Page 145 of Ares' Shield
“He didn’t mean it. He didn’t. We just don’t know who brought the monsters back or why you’re here,” I say soothingly.
“She’s right, I’m sorry,” Jayden says. “We learned about centaurs, but there is actually very little known about them now.”
“What are you young heroes doing out here in the middle of the night?” he asks and glances behind us.
The others are more cautious about approaching him. That would have been the smarter way to do things, but oh well. Too late now.
“We’re on a quest to stop whoever brought you back. Well, we think it’s all connected anyway.” I chew my lip.
What can we do to help him? We can’t bring him with us. He won’t fit in the SUV.
“On a quest in that metal contraption. Did Hephaestus create it?” he asks, squinting at the vehicle.
“No, that’s Greyson’s SUV. Things have changed a lot in the mortal world,” I say.
“I don’t belong here. I didn’t care for my place in the underworld, but I have seen some strange things here.” The centaur shakes his head. “Like you. You have the soul of an animal, how?”
“I’m a wolf shifter.”
“See, I don’t know this strange new world.”
“We need to get him to the academy. He doesn’t appear to be barbaric like the stories said,” I whisper to Jayden.
“How are we going to do that, Beth?”
I turn my glance on Draven, quickly turning away after changing my mind. That idiot can’t help us.
“How far can your shadows transport someone?” I ask.
“Not that far. I wasn’t even sure if I could transport Adrian under the rock.” He scrubs a hand over his face.
“You’re right. If you transported him somewhere in front of a bunch of humans, that would be bad.”
Someone taps me on the shoulder and I turn to raise a brow at Adrian.
“He’s important somehow. He needs to go to the academy. It was in the vision I had when we were discussing driving through the night.” Adrian shuffles his feet.
“I get that. We were just discussing how we can do that.” I blow out a frustrated breath.
Adrian turns and points to Draven. “He can do it.”
“I’m not so sure he will.”
“You want me to do it?” Draven says. “You wouldn’t even stop for me to get food and now you want me to help you without any idea how I’m supposed to do it?”
“Did you see any places to stop for food out here, moron?” Adrian yells.
Whoa, I was not expecting that from Adrian. I share a surprised glance with Raven. That was unexpected.
“Fine, did your crystal ball tell you how I’m supposed to do this?” Draven growls.
The centaur stamps his hoof again. “I have not agreed to be sent anywhere.”
“I’m sorry.” I hang my head. “The direction you’re walking is directly to one of the biggest human cities in America. It’s also where the monsters that were brought back are probably staying while we look for Ares’ shield. If you want to go back to that crazy, it’s your choice, but we would like for you to go to the academy where it’s safe.”
“This academy is where your warriors train?” he asks.
“Yes, demigods train there.” I nod.
