“Could you imagine your dad asking if you died a hero and you have to tell him that you died from a literal explosive orgasm?” I giggle.
Jayden pulls me into his arms, still twitching from his release, and kisses my forehead. “He would probably congratulate me and send me back.”
“Yeah, that sounds like Hades.” I shake my head.
“You need rest, love,” Jayden says when I yawn.
“I don’t want to spend the last few hours I have with you before you go into battle asleep, Jayden.” I bury my face in his chest.
“I know, but you need the rest, and I don’t have long before I have to be back to receive the reinforcements.” Jayden tightens his hold on me. “You were just in a battle of your own with more to come. You need to take care of yourself.”
“Fine.” I lay my head over his heart. “Will you still be here when I wake up?”
“I don’t think I can be. Hermes was specific. Just know I love you more than my own life and I will see you again soon,” he whispers into my hair.
“I love you too, Jayden. More than anything. Please come back to me.”
“I will always come back to you. Nothing in this world or the next can ever keep me away from you.” He rubs a soothing hand over my back.
His fingers glide through my hair, lulling me to sleep, but I blink my eyes open. I don’t want him to leave again. Is this a cruel test from Apollo now? Send Jayden here to see if I will choose others’ lives over my own comfort? Send Jayden into the unknown where we can’t protect each other?
“I can practically hear your brain racing, love. If you didn’t have me blocked, I would get a mind full, wouldn’t I?”
“How cruel is this to give us so little time before everything goes to shit?” I mumble.
“He gave us a gift we weren’t expecting. Just because it hurts doesn’t mean his intentions were good.”
“The path to hell was paved with good intentions, Jayden.” I shake my head. “It feels like another test to see what I’ll do. If I will give you up for the good of everyone else.”
“Maybe, or maybe they’re testing me this time. I’m the one making this choice, but I know you would make the same one in a heartbeat. I have to go back. I can be the difference the academy needs, and I have to do it. What’s more? I trust you to make it through this and come back to me.”
“Okay.” I sigh. “I can see that. This isn’t my choice to make.”
“Sleep, love. I’ll see you at the end of this battle and we’ll beat the queen together.”
“I hope so.” I yawn. “Good night, Jayden.”
He rubs my back in soothing circles, and I drift to sleep wondering if we can really do this. Can we really defeat the queen and have our happy ending?
12
Ijolt awake as someone bangs on the door. My hand fists the cool sheets where Jayden was last night and my stomach churns with disappointment.
“He’s gone.” I sigh.
It’s not a surprise. He told me he would be gone before I woke up, but it doesn’t make it any easier to take.
I dress quickly and fling the door open to find Raven leaning against the wall with a smirk on her face. The smirk slowly drops as she takes in my expression.
“Jayden left already, didn’t he?” she asks.
“Yeah.” I sigh. “He has a different part to play, I guess.”
“Randall wants to have that meeting of his over breakfast.” Raven pushes off the wall.
“That’s a good idea because the faster we get this all over with, the faster we get back to the academy.” I loop my arm through hers.
“We will get back in time, B. I know we will. You worry too much. We are certified badasses and we can take this on.” Raven’s shoulder bumps into mine.
