Page 78 of Poseidon's Trident
Nereus’ words come back to me full force and I turn to go search for my search party. They woke up and I was gone so they’re all out looking for me. Just great. We have a damn seer in our group. He couldn’t have seen that I was talking to Nereus?
I step outside and onto the beach, holding my hand up to my eyes as I scan the shoreline for any sign of my friends. Where are they searching for me? They had to know I wouldn’t go far, or maybe not. I do have a tendency to run headfirst into danger.
Case in point: Nereus’ stupid fucking test. Why the fuck did I fall for that? Is it my damn bleeding heart?
“Beth,” Jayden bellows and I turn.
He’s sprinting to me with terror in his black eyes. As he gets closer, his eyes are bluer than they appeared before and he slams into me, wrapping his arms around me and picking me up off the ground.
“Jayden, what are you doing?” I ask.
“Where the fuck were you? We’ve been searching everywhere. I woke up and you were just gone.” He sets me back on my feet and cups my cheeks in both hands.
“I’m fine, Jayden. I went for a walk.” I lean forward and plant a chaste kiss on his lips.
“Why didn’t you wake me up? What have you been doing this whole time?” He pulls my head to his chest.
“You were sleeping, and I wanted some alone time to process all this shit.” I sigh.
“Being alone out in the human world is the last thing you need, Beth. What if Hera has found out about this mission? She’s the one who sent Cancer after Heracles to help the hydra. She’s the one who made Cancer a constellation. She could have sent something worse.”
“Stop saying her name.” I cover his mouth with my hand. “We don’t speak that name here.”
“We can’t protect you from her if we aren’t with you, Beth. You need backup,” Jayden growls.
“Jayden?” Thad calls from the sea. “What are you doing? Did you find her?”
“Yeah, tell the others she’s back from her walk,” Jayden shouts over his shoulder.
“She went for a fucking walk. Unbelievable,” Thad grumbles.
“That’s enough out of you, fish boy,” I yell.
“That was hurtful, Beth,” Thad shouts. “Real hurtful.”
Jayden turns my cheek so I have to stare into his eyes. Most of the black in his eyes has faded since he first found me. “Are you okay now? You should really learn to control the shadows. They’re growing inside of you.”
“I know but it’s only when something happens to you.” He kisses my lips.
“So your shadows are protective of me, then?” I grin up into those blue eyes that flash with something I can’t name.
“They will destroy the world for you, Beth.” Jayden’s hand on my hip tightens.
“We won’t let it come to that,” I say.
“No. We definitely won’t because I’m not dealing with your wrath if that happens.” Jayden kisses me again.
“Good. We’re trying to save the world, not destroy it,” I say.
“Why were you gone so long? We have been looking for you for a while,” Jayden says.
“There was an unexpected complication.” I glance away from him.
“What kind of complication?” Jayden growls.
“A sea deity that wanted to test my compassion and selflessness,” I grumble.
“What the fuck? What happened?” he roars.
