“This sucks but I’ll be back before the battle ends.” I promise. “If the hammer will turn the tide, then we have to be back before the end.”
“We have no idea how long that will be.” Jayden buries his face in my neck, still refusing to let me go.
“You could always change your mind and come with me,” I say but I know it’s selfish to even bring it up.
“You know why I can’t. You’re right. We need to get up.” He unwraps his arms from around me and reaches for his clothes.
“B, come on. We need to get moving,” Raven shouts through the door.
“Easy for you to say, your mate is coming with us. Give me a break,” I snarl.
I yank my pants on, irrationally angry about this whole situation. I glance at Jayden to make sure he’s dressed as well and slam the door open.
“I’m sorry, B. I know it’s not enough time for what we’re all walking into, but the only other choice is saying fuck the world. Which we can totally do but I somehow think you’re not gonna want to do that.”
“Artemis offered the same. It’s not an option. Even if it didn’t mean the end of everything, the queen will never stop hunting me.” My shoulders slump.
“Let’s get this meeting over with.” Jayden wraps an arm around my waist.
“Do we have people in place to check the charms? I don’t want anyone without one in the meeting.”
“No one at the academy has a bare right wrist, baby,” Jayden says. “We’ve checked everyone including the professors. We’re clean of traitors.”
“We should check again. Allegiances change and I don’t know if Apollo’s mark will disappear if that happens.” I snap the door shut behind us.
“That’s smart.” Raven nods. “I’ll have Greyson and Thad check everyone out before the meeting starts but it’s been called already.”
“Who called the meeting?” I ask, picking up my pace and taking the stairs two at a time.
“I did. No one wanted to bother you on your last night with Jayden.” Raven shrugs.
“Thank you. At least some planning got done while I was having my meltdown.”
“That wasn’t a meltdown, Beth. You’re allowed to feel a certain way about being separated from Jayden. The fates already ask too much of you.” Raven pats my shoulder.
“Yeah, well, we’re in the home stretch now and I don’t have to be a part of any war I don’t want to be a part of ever again.” I huff.
“Goals for sure but you know you’ll get drawn into the wolves war.” Raven points a finger at me.
“That is actually our fault, though,” I say. “That guy needs to be taken out before he ruins everything.”
“We didn’t cause that. The queen did,” Jayden says. “It’s not our problem.”
“We have other things to worry about than the shifter war.” I wave him away. “Where are the others?”
“They are in the cafeteria where they set up a base to discuss things before the meeting,” Raven says.
My stomach rumbles at the idea of food and they both laugh at me. Traitorous organ. It’s constantly starving.
“Don’t worry. There will be food in the cafeteria before the meeting,” Raven says with a grin.
“Your stomach is as much of a monster as mine anymore.”
“That’s true. Let’s go eat before everyone gathers in the courtyard.” Raven loops her arm through mine.
I push through the doors and bright sunshine filters down on me. I sigh. It shouldn’t be a sunny happy day. It should be overcast with the way I feel about this mess we’re in.
“Hey, guys,” Thad says as we enter the cafeteria.
