Artemis’ povAiden, my man, is not the type that would drift to sleep in a matter of seconds, but with me in his warm cuddle, he snored like he’d never done before.I might be wrong anyways if I count it as success—the endless stress of being a core member of the Creeks is enough stress already, but I praise my patience for enduring till I heard him snore.I started with his heavy hands, he’d secured me with them, maybe to keep me from breaking into the night to search for clues of the name, Hera.I lifted his hand gently and slipped off, but I didn’t let it rest on an empty space. I replaced my warmth presence with a pillow and watched him for a while as he slept like a baby.I was tempted to touch his hair—to trace the lining of his nose bridge with the tip of my finger and press a kiss on his cheek before leaving him for my little adventure, but shunned the thought instead and made my way out of the room.First, I sought out his things. He didn’t check in with much—just his suitcas
Aiden’s Pov“You nearly put me in shit, man,” I pushed Rusev’s chest and pinned him to the wall with my left hand. On a good day, I’ll punch shit off his face, but he’s a longtime no see friend, so, I didn’t dare.“Come on,” he gently shrugged off my hand. He probably knew what I meant, “I didn’t know it was not Hera—”He paused suddenly and watched me spare him a breathing space and free my face a little to catch up with the morning’s warmth.He exhaled and adjusted his shirt. “I thought she was Hera because she looked like Hera, and—maybe I just didn’t understand you when you said you don’t have no more shit with Hera.”“You saw her in the field with us and walked to the chamber with us, only to call her Hera—” I clenched my fists to punch his lying mouth, but I still held back. He raised his hands like he knew I could throw a punch at his face if he kept on tossing his lies to my face. I freed my clenched fist and gestured to the big balcony next door.He nodded and followed me in
Artemis PovI nearly jolted out of myself when the flowers moved. There’s clearly no wind in the garden. It looked lit was sealed from the outside, but I could breathe in it—I don’t why I could still breathe in this new word.I thought once again of Damon. He’s the one I should call—maybe before calling anyone I used to know. He’s the one I wished most to meet and at least, say sorry for letting him fight on that fateful night for my sake.“D—” something crawled on my leg and stopped three steps away in the flowers. I looked down and saw a pink nurtured rabbit with a red rose trapped in the grip of Its teeth.I went down on both need and took the flower from its mouth, sniffed it and remembered Aiden. The flower’s scent seemed to have been touched by his hands.“Aiden,” I whispered.This might be a stunt, or, the rabbit brought me gift from the human world—maybe the flower placed on the grave. I sniffed once again and let the scent sink into my head.It was full of him. Maybe full of
Artemis PovWe filed through the door which was held open by two guards dressed in the eighteenth-century regalia. The wigs caught me the most. They looked exactly like the stuff I see in movies and museums from mostly the Elizabethan era.A lady emerged from a door sewn to the wall of the passage that stretched to the door ahead of us. she stood in our way and bowed her head to us. Aiden’s father was in the forefront, followed by Aiden and I.I noticed something in the lady’s dressing. It was an eighteenth-century fashion. Maybe Aiden has arranged a ball, like that in Lady Whistletown’s piece, the Bridgerton series.“No offence, sire,” she sounded refined, like the most brilliant figure picked from the past and brought to the present to block our way and tell us whatever she has in stock for us.“What do you wish for, woman?” Aiden’s father mimicked her tone. Everyone except me laughed. I was merely curious to figure out what luxury they have in stock for us this time.She smiled and
Aiden’s PovWe were the first to finish. Our clothes were a little too weird for my liking, but what choice do I have? I chose the event planner, and she chose her own sort of design.I joined my father at the mirror where he did the little good of checking out his newest attire. He was dressed like a duke, while I was dressed like a general of those days.“Your brother had been with us all the while until today,” his voice was deep and coarse, like he’d been worried all the while for Kane who didn’t show up—I didn’t intend to see him anyways.I looked at his dress. I could have looked better in the duke’s outfit, while father would have been better dressed as a king instead. But the clothing was good on him. and I wonder what sort of duke he’ll make if he was there in the eighteenth century.He could have been the most ruthless, I guess.“Looks good on you,” I remarked with a weak smile. I nodded and turned to me, maybe fully aware of my vices. What other way could be better for swa
Artemis PovDancing with Aiden was therapeutic, especially with the eighteenth-century gown that was tied really hard to give me a perfect shape. I could have lost my breath when they bestowed the gown on me in the room, but with time, my body adjusted to it. Women of the eighteenth century really endured serious discomfort—their nobles like I read in books—not the peasants who were said to dress in lags that need not to be tied so hard in the abdomen to put out the shape of femininity and beauty.But the music finished not long after we started the dance, like they knew I have had nothing and should at least refuel before the big game.Aiden led me to the seats obviously reserved for us, and yes, three servants helped us grab some comfort and served us what we could bite while the next music notes were flipped by the instrumentalist and their conductor whom I could see now we were seated.The second note started almost a minute after we sat. I had no idea what would happen next unti
