Page 50 of Ares' Shield
Jayden pulls me closer and kisses my forehead. I wince with the sudden movement.
“You need to get healed first, Beth. He cracked your ribs.” Jayden turns to the healer.
“You need to be wrapped in Bubble Wrap,” the healer says, shaking his head.
He leads me to one of the gurneys and I wince as he lifts my shirt enough to see my ribs. The fist-shaped bruise is angry and already turning black.
Raven gasps. “Dax is going to be so mad that he did that to you when he wakes up.”
The healer’s hands light up green and he shakes his head as he mutters something about Bubble Wrap again.
He’s not wrong. I probably should get wrapped in Bubble Wrap, only none of these incidents were my fault and they were all because of other students, not monsters.
“Jealous assholes and mind control for the win,” I singsong.
“That’s not funny,” Jayden says.
When the healer’s done and I can breathe without pain tearing through me, I hop off the gurney and head for the door.
“Keep an eye on Dax. We will be back as soon as we can.” I glance back at Jayden.
“He’s not getting out of those chains until we figure something else out. Hurry back.” Jayden waves us off.
Raven loops her arm through mine as we walk out into the rainy quad. It’s ominous. I was wrong about which god would need our help this time, but if the weather is any indication, Poseidon is going to need our help soon.
Raven bumps her shoulder with mine. “I hadn’t really thought about it before you mentioned it, but the weather is kind of creeping me out now.”
“I don’t like it one bit. We need to get all the gods’ items of power back. Fast.” I tilt my head back and stare into the dark clouds.
“One thing at a time, B. First, we need to lock my brother up so he doesn’t disappear like the others.” Raven tugs on my arm.
We stride past the admin building and the cafeteria into the forest on the west side of the academy. The forges are on the other side of the parking lot away from the school in case something blows up.
You can never be too careful when it comes to the Hephaestus students and their tinkering.
We pick our way through the forest to the side of the mountain that they dug into probably to lessen the impact if something does explode.
The heat and steam that float out of the entrance as we open the heavy metal door are stifling.
“How can they stand being in here for hours?” I ask, fanning myself.
Maybe I prefer the rain.
“I don’t know. We just opened the door and I’m already sweating.”
“It’s not meant for you.” A girl with dark hair, wearing a silver and red plaid skirt, pops a hand on her hip.
“We have a request.”
“What could Beth, the daughter of Zeus, possibly need from us lowly Hephaestus descendants?” the girl asks.
She’s snarky. I like it.
“Look, I’m sorry I haven’t introduced myself sooner, but in case you haven’t noticed, I have been a little busy running around trying to save the academy and shit.” I raise a brow at her.
“And the world,” Raven cuts in with a grin.
“That was theand shitpart.”
