Page 112 of Poseidon's Trident
“Just outside of Seattle. There’s a crab fishing boat that is run by a son of the sea god willing to take you to the next stop on your journey to Vancouver,” Hermes says.
“Our next stop?” I ask, confused.
“The strait on the way to Vancouver has seen some odd occurrences as of the last few days. Nereus thinks you will be able to figure out what’s happening and stop it.”
“Another of his stupid trials,” I growl.
“Yes, he’s sure that you will not be permitted onto the island unless you prove yourself worthy.”
“I haven’t done that yet? For real? I have saved the world from demons and war. I saved the academy and I just had to fucking prove that given a choice I would choose to save the world over the thing I want most in this world. I’m fucking tired of proving my worth.” I throw my hands up.
“Easy, baby. We’ll get through all this.” Jayden pulls me to him.
“I know, but you didn’t just experience heartbreak like I did.” I shake my head.
The pain in my chest is subsiding as Jayden has me wrapped in his arms, but I don’t dare hope that’s the last time I’ll have to make that choice. The fates love to fuck with me. They will give me another impossible choice before their games are through.
“We are going to talk about that later. I want to know what this magic did to you. Something is different and I don’t like it,” Jayden whispers.
“Go to the docks. Cal will meet you there.” Hermes claps me on the shoulder before vanishing.
I pull away from Jayden. My emotions are still raw and my heart is shredded to pieces. I can’t get his expression out of my head. The anguish that I didn’t choose to stay with him. It cuts me deep, clawing my heart from my broken chest.
“Hey, that wasn’t me, Beth. I don’t know what you’re seeing right now, but it wasn’t me.” He spins me around and cups my cheeks in his palms.
“You looked so devastated that I didn’t choose you, Jayden. But you chose…”
Jayden stops me, pressing a finger to my lips. “Listen to me, Beth. I would never choose an island or a stupid fucking flower over you. Do you understand?”
“Yes, but this test feels ominous, Jayden. Like the fates are seeing what I’ll do if it comes down to that again. What if they make me choose again?” I ask.
“Then you choose the exact same way you chose in that test. You choose the world and damn the consequences. I would lay down my life for you in a second.” He presses a chaste kiss on my lips. “If the world burns, we all do, and I refuse to be the reason you die and the gods are overthrown. You will make the right choice.”
“I don’t know if I can do that, Jayden,” I whisper.
Tears spill from my eyes and my chest cracks wide-open. If it had been any other way and Jayden hadn’t chosen something else over me, would I have been able to choose the world over him? If it had been any other situation, if it was between Jayden’s life or saving the world, could I do it?
“B?” Raven shouts from down the beach. “Guys, Jayden found her.”
Jayden presses a kiss to my forehead and pulls away just as Raven slams into me.
“Missed you too, Raven.” I smile and wipe the tears from my cheeks.
“What the fuck? Why are you crying?” She spins and stabs Jayden on the chest with her finger. “Why is she crying?”
“I’m fine. Jayden didn’t do anything. Well, not the real Jayden anyway.” I sigh. “I’ll tell you about it later. We need to get to the docks and meet Thad’s half brother on his crab boat.”
“You’ve been gone for an entire day, B. I’m gonna need more than that.” Raven crosses her arms.
“The gods were testing me,” I grumble. “It was fucked up and my emotions are still raw. Can we drop it for now? Please?”
“Okay,” she says but eyes me warily.
“Were you able to get a car or clothes?” I ask.
“Yeah, we rented an SUV. We didn’t get any clothes though. We were busy looking for you.” Raven clenches her fists.
“As soon as the guys get here, we need to get to the dock. If I’ve been gone for an entire day, we are seriously running out of time.” I run a hand down my face.
