Page 68 of Ares' Shield
This may just be the craziest mission we’ve been on yet, and we fought off a titan in the underworld.
I chew slowly as I glance around at my friends, and a pang of worry in my chest grows. What if something happens to one of them that can’t be undone?
What if I can’t save them? Should I just go on this mission by myself and damn the consequences?
Jayden squeezes my knee, shaking his head when I turn my gaze on him. “Not going to fucking happen, Beth.”
“What? Did I say that out loud?” I ask, confused.
“No, you didn’t say anything, but you have that look on your face.” He pinches my chin between his finger and thumb, turning my eyes up to meet his stormy ones.
“What look?”
What is he talking about? I don’t have a look.
“The look you get before you decide to do something stupid like sacrifice yourself. No.”
“Sacrificing myself for the people I care about isn’t stupid, Jayden. That’s not what I was thinking anyway.” I glare into his eyes.
Adrian’s shoulders stiffen and he blinks. “If you do that, we’ll all die horrible deaths at the hands of whoever is behind this. The world will burn.”
“Do what?” Jayden asks, turning to Adrian.
“She thinks she can spare us if she goes on her own to find the shield.” The table explodes with curses at Adrian’s words.
“No fucking way, Beth.” Jayden glares at me.
Raven smacks my arm harder than necessary. “What the fuck, B? You can’t be serious.”
Rebecca plants her hands on her hips. “I will not allow you to leave on your own.”
My shoulders slump as they all continue their individual tirades, and I narrow my eyes on Adrian.
“What? Are you a mind reader now, too?” I ask.
“No, I had a vision of you trying to go off on your own and what will happen if you do. It’s bad, Beth. I can’t let that vision come to pass.” Adrian shudders.
Well shit. If Adrian is spooked, then he has to be right. I can’t go off on my own. We have been working as a team this whole time.
Why change that now?
“Fine. I was just trying to protect you all.” I groan and run a hand down my face.
They don’t hear me, all of them too caught up in cursing and yelling.
“Hello,” I shout. “I said, fine. It’s probably best if we don’t break up a good team anyway.”
The yelling stops abruptly and they all turn to stare at me.
“What?” I ask.
“You just gave up on the plan like that?” Jayden whispers, cocking his head to the side.
“It’s hardly self-sacrifice if everyone dies anyway.” I pick up a potato wedge, dipping it in ranch and taking a bite.
“What are you planning?” Raven asks.
“I’m not planning anything. I said it was fine. I’ll stick to the plan. We can all be stuck in a vehicle with Draven together.”
