I arrive in the small arena on the Academy ground’s edge, where Loki and Artemis sit on a low wall opposite the entrance. She’s closer to him than I expected, and their laughter carries across the square. Suspicion instantly rises. What has he told her? Does he remember my drunk conversation with Dion last night, when we were in our quarters and discussed her ’virtues’? I shut up as soon as I spotted his silence.
After breakfast, Triton headed off to work on his research project at the library, leaving myself and Dion to show Artemis she needs to let us do the work in the Trial. I’m trying damn hard not to be sexist, but I don’t want to be rescuing her from something or someone and failing the trial.
“Tricky Loki,” says Dion with a laugh as we spot the pair. “Look, he has her charmed already. You reckon it’s the mysterious persona or the devilish good looks?”
I grunt in answer and walk across the sawdust-covered square. Loki looks up. “Hey, guys. You took your time.”
“We were looking for you. You vanished.”
“I met Artemis and thought I’d show her the ropes.” He gestures around himself. “After our conversation at the cabin, I thought we could use some more practice.”
I glance between him and Artemis. They’re not touching, but as Artemis looks at Loki, there’s no wariness. So far, I haven’t seen her with her guard down, but Loki’s woven his magic on her. I doubt he used a trick, but in the way he puts girls at ease in his natural way of dealing with them.
At least I hope he hasn’t fooled her.
“Loki tells me you want to fight and beat me.” Artemis stands.
Wow. I shoot a look at Loki. “I think what he means is I want to teach you more efficient combat skills. I’m not intending to hurt you.”
“I might hurt you.”
Dion’s laughter annoys me. “I’m sure you will, sweetheart,” I say.
At my words, Artemis’s features harden and she steps closer. “Now that you’ve called me ‘sweetheart’, I’ll try harder.”
“Uh huh.” I look down on her—literally—and meet her challenging stare.
“Man, this is going to be good,” chuckles Dion, and he plonks himself next to Loki on the bench.
“Come on, then.” I tighten my belt. “Let me show you some moves.”
“I’d like to show her some of my moves,” says Dion under his breath.
Artemis glances over her shoulder. “I’m sure you would.”
I’m not sure what kind of look she gives Dion but it silences him.
“Artemis?” I gesture toward the arena center.
With a nod she walks ahead of me, light on her feet and walking tall. As we stand face to face, for the first time I register I’m about to tackle Apollo’s sister. Worse than that, a girl I’m frightened of hurting. I look into her wide eyes and see her twin looking back at me, but I also see the beauty in her face. The first time we met, my attraction to Artemis was strong and instant but pushed aside because I hated that she reminded me of her brother.
As soon as I put my hands on her, I know that will change.
Her eyes drop from mine and she stares at my lower half. “Nice belt, Thor of Asgard.”
I touch the thick brown leather and tighten the large metal buckle and suspicion instantly arises and I glance at my brother, who gives me the thumbs up.
“Ready?” I ask gruffly.
“Always.”
ARTEMIS
Mountain god wants to beat me? Is this another challenge like the one outside the bathroom at the cabin?
I bet he does, especially in front of his friends. I know he scorns my abilities, but he’s about to get a shock if he underestimates me.
I have two advantages here. One, the suggestion Loki gave me, and two, the way Thor regards me. I’ve seen them all look at me in this way, especially when we stayed at the cabin, and of course Dion has more than looked at me. I know they’re curious about me, but I see their fascination. Despite our butting heads regularly, the strange reverence is clear in Thor’s eyes now. I tried to deny how he affected me outside the bathroom in the cabin, but he has always had the same effect as the first time we met. My quickened pulse and fluttering stomach are not only anticipation about the fight and who’ll win, it’s the intimacy that will come from this.
I’ve kissed and been held by Dion, but this feels different. I doubt Dion’s gentleness will be matched by Thor, whose domineering presence is rawer. I’m concerned—not only because he might hurt me but because this overwhelms me. I stare at his toned biceps and how I’d struggle to surround them with both hands. His hands look rough. How would they feel on my skin? How tightly can he grip me against a chest that solid and broad?
With these questions comes a more intense feeling.
I want him to.
We both hesitate. I’ve fought before, but I don’t know where to start with Thor.
“Put your hands on me, Artemis, so I can respond.” His green eyes lose the strange look he gave me and he gives a curt nod. “That way I can—”
I interrupt him as I slam my shoulder into his stomach, instantly shocked by the wall of muscle. He catches my wrists and holds my arms, swinging me around so my back is against his chest. I’m instantly trapped with no way to escape his grip as he holds an arm diagonally against my chest against him. His strength terrifies and arouses me in equal measure, and I freeze, shocked by my body’s absolute reaction to him.
“Nope.” Thor releases me and I pull away before spinning around. “That won’t work.”
Glowering, I wait for his next move. He lunges at me and I sidestep, then duck as he makes a second attempt to grab me. After the third attempt he pauses and pushes his unruly blond hair from his eyes. I size up the situation. Where’s his weak spot? Apart from the obvious, and I’m not about to play that unfair—unless he does.
Before I have a chance to make my next move, Thor grabs me in a bear hug and squeezes me tight. “Move your arms up, Artemis. Elbow me.” His breath comes hot against my ear and I move my arms up with force. His grip loosens slightly and I jab my elbow into his throat, smiling at the choking sound as he drops his grip. “Better.”
Thor steps back and rubs his neck and Dion’s laughter peals across the square. “Shut up! I’m letting Artemis go so I can show her what to do.”
“I don’t need you to,” I growl.
“Sure,” he says with a snicker.
My eyes narrow. “One kick to the balls and you’d be down.”
“You’d never get close enough.”
“Don’t tempt me.”
“I’d have you on your back in seconds if I wanted,” he says voice low.
I move closer and blow hair from my face. “In your dreams, mountain god.”
In that moment, I’m aware I have my own trick and don’t need Loki’s. There’s more than one way to disarm a man, and if I wanted to I could move my face closer to his, shock him into thinking my lips might meet his. I’ve seen the girls flirting; I know what look to give to reel Thor in the way I’d capture a wriggling fish in the river near my home.
But that’s not who I am.
I turn away from Thor and the bastard plays unfair, grabbing me around the chest again. This time I kick backward, slamming my foot into his knee. He swears and stumbles as he lets me go.
I snap my head around and meet his smile. “Good. Now you’re getting somewhere,” he says.
Over the next five minutes we fight, and I grow more pissed off and breathless. Loki’s right, however nimble I am, the moment he takes hold of me I’m lost to the sheer bulk and strength of the God of Thunder.
Pausing, I move back, breathing heavily, hair plastering itself to my cheeks. Thor’s breath comes in short bursts too, and what annoys me the most is the smug expression that he’s being kind. Helping me.
Dion’s laughter isn’t helping.
THOR
“Thor!” calls Loki.
I look over, and instantly, a light blinds my eyes as the sun hits something reflective and focuses a beam in my direction. I shield my eyes and look away.
“What the fuck are you doing?”