“I watched from afar for many years to see if you would change like your mother. I needed to be sure that they wouldn’t hurt you when they found out how powerful you would become, but I guess the fates had other plans for you, my dear.” Hephaestus squeezes her shoulder.
“You knew I would be a fire wolf?” Kira asks with a frown.
“Star bound shifter has a much better ring to it, don’t you think? You are bound to the stars. The daughter of Hephaestus and Artemis. When that prophecy was told, we didn’t understand that it wouldn’t be the literal daughter of Artemis but one of her shifters. We wondered if the prophecy would ever come to pass and now here you are.”
“I’m so confused.” Kira shakes her head.
“Not to worry, you will understand more once the time comes.” He pats her shoulder.
“Was it you who sent them to bring me to the academy?” Kira asks.
“I saw the way they were treating you in that sorry excuse for a pack but couldn’t do anything until you either shifted or turned of age to go to the academy. My hands were tied by the fates and the laws of the gods.” His shoulders slump.
“Okay, that’s a lot to unpack but we really need to get back to the academy. Can you help us?” I cut in.
“So, it’s time, then?” Hephaestus asks me.
“Yes, we retrieved the hammer, and the queen is attacking the academy as we speak. The gods are waging their own civil war in Olympus. I’m afraid if we don’t hurry, all will be lost.” My stomach twists with worry for those we left behind.
“Come on, then. We have much to discuss before we get back to your academy and help your friends.” Hephaestus waves a hand and the sentries part for us.
The sentries don’t move to block our path this time with Hephaestus guiding us into the workshop. Greyson steps up to my side and grabs the medical pack dangling on the side of my hiking pack.
“How’s the burn?” he asks, rummaging through the bag for the burn cream the healers always send me with.
“It’s a fiery inferno of pain, but I’ve managed worse.” I grin as he hands me the burn cream.
“You were burned?” Kira gasps.
“Lava came up through the ground right beneath me during that last big earthquake. I didn’t roll out of the way in time.” I wince.
“You got that saving my life.” Greyson sighs.
“That rock would have ended you. This is just a little burn.” I wave a hand at the charred skin.
“Um, that is a lot more than a little burn, B,” Raven scoffs. “Jayden is going to send us all to the underworld. We haven’t done a great job of keeping you safe.”
“I didn’t give you guys much of an option. I’ll handle Jayden.”
“I may not be a healer,” Hephaestus says. “But burns are something I know well. Can I see it?”
“It’s not really necessary. I have the burn cream from the healers.” I shake my head.
“That takes days to heal,” Raven says. “Let the god of fire help with the burn.”
I glare at my bestie before sticking my tongue out at her. “Fine.”
I turn to the side and allow Hephaestus to see the burn. Cool magic washes over me which is such a contrast to the fire god’s normal power. I glance down once he’s done, and the skin is back to perfect creamy white and the pain has cooled off completely.
“Thank you, Lord Hephaestus.”
“Don’t start being all formal on me now. I quite enjoyed the comment about me getting my head out of my ass.” Hephaestus laughs. “I have to admit some may think that way when I’m hyperfocused on a task.”
“What were you so focused on that you didn’t hear all the commotion?” Kira asks as we step into the workshop.
The heat blasts me instantly, stealing my breath for a moment, and sweat pours down my back like a river.
“That is something I was finishing up for Zeus. Hopefully it will help them with their civil war on Olympus.” Hephaestus shrugs.
