Page 116 of Artemis' Bow
“Good call bringing Orion. I want to keep him out of sight so Alpheus doesn’t spot him before it’s time to save Artemis.” I swing my bag over my shoulder and glance back into the room, checking that we haven’t missed anything.
We made sure to pack everything back up after our shower before crashing and sleeping like the dead. Jayden lifts my medical bag over his shoulder with his own and reaches for my hand as we turn to leave the hotel behind. I’m more refreshed and rested than I have been in days. The others had been right. I’d needed the sleep.
“Where did you leave the others? Are we sure they are safe where they are?” I chew my lip.
“As safe as they can be in enemy territory,” Dax says.
“Well, that’s not comforting at all,” I grumble.
“We’re on a dangerous mission, Beth. No one is safe.” Kira pats my shoulder.
We walk out to the parking garage and wait for the valet to bring the car around. My hands clench and unclench at my sides as the minutes tick by waiting for the car. We need to move. Sitting idle right before a battle sucks.
“Do we have a plan?” Dax asks.
“We need to assess the situation first and then come up with a plan once we’re there,” I say.
“I think that’s best,” Raven agrees. “We don’t know what we’re walking into to even try to plan our attack.”
“Agreed. Anything can happen even in just a short time.” I lean against Jayden’s side.
The car is pulled around in front of us and I breathe out a sigh of relief. We need to get there fast.
“Do you think we’ll be able to save my brothers and the Apollo kid?” Raven asks.
“I hope so, but we can’t make that a priority,” I say as I sit in the passenger seat.
“The priority is absolutely Artemis,” Jayden says.
“I know. I get they’re idiots but they’re my idiot brothers. I can’t help it. I want to save them if I can.” Raven shrugs.
“We can talk to Draven and see what he thinks when we get back.” I turn to face her in the back seat.
“That’s the only thing I can ask for.” Raven sighs.
We make the trip back to the temple in silence. My nerves are shot. I squirm in my seat, tapping my foot nervously. The waiting to get there and find out what’s going on is the worst part. I stare out the window, watching the passing scenery.
The SUV is barreling down the road in front of us until the familiar landscape comes into view and Dax pulls the vehicle off to the side next to a copse of trees, hiding it from view of anyone at the temple. Jayden pulls the car in next to him and cuts the engine.
“Let’s do this.” I sigh and open the door.
The others get out of the vehicles as well and we stand in a circle, scanning the surrounding area. “Where did you leave the others?”
“They’re just at the top of that ridge, hiding on the south side away from the temple but in viewing range.” Dax points to a grassy hill not far away from us.
Greyson sniffs the air and tilts his head to the side. “Anyone else smell that?”
“What?” I ask.
“Monsters,” he says. “I don’t think the others are over there anymore. I know Draven, Adrian, and Thad aren’t. Their scents are mixed with monsters.”
“Fuck, they’ve been captured at the very least and I don’t want to think about the worst possible scenario.” I run a hand down my face.
“We need a visual,” Raven says.
“We can’t use the same spot. It’s been compromised.” Dax crosses his arms.
“We need to see it, though. Maybe it will give us some clues about where they are and what happened to them.” I scan the forest.
