 15 of Hades' Shadow
“I think it’s all connected, and we need all the information we can get.” Adrian crosses his arms over his chest.
I have to give it to the guy; there aren’t many people who can hold Raven’s stare without flinching for more than a few seconds.
“Okay, well, if it’s all three of us going, then it can’t be as bad as if we came back here on our own, right?” I ask to break the tension.
“I guess.” Raven slumps her shoulders. “I am a rule breaker but not when it has the potential to hurt others.”
Adrian sighs. “It’s not hurting anyone to make an inquiry. C’mon.”
We round the building and the small fenced-in area with cottages dotting the space comes into view. “Do you know which one is Cross’ place?”
“Um, no.” Adrian runs a hand over his face.
Raven runs a hand down her face in frustration. “He’s ducking us, remember? How are we going to find him? Knock on every door? We will get booted out of here at the first door.”
“Do you have a better idea?” Adrian growls.
“You guys calm down and stop snapping at each other. You’re only making this worse.” I stomp to the gate.
“Hold on,” Adrian says softly. “Let me see if I can get something.”
“Why didn’t you say that before?” Raven grumbles, tapping her foot impatiently.
I scan the area to make sure no one walks up on us and kicks us out of here before we get a chance to talk to Cross. I chew my lip nervously.
Adrian’s eyes pop open and he sighs in frustration. “I’m not getting anything but a dried-up lake.”
“A what?” I ask, confused.
“Wait, isn’t he a son of Poseidon?” Raven asks thoughtfully.
Adrian frowns. “Yes, but that would be sea water, not necessarily a lake. That’s fresh water and a different god entirely.”
“Okay, well, let’s look at this logically then, shall we?” I raise an eyebrow at the two of them. “Where is the best place to have a lake in the professor’s little village?”
Adrian taps a finger against his chin as Raven paces, scanning the area with nervous eyes.
“The back? The cottages are pretty close together, but if he needs a body of water to recharge, then he would need privacy.” Adrian jogs around the side of the little village, not waiting for us to follow.
“Adrian, wait,” I whisper, watching the small cottages closely, hoping we don’t get caught this close to the place.
A door slams ahead, and Adrian stops, turning to us with wide eyes, and he mouths, “Hide.”
The tree line is just a few feet away and I grab Raven’s arm, pulling her behind one of the large evergreens with me at the same time Adrian does the same.
Our training instructor stomps between the cottages, and I pray that he doesn’t sense us watching him.
A twig snaps and I widen my eyes over at Adrian. What the hell is he doing? The training instructor stops, turning and staring at the tree Adrian is standing behind. I hold my breath even though I know that he can’t hear me breathing from this distance, but fear isn’t always logical.
“Damn animals,” our instructor grumbles and storms through the village, out the front gate, and around the admin building.
I release the breath I was holding on a whoosh. “That was too fucking close. Adrian, we walk between the trees to get wherever you are taking us.”
I put my hands on my hips, shaking my head at the impulsive male.
“Sorry, you’re right. If we are under the cover of trees, we will be harder to spot.” He turns but doesn’t move just yet.
Raven and I pick through the brush, weaving between several trees before we make it to Adrian’s side. “Where do you think his cottage is?”
