Page 70 of Artemis' Bow
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. Beth electrocuted a dozen of those demon pigeons in the sky with her lightning.” Jayden smiles at me.
“Let’s put a pin in that idea until we know for sure what’s going on and who that bird belongs to. It could be an ally and not necessarily nefarious.” I shrug.
Even as I say the words, I don’t believe them myself, but we need to be sure before we do something that can’t be undone. The bird is absolutely stunning in the sunlight. I would hate to have to kill it.
“So we’re just going to let it follow us?” Raven scrunches her nose.
“We don’t even know for sure if the bird is following us.” I tap my fingers on the dash as I watch the bird in its unhurried pace.
The silence stretches as everyone but Jayden is focused directly on the bird.
Jayden breaks the silence. “That looks like just the right type of gas station to get a beatdown by an old lady.”
I turn to the run-down gas station. It is exactly the type of place we would stop at, and I sigh. “I guess it’s as good a place as any to grab snacks and fill up the tank.”
“Are you sure, B?” Raven asks. “These guys turn into insufferable babies after the fates give them a beatdown.”
“We don’t have a choice.” Jayden sighs. “The gas light just came on and I saw a sign that said it’s fifty miles to the next fuel station.”
“Keep your eyes open for a little old lady who always sports sunglasses and walks with a cane. She’s mean.” Greyson scans the area as if she’s going to jump out at him any second.
Knowing the crazy old bat, she probably will when we least expect it. I push the door open and per usual, Raven and I go inside the small convenience store. There isn’t anything nefarious about this place at first glance but looks can be deceiving and we have found that out the hard way on multiple occasions.
“I’m headed to the candy aisle,” Raven calls.
“It’s not a good idea to split up in these places,” I grumble, but Raven is already walking away on her mission to feed her sugar addiction.
Caffeine and sugar are things we rarely get at the academy and, honestly, the best part of being sent to save the world repeatedly. Yes, I save the world for the snacks. I realize how stupid that sounds, but it’s not untrue. We deserve something good after almost dying on multiple occasions.
“See if they have any Twizzlers,” I yell at her back.
“I know, B. I know what you like. I got this.” She waves me away.
She’s going to come back with more candy than she can carry. That’s typical Raven. I shake my head and move to the chip aisle to get the salty snacks that Greyson and Jayden like.
“Your path is true,” a wizened old voice that I recognize says from behind me.
I spin to face her with a grin. “Have you already beat up my friends or are you waiting until after our chat?”
Her toothless grin widens. “Ahh, boys need a beating now and again to remind them what’s important. No permanent damage, though. That’s going too far.”
“I’ll be sure to remember those pearls of wisdom when my life isn’t a chaotic mess.” I chuckle without humor.
“Stay on your path, young one. Your path is true. There will be sacrifice but it will be worth it.” The old woman turns away and vanishes.
“Who are you talking to, B?” Raven asks as she turns the corner at the end of the aisle.
“Wait, I want to see what she does.” I rush to the front of the store that overlooks the gas pumps and stifle my laughter.
Jayden backs away with hands raised in surrender, but the old woman brandishes her cane at him. He shouts something at the others, but Thad and Adrian are too busy laughing. The old woman turns her cane on Greyson, and he dives through the open back door to the SUV and scrambles to the other side.
“So, that’s who you were talking to.” Raven giggles.
“It’s comical. Jayden commands the shadows, and Greyson is agods touchedalpha wolf shifter and they are running from an old lady like hellhounds are on their asses.” I shake my head with a grin.
“She’s fast for an old lady,” Raven says. “Holy Hades, did she just jump over the SUV like a damn spider monkey?”
“You’re just going to watch your mates handle that all by themselves?” a woman with a raspy voice asks from behind me. “You’re not going to help them?”
