Protected by Artemis (Gods and Beasts #3)

12. Artemis

Chapter 12

Artemis

A rtemis was lost in her thoughts, Cade’s words echoing endlessly in her mind. Flashes of what had happened a week ago replayed vividly, like an unshakable dream. She had been so excited when she first felt the pull of a prayer, something she hadn’t experienced in centuries. It stirred something ancient within her, that primal connection she once had with mortals. The thrill of it, the sense of being called upon after all these years—it was almost intoxicating.

But then, she recognized his voice.

“Artemis. Please, hear me. I miss you.”

His voice had cut through the excitement like a blade, the pain of his actions flooding back into her body. The betrayal, the heartbreak—all the emotions she had buried in the days since their breakup surged back to the surface. She had felt a pang of hope when she realized he was calling to her, but it was quickly swallowed by the bitterness of what he had done. He had pushed her away, broken her heart, and now he was praying to her? Ti malakas!

She had wanted to ignore it, to turn away and pretend she hadn’t heard. But she couldn’t.

She had gone to him anyway.

The thought gnawed at her as she sat, staring off into the distance. Why had she gone? Why hadn’t she let him stew in the silence, let him face the consequences of what he’d done? But no—she had appeared before him, her emotions barely contained. The moment she saw him, standing there with that desperate look in his eyes, the wall she had so carefully constructed around her heart had wavered.

She clenched her fists, frustration bubbling up inside her. She was a goddess, and yet…she couldn’t keep away from him. It made her feel weak, like the power he held over her was something she couldn’t shake, no matter how hard she tried.

“I was wrong. Please let me make it up to you.”

Her mind raced back to the look in his eyes when he had spoken. The vulnerability, the rawness. It had been so unlike Cade to show that side of himself, to admit he had made a mistake. But it wasn’t enough. Not yet.

Why did I go to him? She knew the answer. Deep down, she knew. Because despite everything, despite the pain, she still loved him. She wasn’t ready to let go—not completely.

But that didn’t mean she was ready to forgive him either.

She tried to push his words out of her mind, but they kept echoing. Geri’s voice pulled her out of her swirling thoughts, anchoring her back to the present. She blinked and took in her surroundings—the relaxing lounge area in Geri and Apollo’s home in Olympus. The subtle luxury of the space, with its soft cushions, marble accents, and golden light filtering in through the high windows, was a far cry from the turmoil of her mind. The room was designed for comfort and serenity—but her heart was anything but.

Geri was sitting across from her, eyes filled with concern, her brow furrowed slightly. “Artemis? What do you want to drink?” she asked, studying her with concern.

Artemis forced a smile. “Right, girls’ night. Sorry, I’m a bit out of it. What are you drinking?”

“An espresso martini,” Geri replied, holding up her glass.

“Perfect, I’ll have one too.”

Geri’s face softened, and she nodded. “Okay, an espresso martini it is.”

Aphrodite, who had been watching, waved her hand, and two drinks materialized on the table in front of them. The goddess of love raised her glass. “To girls’ night,” she said, her voice carrying a warmth that made it impossible not to smile.

Artemis lifted her glass, clinking it against Geri’s and Aphrodite’s. She was glad Aphrodite was with them so Geri wouldn’t press for details about the trip to Turks and Caicos or what they had uncovered. There was no way she could pretend that everything had gone smoothly or that she and Cade had simply fallen for each other like it was inevitable.

How had it even happened? One moment, they were hunting for answers, and the next, she found herself drawn to Cade in a way that defied logic.

She’d spent millennia guarding her heart, ensuring no one could get too close. Yet, he had slipped through her defenses, making her feel things she hadn’t felt ever.

But it hadn’t been enough for him, she reminded herself bitterly. The pain of his rejection was still raw, and she wasn’t ready to face it—let alone explain it to Geri.

Artemis sipped her drink, grateful for the strong flavor that helped dull the ache in her chest.

Aphrodite was chatting away, filling the space with light conversation. The goddess of love sat across from Artemis, exuding an air of effortless grace as she lounged on the settee. Her golden hair cascaded in soft waves around her, and her skin seemed to glow with an inner radiance like the first light of dawn breaking over a tranquil sea. She appeared older than Artemis, not in a way that suggested age, but with a refined elegance and an ageless wisdom that only deepened her allure.

Her eyes, a mesmerizing blend of cerulean and silver, held a piercing intensity as she looked at Artemis. It was as if she could see right through the goddess of the hunt, peeling back the layers of composure to the turmoil beneath. The weight of that gaze made Artemis’s heart pound faster, a paranoid thought creeping into her mind: could Aphrodite sense the love and heartbreak that tangled together within her?

