It must be bad for the ex-slave to ever admit he needed anything from anyone. Especially him.
"Look Acheron, I know I'm a dead man and I don't care. I'm not sure how much you know about my situation, but there's someone with me. Her name is Astrid and she says she's a justice nymph. This thing, Thanatos, is after me and he's already killed one Dark-Hunter tonight. I know if he gets his hands on Astrid he'll kill her, too. You have to protect her for me, Acheron… please. I need you to come get her and keep her safe while I fight Thanatos. If you won't do it for me, then do it for her. She doesn't deserve to die because she tried to help me."
Ash sat up in bed. He held the phone so tight it bit fiercely into his hand.
He wanted to answer it. But didn't dare. Fury and pain surged through him.
How dare Artemis betray him yet again.
Damn her for it.
He should have known she wouldn't pen Thanatos up as she had promised. What was one more life extinguished to her?
Nothing. Nothing mattered to her except whatshe wanted.
But he cared. He cared in a way Artemis would never comprehend.
"I'm at my cabin with Spawn's phone. Call me. We need to get her out of here as soon as possible.
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"
The phone went dead.
Ash threw back the blankets and willed his clothes onto his body. Furious, he shoved the phone into his backpack and threw open the bedroom doors with a clatter.
Artemis sat on her throne with her twin brother, Apollo, standing in front of her.
They both jumped as he entered.
No wonder Artemis had told him he needed to rest.
She knew better than to let him and Apollo be in the same room together. They got along even "better"
than Artemis and Simi did.
Apollo charged him.
Ash threw out his hand and knocked the god back. "Stay away from me, Sunshine-boy. I'm in no mood for you today."
Ash headed for the door only to find Artemis blocking his way again. "What are you doing?"
"I'm leaving."
"You can't."
"Out of my way, Artemis. In the mood I'm in, I just might hurt you if you continue to stand there."
"You swore you would stay here for two weeks. If you leaveOlympus , you will die. You cannot break your word, you know that.
"
Ash closed his eyes and cursed at the one tiny thing he'd forgotten in his anger. Unlike those of the Olympian gods, his oath was binding. Once he uttered an oath, he was bound by it no matter how much he willed it otherwise.
"What is he doing here?" Apollo growled. "You told me he didn't come here anymore.
"
"Shut up, Apollo," he and Artemis said in unison.
Ash glared at Artemis as she took a step back. "Why did you lie to me about Thanatos? You told me he had been penned again.
"
"I didn't lie.
"
"No? Then why was he loose inAlaska last night, killing my Dark-Hunters, after you told me you had him penned again?
"
"He killed Zarek?
"
He curled his lip. "Wipe that hopeful look off your face. Zarek is alive, but someone else was killed.
"
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Her face fell. "Who?
"
"How would I know? I'm stuck up here with you.
"
She stiffened at the way he said that. "I told the Oracles to pen him after Dion had freed him. I assumed they had done so.
"
"Then who let him out this time?
"
They both turned to look at Apollo.
"I didn't do it," Apollo snapped. "I don't even know where you house that creature.
"
"You better not have done it," Ash growled.
Apollo gave him a snide smirk. "You don't scare me, human. I killed you once, I can do it again."
Ash smiled slowly, coldly. That was then, this was now, and they played on a whole new field with a brand-new set of rules he would give just about anything to introduce to the god. "Please try."
Artemis stepped between them. "Apollo, leave."
"What abouthim ?"
"He's not your concern."
Apollo looked as if they both repulsed him. "I can't believe you allow something like him into your temple."
Her face flushing, Artemis looked away, too embarrassed to say anything to her brother.
It was what Ash expected of her.
Ashamed of him and their relationship, Artemis had always tried to keep Ash away from the other Olympians as much as she could. For centuries now, the other gods knew he came to see her. Gossip abounded over what they did together and how long he stayed with her, but Artemis had never confirmed a relationship between them. Had never deigned to touch him in the presence of any other person.
Odd how even after eleven thousand years it still bothered him that he was her dirty little secret. That after everything they had shared and done, she could hardly stand to look at him whenever others were around.
And yet she bound him to her and refused to let him go.
Their relationship was sick and well he knew it.
Unfortunately, he had no choice in the matter.