“You guys are very strange.” Draven glances between me and Raven.
“When you’ve been through what we have in the last several months, then you learn to adapt and cope. If you don’t you go running away screaming like your hair is on fire,” I say.
“That’s still a very viable option,” Raven points out.
“Maybe another time. Hermes is ceasing to exist and if we don’t get moving, the world is ending,” I say. “But let’s table that idea for now.”
“Best keep all your options open.” She points to me with a grin.
“No one else thinks this is weird?” Draven asks, waving in our general direction.
“You get used to it.” Jayden shrugs. “The blasé attitude about danger is an act they put on to cope with everything. It’s much better than the alternative.”
Jayden shoots me a pointed glare. It’s obvious he’s thinking about the queen’s deal. But like I told Raven, it’s best to keep all the options open. It just may come to that. They will forgive me one day if that’s the case.
“All right, enough talking trash about our sparkling personalities. Let’s go.”
We head to the academy parking lot, my hands shaking with nerves for the journey ahead. We put on brave fronts but inside I’m a mess. How long before we run into our first hurdle? We may not make it out of California before a monster or giant attacks.
We can’t let Adrian get out of the SUV should we get attacked. I can’t let his death be on my conscience. I’ll never survive that.
We get to the SUV and Jayden opens the door for me, placing my bags on the floorboard. I roll my shoulders back and straighten my spine as I hop in the front passenger seat. There’s no fanfare or anyone coming to see us off. Chiron is overseeing the training along with Sara and Jackson, so we hit the road quickly.
“What can you tell us about your vision, Adrian?” I ask, turning in my seat.
“I’ve already told you everything I’m able to tell you. The world is changing, ushering in a new dawn, and the fates are behind it all.” Adrian stares out the window.
“They knew,” I whisper.
“What?” Jayden asks.
“Remember when you were getting the shit beat out of you by one of the fates at the gas station on the mission to save Artemis?” I ask.
“Very, very clearly.” He shudders. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“We were watching from inside the store and a second fate showed up and asked me and Raven if we were just going to let Aggie beat the shit out of our mates.” I glance over at Raven.
“Oh yeah, I remember that. We were both confused because we didn’t think we had mates.”
“Why were you getting the shit beat out of you by one of the fates?” Dax asks.
“She hates us,” Greyson mumbles.
“She doesn’t like me either.” Draven rubs the back of his head.
I burst into a fit of giggles. I can’t help it. I think the only ones she hasn’t beat up are me, Raven, and Adrian. Raven joins me in my laughter.
“I’m sure you’ll get a front row seat when we have to stop for gas. She haunts gas stations, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. Every damn time,” Jayden says.
“Seriously? Why a gas station?” Kira asks.
“Hell if I know. That’s just where we always see her. I guess it’s easier to beat us with her cane out in the open than anywhere else.” Greyson shakes his head.
“Did the fates know that we would be the first demigods to have mates? Was that just another slip like Aggie screaming at Jayden not to make me choose?” I ask no one in particular.
“Your guess is as good as mine, B. They are definitely meddling, though.” Raven leans forward in her seat.
“But they can meddle from the sidelines as they have for millennia,” Kira says. “Why show themselves now?”
