Page 108 of Poseidon's Trident
Something about the interaction is off. The man, Thad, doesn’t look at all happy that I have joined them. Jayden is a little too happy at the prospect of us all being here together. What the fuck is going on? I step away from Jayden and Thad wraps an arm around my shoulders. The gesture is friendly and not at all sexual.
“Let’s take you to go find Raven and Adrian. We’ve been looking for you.” The frown on Thad’s face is all the encouragement I need to sober just a little.
“You know it doesn’t work like that.” Jayden steps forward. “I’m hers and she’s mine. She stays with me.”
“Not until you get your head out of the Kavu, Jayden,” Thad growls.
“What?” I blink in surprise because Jayden just poured that drink down my throat mere minutes ago.
Am I going to be like that? Caring for nothing but having a good time? I’m pretty sure that I have something to do. Something important to do but no matter how hard I try, I can’t remember what it was.
“You don’t want to test me, Thad. Beth is mine as much as I’m hers.”
“Then stop with the Kavu and come with us, Jayden. We’re on a mission even if you can’t remember it.” Thad places a hand on my back.
“What mission are you on?” I ask but even as I ask them, I remember.
It’s not their mission. It’s mine. How could I forget my mission from the gods? How could I forget the fate of the world rests in our hands?
“C’mon, Beth. He’s lost to the lotus flower. Raven and the others are awaiting your arrival.” Thad places a hand on my back and I recoil at the feel of his skin against mine.
It’s wrong. His touch isn’t the one I want. I glance over my shoulder at a frowning Jayden as Thad leads me away. What the hell is going on here?
“Lotus flower? What are you talking about? What is even happening?” I ask.
“See?” Jayden throws up his hands. “She doesn’t want to go on the dangerous quest for your father. We should just stay here. We’ll be safe here. C’mon, Beth.”
Jayden holds out his hand for me to take and for a second, I almost take his hand because the idea of living in a place where we don’t have to worry about anything is appealing. We don’t have to worry about the war that’s coming or the gods’ items of power going missing. We can just live out the rest of our days warming ourselves by the bonfire.
“No. We can’t just hide here away from the war and let everyone else die, Jayden, you know that. We have to fight, but if you’re done fighting, then you can stay here and we’ll go on without you.” I turn my back on my love, hoping that he will follow us and give up on whatever this lotus flower is doing to him.
He’s stronger than the effects of some plant, isn’t he? He has to be stronger than it because if not, I have no choice but to leave him behind.
“You don’t mean that, Beth,” Jayden chokes out. “You would really leave me behind?”
“Nereus told me the weight of the world rests on my shoulders, not yours or anyone else’s. I have to do this. I would rather do it with you.” I shake my head as I storm over to Raven and the others.
How could Jayden, the most practical person I have ever met, let that stupid flower take over his mind so thoroughly? He’s my rock. My voice of reason when I don’t really want to deal with that voice.
We fight and we fuck and we are the best of each other. I love him more than anything still in this world and he just wants to throw it all away for the euphoria some stupid flower gives him? Fuck, did I just think that? Do I really love Jayden? Not possible, right? After everything he’s done to hurt me, how can I love the idiot?
“B?” Raven races toward me. “Are you okay?”
She wraps her arms around me, and I bury myself in the comfort of my best friend. She’s been here from the beginning, even if I didn’t know at first. She’s the one person I can break with and my chest aches as sobs rack my body. What the hell is wrong with Jayden? Why is he acting like this?
“Is there a problem here?” A man’s voice booms behind me. “Why are there people fighting and crying on my island?”
“Ty,” Thad says. “We are just figuring things out. We will leave you all to your revelry.”
“It doesn’t look like you’re figuring anything out and your females are upsetting my guests,” Ty growls.
“Excuse me?” I bark. “We are the only thing standing between your guests and complete destruction so shut the fuck up.”
“You dare speak to me like that. Who are you, female?”
“I’m the daughter of Zeus and the last line of defense between this world and destruction so learn your fucking place before you talk shit to me.” I turn to the man.
“Ahh, the daughter of Zeus, I was wondering if you would grace our celebrations with your presence. Wouldn’t you rather come and dance with your bonded instead of fighting for a world that cares little about you?”