Aiden’s PovFather waited till the last click of Artemis’ heel on the stairs faded completely. He cleared his throat and crossed a hand around my shoulder as he led me closer to his friends.I knew all of them. some of them were distant relatives and some of them were his closes friends and business allies, while one of them was a repentant drug dealer—Rusev’s father’s right-hand man who might have smuggled himself into the country because his case died many years ago.“And here comes the man to be,” father announced.They laughed but I didn’t do the laughter with them. I know them, very serious fellas. They are the circle that pushed various industries to their current stance. They are not funny.“And you said you will leave the Creeks business empire to his care if he puts a ring on that lady’s finger?” one of them asked.His name is Macron. He’s a banker and a loan shark. His son used to be a good friend of mine till he disowned him on his eighteenth-year birthday for getting a loc
Artemis PovThe days leading up to the confrontation with Ava were filled with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Noah could feel the tension in the air, and every instinct told him that they were on the brink of something monumental. He spent sleepless nights strategizing and preparing, and he knew that the moment had finally come to face Ava once and for all.As the sun began to rise on the day of the confrontation, Noah stood at the edge of the woods, taking a deep breath to steady himself. The cool morning air filled his lungs as he reflected on everything that had led them to this moment. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to find Carla beside him, her expression resolute."Are you ready?" she asked, her voice steady."I have to be," Noah replied, determination flooding through him. "We can’t let her manipulate us any longer."Carla stepped closer, her eyes searching his. "No matter what happens today, remember that we’re in this together."He nodded, feeling a surge of wa
Aidan POVThe next few days after Kane's threat began to unroll in a whirlpool of events -- within each minute the quiet strain between Artemis and I. We had decided on attending the charity gala, together, for the display of unity and defiance against the haunting shadows of Hera and Kane. I stood in front of the mirror, while adjusting my tie, pondering upon what I may have done, or not done of late, to have the weight of expectation hanging upon me. The gala would be where the most influential people would congregate. If ever there was a time for Hera to strike, it would be here."Are you ready?" Artemis called from the other room. She sounded almost haughty with a mixture of excitement and nerves. "Almost," I replied, forcing a smile. I had to be his strength. It was his entry into, a very new and dangerous world-and I had to make sure that it felt like a support.I was silent for a moment when she came out. She was wearing this lacey red gown that molded her body all the right
Artemis POVThe hallway, awash in chaos, found a frozen representation of me. Uncertainty had reduced the strength of my insides. Even as the adrenaline rush of Aidan's protection fueled my very being, my very fear of what would follow stopped my feet in their tracks. There were louder voices now: anger and indignation intermingled. I found myself rushing Aidan, heart pounding away. As I took the turn, he stood toe to-toe with various men, their faces illustrating how morally intense and confrontational the situation was. "Get lost," Aidan growled, barely above a whisper. "Aidan, you can’t just turn your back on this," replied one of the men, sharp-edged. He was the tallest, wearing a dark suit that announced authority. "Hera has powerful connections, and you have to be careful." "Careful?" Aidan scoffed, his temper flaring. "You think I’m afraid of some empty threats? I’ll handle this my way." I edged closer and heard snippets of their dialogue, which made my spine crawl at the
Artemis POVThe hallway, awash in chaos, found a frozen representation of me. Uncertainty had reduced the strength of my insides. Even as the adrenaline rush of Aidan's protection fueled my very being, my very fear of what would follow stopped my feet in their tracks. There were louder voices now: anger and indignation intermingled. I found myself rushing Aidan, heart pounding away. As I took the turn, he stood toe to-toe with various men, their faces illustrating how morally intense and confrontational the situation was. "Get lost," Aidan growled, barely above a whisper. "Aidan, you can’t just turn your back on this," replied one of the men, sharp-edged. He was the tallest, wearing a dark suit that announced authority. "Hera has powerful connections, and you have to be careful." "Careful?" Aidan scoffed, his temper flaring. "You think I’m afraid of some empty threats? I’ll handle this my way." I edged closer and heard snippets of their dialogue, which made my spine crawl at the
