Artemis paused to study him. "Is something the matter?"
Acheron shook his head, unable to believe that he was actually seated next to a goddess. In public. Wearing clothes. What a strange turn of events.
Artemis dipped her head, trying to meet his gaze.
Out of habit, Acheron averted his eyes.
"Why don't you look at me?" Artemis asked.
"I do look at you."
"No, you don't. You always avert your gaze whenever someone comes near."
"I see you though. I learned how to see without looking directly at things a long time ago."
"I don't understand."
Acheron sighed as he turned the cup in his hands. "My eyes make people uncomfortable so I try to keep them hidden as best I can. It prevents people from becoming angry at me."
"People get angry at you for looking at them?"
Acheron nodded.
"What does that feel like?"
He swallowed at the memories that cut him all the way to his soul. "It hurts."
"Then you should tell them not to do it."
If only it were so easy. "I'm not a god, Artemis. No one listens to me when I speak."
"I listen."
She seemed to, and that meant a lot to him. "You're unique."
"True. Perhaps you should spend more time around the gods."
He snorted at the very idea. "I hate the gods, remember?"
"You don't hate me, do you?"
"No."
Artemis smiled. His words relieved her and she wasn't sure why. Intrigued by him, she reached over to touch his back. The moment she did, he sucked his breath in sharply between his teeth and pulled away. "What's the matter?"
"My back's still tender."
"Tender from what?"
Somehow he managed to give her an insolently droll stare without looking directly at her. "I told you I was forbidden to leave my room. My trip to your temple cost me."
"Cost you what?"
He sighed as the play started. "Let's watch the play, please."
Turning her attention to the actors, she listened as they told some insipid story that held no real interest for her. The human beside her . . . that was another matter. He intrigued her greatly.
Anytime she'd ever approached a human of any stature, he or she would grovel and beg for her approval. Even royalty. Or they'd stare at her as if she were sublime, which, of course, she was. But this one didn't do any of that. He seemed oblivious of the fact that she could kill him with a glance. Even now he was ignoring her completely.
How very strange.
"Why does that group keep singing?"
"It's the chorus," he whispered, his attention firmly on the actors below them.
"They're key-off."
He frowned at her. "Key-off?"
"Their tune . . . it's not right."
"Off-key," he corrected as he turned away from her again. "No, they're not. They sound fine."
She arched a brow at his peeved tone. "Are you arguing with me?"
"I'm not trying to argue with you, Goddess. I'm trying to hear what the actors are saying. Shh."
No . . . no, he hadn't really shushed her! Anger whipped through her. "Excuse me? Acheron? Shh?"
For once he met her gaze and there was no mistaking the agitation in those swirling silver eyes. "I'm not the one talking, Artemis." He turned back toward the stage.
Aggravated at him, she snatched the cowl from his head to get his full attention. The instant she did, she realized she'd made a mistake. Every person near them was suddenly fascinated by Acheron whose face had lost all color.
Without a word to her, he covered himself and rushed for the exit. Several of the people around her headed after him.
Curious, she followed up the stairs and out of the stadium to find Acheron as he was becoming surrounded by people. He appeared panicked as he tried to push his way through the crowd that continued to try and talk to him.
One of the men grabbed him roughly by the arm.
"Let me go," Acheron snarled, shoving at the stranger.
The man tightened his grip so much that Acheron flinched from it.
Enraged over the abuse of her friend, Artemis sank her nails into the hand of the man who then grimaced in pain. He let go of Acheron and the moment he did, she took Acheron's hand and teleported him back to his room.
She expected his gratitude.
He gave her none of that. Instead, he turned on her with fury pouring out of his entire being. "How dare you do that to me!"
"I saved you."
His intolerant gaze was as accusatory as his tone even though he kept it at her feet. "You exposed me!"
She didn't understand why he was blaming her for something that wasn't her fault. "You were ignoring me."
"I was trying to watch the play. That was why we were there, wasn't it?"
"No. We were there to keep me from being bored. Remember? I was getting bored again."
That didn't placate him in the least. If anything, it seemed to anger him more. "Then you can go be bored somewhere else."
Artemis was aghast. "Are you throwing me out of your room?"
"Yes."
Rage clouded her vision. No one had ever taken such a tone with her. "Who do you think you are?"
"The one who almost got attacked because you're thoughtless."