Page 66 of Ares' Shield
My magic swirls in my gut, crackling and sparking inside me at my anger.
“He doesn’t have anything that I don’t. Why wouldn’t you even give me a chance?” Draven takes an angry step toward me.
Jayden growls low behind me.
I ignore his growl, deciding to take care of this once and for all. “You need to knock this bullshit off, Draven. I have no problem putting you on your entitled ass in front of the entire academy.”
“You wouldn’t,” he says, but his voice wobbles with doubt.
“I won’t? You really don’t know me at all. The only reason you want me is because of my power. Or is it that Zeus is my father?” I raise a brow at him.
Magic crackles at my fingertips.
If he doesn’t back off, I really will zap him this time. I don’t care what Hermes says. He’s pushing me too far.
Maybe I should have let Rebecca expel him after all.
Raven steps up to my side. “Run along, idiot. The only reason you’re still standing here is because of Beth, so I would fuck off.”
“This doesn’t concern you, Raven,” Draven says through gritted teeth.
“Beth is my concern and she’s had a long, stressful day that you aren’t helping, so leave.” She shoos him away.
Draven scans our expressions before throwing up his hands, turning on his heel, and storming away.
I blow out a relieved breath. Fucking finally. Maybe he’ll get the picture now.
I flop in my usual chair with Jayden at my side and Adrian and Raven across from us. Jayden’s eyes still swirl with shadows as he rubs soothing circles on my back. It may be more to calm himself than me.
I try to smile at him, but it falls flat. Everything feels so impossible right now.
I scan the cafeteria, wondering how the hell we are going to attempt to save the academy again.
Is this going to save the academy? Who will be next to get controlled?
“I don’t like this.” I grab the slice of pizza and take a big bite.
“I don’t think any of us like this,” Raven mumbles.
“It really feels helpless,” I say around a bite. “At least with the Hermes kids, we were able to prevent it with numbers. This is random and different.”
“I know.” Jayden sighs.
He squeezes my knee in reassurance.
“We can’t even predict who will be next and it doesn’t matter who’s around when they’re controlled. I hate it.” I slump in my seat.
“We just need to hurry if we can. I wonder if Rebecca has had any luck with the oracle.” Jayden pats my knee.
I shove the rest of my pizza in my mouth and drop the crust on the plate. We should hurry if we can, but I’m not sure that’s even possible. We don’t even know where to look.
“I hope so. We don’t have a ton of options and it’s only going to get worse before it gets better.”
“How do we even make it better without killing fuckwit along the way?” Raven asks.
“Fuckwit?” I ask with a giggle.
“Yeah, like a nitwit but more fun.” Raven grins.
