Page 147 of Ares' Shield
“What are you doing, Beth?” she asks, holding a hand over her heart.
“I wanted to let you know we have a new guest arriving to campus.” I flinch at the horror on her face.
“And why would we have a new guest and if they were a demigod, you wouldn’t be warning me so I’m guessing it’s something I’m not going to like. Spit it out. I’m busy.”
“It’s scary how well she knows you,” Jayden mumbles.
I stick my tongue out at him and turn back to Rebecca. “He was lost and alone. He’s helped me before and I wanted to help him.”
I try the puppy dog eyes that usually work on her, especially since we’re out saving the world and academy again. It doesn’t work. Shit.
“What. Is. He?” she growls.
“A centaur,” I grumble.
“You sent a centaur to the academy?” she shrieks. “Why in Hades would you send a centaur here?”
“Because he isn’t from our time. Whoever is bringing the monsters back somehow managed to steal him too and he has no idea about anything in the mortal world now.”
Jayden squeezes my leg. “What were we supposed to do? Let him wander around lost and confused and expose us to the humans?”
When he says it like that, it sounds ridiculous. Will it work so we don’t get in deep trouble for sending yet another creature to the academy? Probably not.
“You could have sent him back to the underworld,” she snaps.
“Adrian said he’s important.” I shrug.
Rebecca’s shoulders sag and she blows out a breath. “Fine, I will find somewhere for the centaur to stay. Let’s not make a habit out of bringing home strays, Beth.”
“I won’t.” I grin as she cuts the call.
Relaxing back in my seat, I stare out the windshield, wondering if I will be able to keep my promise to Rebecca. The centaur and Claud were special cases. They were both alone in the world by no fault of their own.
“You have too big of a heart for a demigod.” Jayden glances at me from the corner of his eye.
“They were all alone. Confused and scared.”
“You don’t like leaving people alone in the world because you know what it’s like to be completely alone with no real home.” Jayden nods, a sad smile painting his lips.
“It has nothing to do with me,” I say.
But maybe it does. Maybe I am projecting my own fear of loneliness on Claud and the centaur. Who knows? I just know that at least they are safe at the academy now and don’t ever have to be alone again.
“It doesn’t matter. We are going to do our best not to bring anyone else home but the missing students, right?”
Raven peeks her head between the seats. “What if I find a hellhound puppy? Can I keep it?”
“If you find a hellhound puppy, you should probably run the other direction from the hellhound mama.” Jayden chuckles.
“You’re no fun,” she says but grins.
Raven knows how to diffuse the tensions in any emotional situation. It’s why she’s my bestie.
The sun is cresting the horizon when the city of Chicago skyline comes into view. It’s beautiful but dread fills me being this close to a major city. Chicago is so much bigger than Vegas.
“Do we know how to get to the docks?” I ask, turning to Greyson.
Raven has her head on his shoulder, softly snoring, and it’s the cutest thing. I wish I had a camera so I could take a picture and tease her relentlessly about how adorable she is.
