Page 113 of Poseidon's Trident
Thad runs up to us, his expression concerned when his gaze lands on mine. Fuck, I don’t want to keep rehashing that damned test, but Thad acted like a friend on that island. Were his words of comfort true or was that just the test trying to make everything more difficult for me?
“You okay?” Thad asks.
“Yup, I’ll be fine.” I shrug.
It’s not a complete lie, but I have to make it true because there is no other option. I give myself a mental shake as Adrian and Greyson stop in our little group. Jayden chose the island over me. He wasn’t even there. Maybe if I tell myself that enough it won’t feel so real.
“C’mon, the SUV is over here.” Greyson waves to a parking lot.
We trudge up the bank to the SUV. Everything is off though. The silence is deafening, but I can’t get out of my own head. Nereus is an asshole. I thought he was trying to help and maybe he was. Why all the tests though? Why put me through all these trials?
The weight of the world should not be on the shoulders of someone so young.His words blast through my mind. It doesn’t matter what should be. The weight is there and it’s crushing any bit of happiness I carve out for my own.
Will I come out of this war unscathed? I press my hand to the scar on my stomach. I’m not unscathed as it is. How can I think we aren’t just going to keep getting worse before anything gets better?
Jayden grabs my hand and squeezes it in reassurance. He’s my rock. My voice of reason. Will I be able to survive without him? My skin glows gold at his touch. Just another thing that’s uncertain.
“You’ve always been a goddess to me,” Jayden whispers. “Looks like you’re becoming one for real though.”
“I don’t even know what it means,” I say.
“You were the one brave enough to answer the call,” Jayden says.
“Where did you hear that?” I ask, confused. “I don’t think I told you Nereus’ exact words.”
“I didn’t hear it. It just kind of came to me. Nereus said that to you?” Jayden scratches his head.
“Yeah, he said that to me on the beach in Monterey the first time he tricked me.” I shake my head.
“Weird.” Jayden grips the handle on the SUV and pulls it open for me.
I settle in my seat and Jayden kisses my forehead before he closes the door behind me. He’s being overly attentive, probably to show me that he won’t leave me. He won’t choose anything else over me ever again. That niggling doubt is constantly in my mind though.
I thought he chose Mia over me but that was a misunderstanding. I thought he chose the island over me, but that was a test. It’s a me thing, not a him thing. I lean my head back against the headrest and stare at the ceiling of the SUV as Greyson calls out directions to the dock.
“What happened?” Raven asks me, sticking her head between the seats. “You’re off, B, and we’re probably facing some bad shit soon. You have to be on your game.”
“I was on the island of the lotus eaters and Jayden chose the island. I chose to leave. It was a test,” I say.
Raven cocks her fist back and punches Jayden in the arm.
“Ow. Raven it wasn’t actually me. I was with you, remember?” Jayden rubs his arm.
“Still, test Jayden fucked up, royally. And I needed an outlet for my anger.” Raven sits back in her seat.
“Do you feel better now?” Jayden asks.
“No,” Raven growls. “Who decided to fuck with Beth’s head while we’re on a damn mission to save the world? That’s just stupid.”
“It’s over and done with now. Let’s just drop it,” I say.
We pull up to the docks and Jayden hops out and rounds the car. He pulls my door open for me and grabs my bag at my feet.
“C’mon, we need to find Cal.” Jayden holds his hand out for me.
“I know where Cal will be,” Thad says, taking the lead.
He rushes through the docks, not paying any of the luxury yachts or house boats any attention. He’s a man on a mission and somehow when it comes to the ocean, he always knows exactly where he’s going.
