The hallways are quiet on my way back to my room. I needed a moment of quiet—a chance to cool off. The experience with Dion exceeded all my expectations, and frankly, the desire to do it again surprised me enough I knew it was time to leave.
It’s well past 3 a.m. and although there are no strict rules on being out so late, I’ve learned rumors travel quickly in this place. I already expect Fulla at my bedroom door in a few hours. I can’t wait to tell her all the details.
A footstep echoes somewhere down the hall. The hairs on my neck prickle and I freeze, waiting to hear more. Two voices follow—one male, one female—and I relax, realizing I’m not the only one out of my rooms at this time of night.
I reach the stairwell to my dormitory and pick up my skirts to run up the steps. At the corner a shadow casts on the wall; too big to be a housemate. I reach for the pin and realize it’s gone. A hand reaches for me and slams me against the wall.
Adonis’s handsome but angry face comes into the light. His lips curve into a mean smile. “It’s a little late to be out and about, isn’t it, Artemis?”
“My activities are none of your concern.”
He tightens his grip on my wrist. His body is close. I smell the stench of wine on his breath. “They are when you try to put an arrow in me in a Trial.”
“I apologize,” I tell him. “It was in the heat of the moment. I let my competitive nature get away from me.”
He doesn’t release my arm. If anything, he holds me tighter. “You are just like your brother. Violent, competitive, arrogant.” He pushes my hair back, revealing what is sure to be a bruise from Dion biting down on my shoulder. “He was a whore, too.”
“Shut up.”
“Did you fuck all of them?” he asks, his eyes darkening into something worrisome. “One at a time or all at once? Dion and Thor look like they’d like to have an excuse to release a little tension out on one another.”
Tired of his mouth, I slam my heel down on his toes and then my knee rockets to his crotch. He drops my hand and I shove him back, hearing his head snap against the stone wall. He’s doubled over, whimpering over his balls. I take his chin in my hand and tilt it upward so I can get a good look at his sniveling face.
“I’ll fuck who I want, when I want,” I tell him. “I’ll fuck them how I want, when I want, do you understand?”
He nods with a clenched jaw.
“And I apologized for being out of line in the competition, but I will not apologize for being who I am, or for who my brother was when he was alive.” I drop his face and walk up the stairs.
“Artemis,” he calls and I glance down.
“What?”
“You’re playing a dangerous game. I’m not the only enemy you’ve made at the Academy.”
“Good. Let them come at me in the middle of the night like you have, and we’ll see how they fare.” I smirk at the fool below before leaving him for good, although once I get on the other side of the door I lean against the wood and steady my nerves. Adonis got the jump on me. Weaponless, at that. He knew exactly where I’d been. Who I’d been with. He may not be my brother’s killer, but I have little doubt he knows who is and that they’re watching me all the time.
35
ARTEMIS
Everyone is already seated at the table when I arrive for breakfast the next morning. Dion’s eyes track me all the way to my seat and Loki, who sits next to him at the long table, keeps his eyes averted. Good, I’m still angry about his deceit in the trial the day before, and looking at his bright green eyes will make it harder to hold my resolve.
Thor and Triton have their backs to me as I slide into my seat.
“Good morning,” Dion says, pushing the plate of eggs in my direction. Thor grunts through a bite of food and Triton nods.
I ignore their looks while I load my plate with eggs and potatoes. Thor’s hand moves toward the bacon and I snatch the last of it before he can.
“Hey!”
“Please,” I tell him. “I know you’ve already had at least five pieces.”
He smiles and rests his arm on the back of my chair. “I did expend a lot of energy yesterday winning that trial.”
“Yes.” I dart my eyes across the table at Dion and shove a whole piece of bacon in my mouth before saying, “I know how it feels to be ravenous after an intense physical workout.”
Thor grunts and Loki stands, pushing his chair back with a loud scrape. He leaves the table without another word.
“What’s his problem?” Triton asks, watching him go.
“Something’s up his ass,” Thor says, a tight set to his jaw.
Do I tell the guys what Loki told me? The fighting between Thor and Loki already reached epic proportions; if I drop this bombshell then everything would get further out of control. The Loki situation shakes our alliance, and our chances of victory. No. Winning comes first. I’ll keep my mouth shut.
“So, the usual, then,” Dion says with a flashing grin. Always diffusing. I can’t hate him for it. He touches my foot under the table and thoughts of the night before return.
“So now that my first trial is over, what’s next?”
“More training,” Thor replies through a mouthful of potatoes.
“More studying,” Triton adds, pulling a book out of his bag. Creatures of the Deep, it says on the front. Dion’s eyebrows raise and he bites back a joke.
“More us, basically,” Dion admits with a shrug. “So, it could be worse.”
I study the men surrounding me and realize my brother knew what he was doing when he chose them as his allies. They’re a diverse group, a mixture of gruff, charismatic, intelligent, and strong. I sense our relationships growing and can’t wait to peel back the layers to learn more about each one.
36
ARTEMIS
It’s just past midnight when the note slips under my door. My limbs ache from an intense session of training and my brain hurts from the books Triton gave me to read.
By the time I have my bow in my hand and open the door, whoever left it is gone. Back in my room, I sit by the fire and open it. It’s a simple sentence.
If you want information on who killed your brother, meet me by the statue of your father.
I dress and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I’m a different woman than I was before I arrived at the Academy. Gone is the wild hair and ruddy complexion of a girl that lives in the forests. I’m no longer the hunter for food but a huntress of men. I’ve felt a man’s hands on my body. Their tongue in my mouth, their body fitting close to mine like a puzzle. I’m changed, and I like it.
Tucking a narrow blade under my belt, I leave my rooms. The hallways are quiet. When I step outside the cool air hits my cheeks and I pull my cloak over my shoulders. Why we couldn’t meet inside is beyond me. There are enough creepy hiding spots in the building. The gardens are exposed—open for anyone to see, especially with a full moon rising in the sky.
I spot the woman’s shadow sitting on the bench beneath my father’s statue and pause, considering maybe she chose the spot for a reason.
Her eyes connect with mine and it’s easy to see my brother’s interest in her. She may not be a traditional beauty; her hair is messy and pulled up in a long tail, her clothing boring—functional—much like something I would wear, but there’s an intensity about her eyes and she has plump red lips. She looks strong, empowered, and it’s clear now that this is the kind of female my brother preferred.
“You’re Cassandra.” I approach her. She doesn’t rise from the bench.
“Yes, and you’re Artemis.”
I nod at the space next to her and she slides over, offering me a seat. I don’t know how much to share with this woman. Is she the one that gave me the diary? Does she really know the truth about Apollo? I decide to break the silence.
“I’m aware you had a relationship of some kind with my brother—that you gave him warnings about the danger of the Trials.”
She’s not surprised that I know this, but if she truly has visions and the gift of prophecy, then she shouldn’t be.
“I tried to warn him, but he was stubborn and prideful.”