Page 79 of Poseidon's Trident
“I would rather tell everyone once we’re in the SUV and on our way out of this place.” I rub at my chilled arms.
Jayden’s eyes widen at the movement and he pulls his hoodie off, handing it to me. “Why are you wet?”
I wrap the hoodie around me and it smells like him. I take in a huge breath through my nose and Jayden smirks as I snuggle into the warm fabric.
“It was a part of the test.” I shake my head.
“Beth?” Raven yells, racing to me. “Where the hell were you?”
“I’ll tell everyone once we get out of here.”
“We’re already packed. We figured you just needed some time, so we packed the car, but you were gone for hours.” Raven skids to a stop in front of me.
“I’ll tell you all about it when we leave,” I repeat. “Where are the others?”
“Why are you wet?” Adrian asks as he strolls up the path.
“Am I going to have to repeat myself like a million and a half times?” I ask, throwing my hands up.
Thad walks over and waves a hand, pulling the water from my skin and hair. “There, you’re not wet anymore.”
It does nothing to relieve the chill from my bones, but being dry is a definite relief. “Where’s Greyson?”
“Here.” Greyson jogs up to our group and narrows his eyes. “You smell like you went for a swim and rolled around in seaweed.”
“Something like that.” I grimace.
“Explain,” Jayden barks.
“I was given a test. Basically, the old man in the sea wanted to test me and pretended to be drowning to see if I would risk everything to rescue him. I did.” I turn to the path.
Jayden is going to lose his shit any second and I really don’t want to see that right now. I’m cold and confused and just want to get out of this town.
“You jumped into the sea and saved a god from not drowning?” Jayden asks.
I shrug. “Yup, basically.”
“I’m going to need more to go on than that,” Jayden shouts at my back.
“I’ll tell you all in the car. Gods, why do I have to keep saying that to everyone. It’s like you’re all my parents and I was out past curfew. I went for a walk. I’m back now.” I huff out an exasperated breath as I stomp to the SUV.
“We’re a team,” Thad says and I flinch.
He’s not wrong and teams are supposed to work together. I didn’t do that when I took off on my own, but at the same time, if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t know exactly where we need to go right now.
“We are, and I’m sorry, guys, but I don’t think he would have shown himself or given us information had anyone other than me been there. He didn’t mean me harm and I think he would have saved me had things not gone as planned.” I stop at the SUV and turn to them all.
“Fine.” Jayden sighs. “Let’s go and you can fill us in on your little side adventure when we’re on the road.”
“Thank you,” I say.
Jayden steps next to me and runs a finger down my arm. I turn wide eyes on him and he winks as he opens the passenger door for me. “Just next time you decide to go for a walk, take me with you. It could be fun and at least you’ll have backup.”
“I’m not going to wake you up just to go on a walk with me.” I hop into the SUV.
“You should. It would be worth it.” He kisses me hard before pulling back and closing the door behind me.
“Promises, promises,” I say when he hops in the driver’s seat.
