Page 52 of Artemis' Bow
We come to the end of the hall where floor-to-ceiling windows greet us. The view reveals a garden with flowering plants along with tall oak trees that provide just enough shade to be able to sit and relax in the calm serenity of the garden.
“It’s beautiful,” I breathe.
“It’s tranquil.” Orpheus sighs. “It’s the only thing that’s kept me from losing my mind entirely and going on a killing rampage.”
“Yeah, let’s not kid about things like that when you literally can’t die because Hades kicked you out for eternity. I have a feeling they would send me after you and that would suck for my relationship.”
“I’m glad that’s where your head is at and not my life,” Orpheus snarks back at me.
“It’s no secret that I don’t like you very much. So, yeah, my only concern would be for Jayden’s feelings in this completely hypothetical situation.” I cross my arms over my chest.
The damn immortal bastard just laughs and nods his head as if he understands my point. Good, at least we’re on the same page.
“Baby, he’s helping us, so maybe try to play nice,” Jayden says close to my ear.
“He’s only helping us because Hades told him to. I haven’t forgotten that he was an obstacle set up by the god of theunderworld to see if we were strong enough to help him stop the collapse of the underworld.” I raise an eyebrow.
“Well, then you’re going to be positively ecstatic about what he’s sent to help you.” His eyes glitter with laughter.
If I stabbed him in the eye, would it just grow back or would he lose it forever? He would still have one good eye. I wouldn’t blind him completely.
“No plotting murder, B.” Raven nudges my side.
“I wasn’t plotting murder,” I say.
“Right. You had the look you get when you want to castrate someone,” Raven says.
“Castration may actually be a better idea than I was thinking,” I say, tapping my chin thoughtfully.
“See? I told you no plotting murder.”
“Not murder, just wondering if I stabbed him in the eye if the eye would just grow back or would he be blind in one eye for the rest of eternity?”
Jayden grabs my hand with his and kisses the back of it. “No plotting dismemberment either, love.”
“You guys are no fun.” I pout.
“I can actually answer that question for you without involving any pointy objects,” Orpheus says. “I have lost an eye in the past and though it hurts like a bitch and is very disorienting for a while, it does grow back eventually.”
“Damn, okay, no stabbing you in the eye because it will just grow back and it’s not worth the effort.” I sigh.
“I said eventually. It took like a decade and caused some problems with the mortals.”
“Is he trying to get you to stab him in the eye now?” Raven asks in a whisper. “What is even happening here?”
“Weird, right?” I say.
Orpheus turns and hits a panel, and the glass slides open to allow us out. Jayden’s grip on my hand tightens as he nods for me to hang back a second.
“You okay? You’re acting a bit more murderous than usual.”
“I don’t know. I’m all over the place. I don’t know if it’s all just compounding and I’m done or if it’s like what Grant said and I’m off-balance because there’s no moon in the sky.” I lean into him.
“It could be a bit of both. The balance in nature is definitely off. It would make sense that it affects us in the same way. I can help balance you if you need me to, but maybe try to keep your expression blank when thinking about dismembering people in the future.” He chuckles.
“I’ll try to remember that. My facial expressions don’t always use their inside voice,” I say.
“You guys coming?” Orpheus shouts. “I thought you were in a rush.”