Artemis shifted slightly, the feeling of being exposed unsettling. Aphrodite was known for her uncanny ability to detect even the subtlest undercurrents of emotion. Her perceptive nature was almost as legendary as her beauty. As Aphrodite continued to speak, her melodic voice filling the room, Artemis couldn’t shake the fear that her true feelings were being laid bare under Aphrodite’s knowing stare.

Artemis couldn’t help but steal glances at the two over the rim of her glass. She had arranged this girls’ night to help Geri feel more at home in Olympus, aware of how challenging it could be to settle into a world of gods and immortals. Inviting Aphrodite had seemed like a good idea, so Geri could feel more accepted among the Olympians. Also, part of her was just a tiny bit curious if Aphrodite still had feelings for her ex-husband.

It wasn’t the first time Aphrodite and Geri had met, though it was the first time they hung out. Geri had told Artemis about their meeting with Aphrodite during the interview process about her potential immortality. The goddess of love had been tough, scrutinizing every detail of Geri and Apollo’s relationship. Her questions had been probing, almost too direct, aimed at testing the strength and sincerity of their bond.

But in the end, Aphrodite had surprised them all. Despite all her questions, she had declared that she believed in the authenticity of their love. During the council meeting she had spoken with a rare softness in her voice, a smile touching her lips as she looked at Geri and Apollo. “Love like yours,” Aphrodite had said, “is worth the risk of immortality. It should be nurtured and allowed to grow.” With that, she had voted for Geri to eat the golden apple, sealing her fate as an immortal.

Now, Artemis wondered if those words referred to something else, perhaps a regret in her heart that she’d kept buried all along?

As they sat together, Geri seemed at ease, her eyes sparkling as she took delicate sips of her drink. Artemis watched her sister-in-law, noticing how she leaned into the conversation with Aphrodite. Seeing Geri so relaxed and finding her place among the gods made her happy. This was what she had hoped for—Geri feeling at home, embraced by Olympus.

Aphrodite, for her part, seemed genuinely interested in Geri’s adjustment to immortal life. She asked thoughtful questions about Geri’s experiences, her challenges, and what she missed most about the Upperworld. It was clear that Aphrodite was trying to connect, and Artemis appreciated it.

She wanted to focus on Geri and the success of their night together, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Cade. His words, his apology, the raw emotion in his voice when he spoke of his fears and regrets lingered in her mind like a haunting melody she couldn’t quite shake.

But tonight was about Geri, and she wanted to be present, to be there for her. She turned her attention back to the conversation, trying to match Geri’s enthusiasm. Artemis smiled warmly, listening as Aphrodite shared a story about one of her many escapades in the Upperworld with her mortal lovers, her voice rich with humor and naughtiness.

Her phone pinged, and she subtly glanced at the screen, careful not to let the others notice. It was a message from Hephaestus asking about Cade’s pack.

She bit the inside of her cheek, trying to keep her expression neutral as she typed out a quick reply: “You should text Cade.” And then she sent him Cade’s mobile number.

She tucked her phone away, trying to shake off the tension that crept up at the mere mention of Cade. He was back in Alaska, and yet, he kept creeping into her night.

Geri gave her a look. “Everything okay?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Hephaestus asked about the pack, and I told him to text Cade.”

“Hephaestus?” Aphrodite sniffed. She took a slow sip of her drink, her eyes narrowing just a touch. “How is he?”

Artemis shifted in her seat. “He’s…fine,” she replied cautiously. While she was curious, she didn’t want Aphrodite to suspect that she was fishing for more information. “He’s helping out with an issue Cade’s pack is having.”

Aphrodite’s eyes sharpened, her lips quirking up into a small smile. “How industrious of him. He’s always liked keeping busy with his little projects.”

Geri leaned forward, clearly curious but trying not to seem too nosy. “Is he doing okay? I mean, with everything going on?”

Artemis nodded. “He’s been helpful. Whatever else is going on, at least I can always count on him to be thorough when it comes to his work.” She carefully kept her tone neutral, not wanting to spark any more tension between the god and goddess.

Aphrodite chuckled lightly, but it wasn’t exactly warm. “Yes, thorough.” She let the word linger in the air as though it carried more meaning than it appeared. After a moment, she softened and added, “Well, at least he’s staying out of trouble.”

