Page 47 of Ares' Shield
Raven huffs out a breath as she bends with her hands on her knees. “Get him to the healer.”
“What will the healers be able to do?” I ask.
Jayden and Adrian move swiftly, lifting Dax’s dead weight between them.
“They have to be able to do something for him.” Raven straightens and loops her arm through mine. “Plus, your ribs need attention.”
“I just got healed a couple hours ago. I’m not having them heal me again.”
Raven grimaces as we walk through the forest. “I think a better ability for you would be healing as often as you get hurt.”
I swat her arm playfully but she’s not wrong. I really need to stop throwing myself headfirst into situations or being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
The walk back to the healer’s office is slow going. Jayden and Adrian have to adjust Dax’s weight periodically.
As we stomp through the forest, I can’t help but wonder who this person is.
“They said they would be rewarded for my death, but why? Who would reward them?” I ask.
“I don’t know.” Raven chews her lip. “They tried to get the rest of us to join them.”
“So, they are going against Zeus specifically or is it something else?”
“Are they simply against you? Could it be the queen bitch stepmonster?” Raven steps over a tree root.
Jayden and Adrian stop in front of us and drop Dax unceremoniously on the ground.
“What the hell, guys?” I take a step forward, but they are both breathing heavy and their faces are turning red with the exertion.
“Sorry, I need a second.” Jayden heaves out a breath.
“Did you have to drop him like that? What if he wakes up?” Raven asks through gritted teeth.
“He didn’t wake up. If you’re so concerned, maybe you can help carry him. You have the strength of Ares.” Jayden narrows his eyes on Raven.
“Fine, but remember he’s a person next time,” Raven says.
Jayden glances down at Dax and flinches in sympathy. “Yeah, sorry. That wasn’t intentional.”
Adrian tilts his head back and blows out an exhausted breath. “We need to move now. He’s going to wake up soon and he’s not going to be happy.”
Jayden reaches down to grab one arm while Adrian grabs his other arm, and they heave him up between them.
Jayden groans under Dax’s weight but we are quickly picking through the forest again. Dax’s head lolls to the side as his body jerks suddenly.
“Raven, I think you need to knock him out again. He’s waking up.” I point to Dax.
“Shit, he’s going to get brain damage if I keep doing that.” Raven races forward, pulling her sword from thin air just as Dax’s eyes open and narrow on us with a sneer.
“Do it now, Raven,” I shout.
Can he break Jayden’s chains? I’ve never seen it done, but the Ares descendants are strong.
Dax thrashes, trying to escape Jayden and Adrian, and they nearly drop him again just as Raven hits him in the forehead with the butt of her sword again.
A red lump forms almost immediately on his head. He slumps, resting his head on Jayden’s shoulder, and this isn’t the first time, I’ve wished I had my phone so I could take a picture to torture him with for eternity.
“He looks so cute on Jayden’s shoulder like that.” I giggle.