Artemis POVThe night air was cool under my feet as I stepped outside the garden, and everything was cast under a silvery glow by the moon. I could not shake the unnerving feeling pressing at my heart since dinner. Aidan's father and his expectations were hovering like a dark cloud above us, and I felt like a puppet in their great play. There was some magnetism in Aidan that drew me toward him, something I could not quite put a finger on. I found Aidan leaning back against a marble pillar, the phone still clutching in his hand. The air was thick with tension as my heart fluttered at the thought of going up to him. Did he feel it too? "Aidan?" I softly called, stepping closer. His head rose, and those piercing green eyes locked with mine. For a moment, everything ceased to exist outside this sphere that encapsulated both of us in limbo and yearning."Artemis," he said, his voice low and sultry, making me shiver. "What are you doing out here?""I needed some air," I swallowed, hoping
Aidan POVThe night hung heavily as we drove back to my family's estate, enshrouded in tension. The showdown with Kane had jolted us, and I could feel the pall of uncertainty over Artemis. I glanced at her: her jaw was set in a determined line, though fear, I knew, lurked beneath the surface. "You okay?" I asked after I parked the car, breaking the silence. "Just trying to process everything," she answered, her voice steady, but her eyes were full of worry. "What do you think Kane meant? That we were in over our heads?""Don't know," I said, raking my fingers through my hair. "But we cannot allow him to scare us. We are stronger together, and we need to focus on Hera."As we stepped inside, it was like suffocation; the grand foyer resounded with the silence of empty echoes. I felt my father's wishes bearing down on me as his wildest expectations presented themselves. I had gone against him, and I was wise enough to know that my father would not bear it lightly.''Let's go talk to hi
Artemis POVI felt each whisper of conversation thrum through the room. Every eye seemed to be trained on me in anticipation of what would unfold next. I noticed that Aidan's jaw clenched, trying to gain control over his anxiety. Hera walked further forward into the party and her smile lit up the room like a bolt of electric tension.“Aidan, darling,” Hera said sweetly, slicing every air with her voice. “I didn’t expect to find you with someone who looks so… so… different from me.” Her eyes shot over to me, and as they did, the rush of anger and insecurity combined in me."Aidan, is this the woman you have chosen to be with? I only hope she understands what she is getting into," she continued mockingly.Aidan spoke with a low but firm voice, "Enough, Hera. You have no rights to be here.""Oh but I do," She moved closer. "See, I came here to remind everyone of that little agreement." She pulled out a document from her purse and waved it like a trophy. "This says you owe me, Aidan. And
Artemis POVI felt each whisper of conversation thrum through the room. Every eye seemed to be trained on me in anticipation of what would unfold next. I noticed that Aidan's jaw clenched, trying to gain control over his anxiety. Hera walked further forward into the party and her smile lit up the room like a bolt of electric tension.“Aidan, darling,” Hera said sweetly, slicing every air with her voice. “I didn’t expect to find you with someone who looks so… so… different from me.” Her eyes shot over to me, and as they did, the rush of anger and insecurity combined in me."Aidan, is this the woman you have chosen to be with? I only hope she understands what she is getting into," she continued mockingly.Aidan spoke with a low but firm voice, "Enough, Hera. You have no rights to be here.""Oh but I do," She moved closer. "See, I came here to remind everyone of that little agreement." She pulled out a document from her purse and waved it like a trophy. "This says you owe me, Aidan. And
Artemis POVThe next few days rolled into a blur of work calls, meetings, and strategizing: Aidan and I finally reached out to our closest friends, determined to spend anxiety-ridden hours seeking out enough people to build a network of support able to help us resist Hera's power. With every discussion, one more layer of the web unfolded before us, and, with the feeling of growing tension as we neared the time of confrontation, I could feel the strands beginning to coil tighter.One evening we had gathered in my apartment. The air buzzed with anticipation, and Aidan, Emily, and Ryan comprising the rest sat serious in the living room discussing what would be the next move with me."I know it's a risky affair," Aidan said in a very firm tone. "But we've got to confront Hera directly. If we let her decide the narrative, we'll never free ourselves from her dictation."Emily nodded with her brow knitted in thoughts. "But what if she tries to retaliate? She has connections in places that ca
Artemis POVNights like these trail, having turmoil and kept whispers that swung clouds around Aidan and me. Hera's oculus, I could feel her weight, and every time I spotted her, a shiver disturbed my bones."Are you alright?" Aidan asked, coming closer and lowering his voice."I am fine," I said while forcing a smile, "just trying to grapple with all of this."With his expression raining, he answered. "I know it's quite some taking in, but remember, we have each other."As the gala went on, I tried focusing on the talks we were having, but my mind would attach itself to the topic of threat on us, as Kane's echoed himself in me. Somehow, it all felt like we were walking on a tightrope, one misstep away from disaster."Let's get some air," Aidan said, finding my hand with his.I nodded, relieved to get a moment away from the crowd. Together we stepped out onto the balcony where the coolness of the night air felt revitalizing against my skin. The sounds coming from the gala disappeared