Page 109 of Poseidon's Trident
“They may not know or care about me, but they deserve to live and thrive and I’m not going to give up on the world just because they don’t know or care about my existence,” I scoff.
“Why not? Here you can be selfish and revel in your own desires and wants. You don’t have to care about others, only your base desires. You can have anything you want here.”
“I want the world to be a safe place for all, not just you and your people,” I say. “It won’t be a safe place for anyone if Poseidon’s trident isn’t recovered.”
“You don’t have to worry about the rest of the world here. That won’t hit our island. Nothing from the outside world hits the island of the lotus eaters.” Ty crosses his arms.
“And that’s okay for you to just live on your little island for eternity while the rest of the world and humanity burns?” I shout, drawing the attention of more of the locals.
“What did caring about humanity and the outside world ever give us but heartache and grief? No one on this island ever has to die and we can live out eternity doing whatever we desire.” He takes a step forward into my space.
I push him back. “And what happens if my desires don’t align with yours? Would you force your desires on me?”
Jayden’s gaze snaps in my direction at my words and a growl tumbles from his lips. The first sign of the fire I have missed in him since I found myself on this crazy island with these crazy people and I’m glad for it.
“What are you doing, Ty? She’s mine and I’m hers. You can’t have her,” Jayden snarls.
“I was just telling her our way of life. It is your new way of life, right, Jayden?” Ty says with a smarmy grin.
“No,” I say, backing away from Jayden. “Tell me you didn’t take what you want in this place.”
Jayden shakes his head, but his expression is hollow. “There were moments before you arrived that I didn’t remember anything, baby. I didn’t do anything though, I promise.”
“He didn’t, B,” Raven says. “We were all looking for you, but Jayden got caught up in the madness of this place.”
My gaze never leaves Jayden’s as Raven confirms that even when he didn’t remember me or anything else, he still didn’t do anything that would hurt us. Do I believe them though? He looked very happy dancing and having a good time when I barely got him to dance with me when we were in Nashville.
“What will it be, Jayden?” I ask. “We have to get off this island. We can’t stay here. You know what that Kavu is, don’t you?”
“What do you mean?” he asks.
“Hecate,” I say.
“Fuck,” Raven growls. “I knew that shit tasted familiar.”
“What am I missing?” Jayden frowns.
“The little pink drink that Hecate gave us outside of New Mexico, Jayden. It was Kavu. She somehow had it on the mainland.” I cross my arms.
“Impossible,” Ty says. “No one knows the secret to Kavu.”
“Not even the goddess of magic?” I scoff.
This guy is extremely self-important. What the fuck is his deal?
“It’s the same drink.” Greyson steps up next to Raven. “I smelled it in the plants as soon as we were dumped on the island, but I didn’t remember until now where I smelled it from.”
“Fuck.” Jayden runs a hand through his hair.
Is he still thinking about staying? Is he going to choose this crazy island and rip my heart from my chest? Tears burn the back of my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. It’s his choice to take himself out of the war and out of my life. I don’t get that choice. The world will burn without me finding this damn trident.
All our friends still at the academy will be forced to leave when the volcano erupts. I can’t let that happen. I won’t.
“Jayden, come back to the party,” a girl calls over to us and I stiffen. “I want to dance.”
“Really, Jayden? You did nothing?” I glare at him, and then turn my gaze on the girl.
“No, I didn’t. I didn’t even dance with her to begin with, Beth. I don’t want anyone but you.” He grasps both my arms to pull me close but I step back.
