Artemis POV The aroma of roasted meat filled the air. The small alone filled my stomach, and I let out a beautiful smile. I was so happy I was finally going to have some good food to eat, even if it was not the best at the moment, but it was okay. I sat up, my eyes fixed on the roasting meat. “You're a lifesaver, Daymon.” I smiled at him, and he smiled back. Immediately after the meat was done, he handed some portions to me and took some for himself. We eat in silence, enjoying the warmth And nourishment. After we finished eating, I let out a satisfied sigh. “That you, Daymon.” I appreciated him again and again. Daymon smiled “ Anytime Artemis, we have to stay strong and keep our strength” I nodded in agreement to what Daymon said In all the days I have known Daymon, I have never gotten a clear vision of him. He looked up, admiring the huge tree in which we were enjoying its shade; I got to see Daymon well. “He is handsome,” I said in my mind. I never thought Daymon was
Artemis POV. “Daymon” I tapped him gently on the shoulder. “ Daymon” I tapped him the second time before he flung his eyes open. “Yes, Artemis,” he replied, trying to compose himself. “I need you to go inside and sleep,” I said to him, pointing to the cabin entrance. “And please, don't argue with this time around” Without arguing like I asked him not to, he went straight to the cabin for some rest. Still watching the beautiful sky, I decided to go look around since I had not done that since we got to the forest. I began exploring the surrounding areas, and I saw different things which I had never seen before. I saw different beautiful wildflowers which looked amazing to me but might be dangerous. As I was looking around, I saw a big pear tree which was not that tall but wide. I saw it as an opportunity to pluck one of them for us to eat in the evening. I looked around for a big stick to pluck some of the fruits. They looked so juicy and refreshing. I made sure I plugged enoug
Artemis POV As we sat down at our favorite spot to enjoy the fruits, Daymon offered to bring the leftover meat for us to peer with it. “So what happened when you went outside without me?” Daymon asked, walking towards me with the wrap he was holding. “A Lot happened to be honest,” I answered, eager to share my experience. “Really!” Daymon sat down beside me and handed the some piece of meat to me. At first, I hesitated to reveal the part where I saw the snake but it is part of the main thing that happened. “I saw a snake” I revealed. Just saying it makes it feel creepy. “Damn!!” Daymon exclaimed. “Are you okay?” His expression turned serious. “Yeah, I'm,” I replied. “I have always known you to be a strong woman; if it were to be other ladies, they would rather just faint on the spot.” Daymon made instances of some he knows. I love that Daymon was praising so I didn't bother telling him I was afraid and also almost fainted like the other women. “You remember the saying th
Artemis POV It's a beautiful morning, the chirping sound of the birds woke me up. I looked to the side and saw Daymon still sleeping like a baby. He is looking so peaceful and handsome as ever. I moved closer to her for me to enjoy the beautiful view before me, Daymon. I was almost tempted to touch him when he woke up from his sleep. I quickly withdrew my hand and behaved like I wanted to take something from beside him. “Good morning” Daymon greeted with a gentle and calm morning voice. “Good morning,” I greeted back. “Hope you slept well?” I asked. “Yes, I did,” he replied. “Why are you up so early?” He asked. “The loud sound of the chirping birds woke me up” I answered. “Oh, I see.” He nodded in satisfaction. “The last time I checked, I'm the early morning riser here”. “Are you trying to make jest of me now or indirectly calling me a lazy woman?” I said jokingly. We both laughed and Daymon stood up to go get some water from the stream for the day. I was already getting t
Artemis POV As I lay down, I felt so weak and concerned. I hate that I have to stress Daymon and make him do all sorts of things just for me to survive. Before long, Daymon came back to the cabin with hands full of herbs and began preparing it immediately. His move was so swift and precise. He looked so stressed and tired too. I hate myself for stressing this handsome before me; he still looks handsome anyway. “But really, Daymon you don't need to do it all…”I started to say. “I want to, Artemis, I want to,” he cut me short. “If not because of anything, but because of my boss,” Daymon added. I watched him prepare the herbs in silence and in no time, I slept off. “Artemis, can you sit up for a few minutes?” I heard a voice say from my sleep. I felt so weak and reluctant, but I just had to get up from my sleep. “Yes,” I rubbed my sleepy eyes. “The herb is ready, and I brought you something to eat too,” Daymon said. “You need to eat something before taking the herbs”. “Thank y
Daymon's pov Experience is the best teacher, they say; I have learned a lot just by staying in this hidden forest, doing things I never imagined I would ever do even if I'm the wretched person in the world. I Look at Artemis sitting beside me and waiting patiently for the meat to be ready like she has no other worries other than the meal she was waiting for. My eyes drifted away from the roasting meat to her long pretty legs. They looked so good even though she had had her bath for some time now. I felt the urge to touch them, feel them, and run my hands through that smooth, milky skin of hers. I began to imagine a series of nasty things I wished I could do to her, but I couldn't. “Get yourself together, dude, she is your boss's woman.” My brain brought me back to my right Sense. I went ahead to check the roasting to help me take my mind off the crazy things I was thinking. “I can't wait to devour this thing because I'm so famished; the herb took away the one I ate earlier,” Art
Daymon's POV I was seated on a small hill beside the cabin, thinking of what happened between me and Artemis; I still couldn't find a way around it. I don't want to ever find myself in a situation where I will betray the Almighty Aiden if I don't want to get punished for it. Still lost in my thoughts, I heard the sound of someone's footsteps approaching me; I was more than sure it was Artemis. “Why can't you love?” I heard her say from behind me. I couldn't even bring myself to look back at her. Did I just hear her ask why I can't leave her? It might be a slip of the tongue, or I probably didn't hear her well. “Why are you finding it difficult to love me back?” She asked again. “Is it a crime to love you?” Then I heard her well the first time and clearer the second time. I stood up and faced her, trying to understand her facial expression to know if she was serious or joking., She was looking damn serious. “I don't understand Artemis?” I asked her, my hands in my pockets. “Ar
Daymon's Pov I finally got myself to sleep after minutes of struggling with sleep because Artemis was my greatest temptation. Artemis, on the other hand, slept like a baby, not waking up for even a minute during her sleep. I was the first to wake up from sleep because I wasn't feeling as comfortable as I used to feel. I woke up to see Artemis's body exposed. The cloth which she used to cover herself was no longer on her body. Just the sight of her body alone without touching has made him wet and gave him an erection. I stood still, admiring the Wonder beautiful creature before me when I heard her make a soft sound from her sleep. I quickly looked away to the other side of the room, thinking she was awake, but she wasn't. I looked at her again; this time around, her body was more exposed due to the way she stretched, and I could get a clearer view of her body. I took my eyes off her body and left the cabin to tidy outside of the cabin since it was looking so unkempt and I nee
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