“It seems like his inventions are impressive,” Geri glanced between them, clearly feeling a bit awkward. “Apollo told me about the time Hephaestus made a chariot for the sun, but it ended up with…mixed results.”

Aphrodite rolled her eyes, her smile growing. “Yes, one of his less elegant endeavors. But he always means well.” Her gaze flicked back to Artemis. “And if he’s helping Cade, then he’s definitely doing something right.”

She could tell Aphrodite’s interest wasn’t just about the god of fire and forges. There was an unspoken curiosity about Cade too.

“So…this pack, Cade’s pack,” Aphrodite arched an eyebrow. “You spent a lot of time there, didn’t you? After the wedding?”

Artemis straightened. “They’ve needed help with some issues lately. That’s all.”

Aphrodite’s piercing gaze didn’t waver. “Of course.” She took another sip of her drink, her eyes lingering on Artemis a moment longer before she turned her attention to Geri, who was watching the exchange with quiet interest. She swirled her espresso martini, watching the creamy foam settle back into the glass. “You know,” she began, eyeing the drink with a curious smile, “these martinis are quite the contradiction. An upper and a downer all in one. Mortals do love to keep things interesting, don’t they?”

Geri laughed, nodding in agreement. “Yeah, something to keep us unbalanced and on our toes. Always needing that extra bit of chaos, I guess.”

“So, Geri,” Artemis said, happy for the shift in the conversation, “what have you been up to lately? How’s life treating you here in Olympus?”

Geri smiled warmly. “I’ve been starting a garden, actually. It’s been nice to have something to keep me busy during the day. Something grounding, you know?” She paused, her expression softening. “It reminds me of working in my plant shop back in New York. I like getting my hands in the soil and watching things grow. It’s something I can spend hours doing and not notice the time pass.”

“And where’s my dear brother during all of this?” Artemis raised an eyebrow. “Does he help out?”

Geri chuckled, shaking her head. “Oh, he tries, but he’s hopeless. He doesn’t quite understand the concept of patience when it comes to plants. I caught him singing to the seedlings last week, thinking it would make them grow faster.” She rolled her eyes playfully, but there was a tenderness in her voice, and as she spoke of Apollo, her eyes started to glow faintly, a soft, warm light emanating from within them.

“Well, look at that,” Aphrodite said with a knowing smile. “Your eyes are glowing, Geri. That’s the sweetest thing I’ve seen in a while.”

“They are glowing! Why is that?” Artemis asked.

Geri’s cheeks flushed a little, but she smiled proudly. “Yes, they do. It’s a thing with our wolf pack. If our inner wolf approves of a love interest, if they feel like it’s a bond worth pursuing, our eyes start to glow. It’s like a sign that they’re happy with our choice, that they trust the bond.”

“That’s beautiful,” Artemis nodded slowly, fascinated by this new information. Her mind wandered to Cade yet again, and she remembered how his eyes had glowed in the field the other night. She couldn’t help but feel a pang in her chest. Did his eyes glow because of her?

“It’s like having a little reassurance from within, you know?” Geri continued, unaware of Artemis’s inner turmoil. “That what you’re feeling is real and right. It’s comforting, especially in a place like Olympus where so much is uncertain.”

“Love is always something special, whether you’re a god, a mortal, or somewhere in between. It’s good to see it’s alive and well among you shifters too.” Aphrodite raised her glass and offered a toast.

Artemis joined in the toast, and she tried to keep her smile bright and genuine, focusing on the moment and her friends. Still, the conversation had sparked something within her, a longing she couldn’t quite ignore.

Had Cade’s eyes…glowed?

“You’re strong and loyal, and you chose me. After all the time you’ve been alive, you decided to be with me.”

She could’ve sworn they had when he’d spoken about her. Is that why he ended things? Did he know what it meant and panicked? Was that why he broke up with her—because he feared what the bond might mean? And now…did he want her back because he realized that he had pushed her away?

The thought made her heart clench. She remembered the look of confusion and fear on his face in the clearing and then the pain in his voice when he had prayed to her. He had been so distant, so conflicted—and yet, something in him had reached out to her like his soul was trying to speak through the turmoil.

Was that why?

Artemis felt a pang of frustration. She couldn’t be sure. All she knew was that something had changed in him, something powerful enough to make him run—and now, something strong enough to make him come back. But could she trust it? Could she trust him?

The questions circled in her mind, but Artemis shook them off as she realized Geri and Aphrodite were watching her again. She pushed the thoughts of Cade aside, but they lingered just beneath the surface, waiting for her to confront them.