Page 55 of Ares' Shield
“I have to be cryptic.”
“We know, it’s just annoying sometimes,” I growl. “How’s Jayden doing with Dax?”
“Dax is still thrashing and wanting to leave, but Jayden seems to have a pretty good hold on him.” Adrian opens the door for us and ushers us inside.
Dax’s screams meet my ears as soon as I step inside.
Fuck. I hate doing this to him but he’s not himself. Draven sits on a cot in the corner, his expression grim as he stares down at his hands.
“He still can’t figure it out?” I whisper.
“No, he’s been trying since you left with no luck,” Adrian says.
Jayden strolls over and immediately wraps an arm around my waist. “What’s that?”
“A gift from Claud. You have one too, but I think he wants to give it to you.” I lay my head on his chest.
“Let me go,” Dax bellows and thrashes some more. “I have to go.”
“Why is Draven so important if he can’t fix Dax?” I turn my glare on Adrian.
“I already told you, he’ll figure it out.” Adrian runs a hand through his hair.
“What if he doesn’t? Are we walking to our doom relying completely on a selfish child?” I ball my hands into fists, gripping Jayden’s uniform shirt.
“Easy.” Jayden rubs my back in soothing circles. “If Adrian says he’ll figure it out, he will. We aren’t walking to our doom.”
How can he be so sure of that though? With the threat of all-out world war hanging over our heads, relying on Draven seems hopeless.
11
The door flies open and cracks against the wall, alerting us to a grinning Kira walking through the door. “Miss me?”
“Were they able to make something that will hold?” I ask.
“Of course they were. Your friend Claud is something else. There’s magic in these chains.” She hefts her bag over her shoulder.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” I breathe as Dax thrashes and screams again.
Kira drops her bag on a cot and eyes Dax warily. “Are you sure about this?”
“That’s not Dax. Someone is controlling him. We need to stop him. I don’t want him in their clutches for who knows what they have planned.”
“Who’s they?” Kira asks.
“No clue. We thought it was Hecate, but she’s in Tartarus for stealing from Hades.” I shrug as she pulls gold and bronze chains from her backpack.
“You have a way more exciting life than me.” Kira chuckles.
“You never know, Adrian might see you on a quest with us eventually.” I grin.
“I doubt that. I kind of like my boring life hanging out in the forges.”
Jayden peers down at the chains and pokes at them. “How do these work? It’s getting harder to hold him.”
Sweat beads on his forehead. Reaching up, I wipe it away. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I just need to hurry this up and maybe go eat my entire body weight to replenish my magic.” He leans his hip against the cot.
