Page 31 of Artemis' Bow
“You love it,” I sing, teasing him with my grin.
We have to take every bit of happiness we can get while we can, because with a new vision, we are in more danger than ever before.
“I’ll get you for that later,” he whispers in my ear.
I shiver as his hot breath tickles my neck. He may be an idiot sometimes but he’s my idiot and I’m not wrong either. He loves my sassy mouth more than he’ll ever say out loud.
“Promises, promises,” I tease him.
Jayden lunges for me but I dance away as we make it to the academic building. I pull open the door and dart inside before Jayden can catch me, giggling like a teenager as he races behind me.
“Really? I thought you all were the best of the miscreants that I have to teach daily,” a voice says from the shadows before Professor Cross steps out of the dark hallway.
“Professor, we figure if we don’t laugh, we’ll cry and then all hope will be lost.” Raven grins.
“That’s fair. What are you all doing in the admin building after hours?” he asks with a raised brow.
“Vision.” I point to Adrian over my shoulder. “We need to speak to the headmaster to get permission to leave.”
“Can you do that without disturbing the entire building?” Cross sighs.
I deflate. We weren’t doing anything terrible. Why do we have to be the adults when the actual adults won’t even be the adults? We’re in our early twenties with more on our shoulders than any world leader and he can’t give us a break? That’s just rude.
“Yes, Professor.” I sigh.
Killjoy, we were having fun and if everyone expects us to risk our lives for them repeatedly, the least they can do is let us enjoy those times in between the bullshit. Is that too much to ask?
“Don’t be too hard on him, Beth.” Thad grips my shoulder. “It’s hard on the professors being stuck here while we go on missions since they have to stay behind to watch the other students while we risk our lives.”
“I hadn’t thought about it like that, yet he shouldn’t try to rain on what little happiness we can get from this life in between missions to save the entire world.” I shake my head.
“You’re not wrong.” Jayden wraps an arm around me as we turn the corner to Chiron’s office.
I raise my hand to knock on the door as a gruff voice calls out to us to enter. I push the door open to find Chiron standing on the balcony with his tail swishing in agitation.
“Did you get a vision?” he asks Adrian.
“Yes, sir. We need to go as soon as possible.” Adrian rubs his eyes. “It’s bad.”
“I can imagine with the huntress missing,” Chiron says, inclining his head. “Do you know where to go?”
My shoulders slump because I know what’s coming. The doubt and the uncertainty behind the vision make everything harder.
“Adrian’s visions have never led us astray before,” I say.
“I know, but Apollo isn’t exactly on our side in this and wreaking havoc on the skies currently, so how far can we trust them?” Chiron asks.
“I don’t think this vision was from my father. It feels different from those in the past. Something older and wiser than the god of prophecy.” Adrian shrugs.
“I still don’t like or trust it. You could be walking into a trap,” Chiron says.
“It wouldn’t be the first time, Chiron.” I shrug. “We have walked into traps on more than one occasion and came out unscathed.”
“Your arrogance will get you killed,” he yells. “Or it will end in the death of everyone on the planet.”
“And what will happen if we don’t go? Everyone will die anyway.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“You’re not wrong. Where are the visions sending you?” Chiron asks.
