Aralissa snorted. “You can't be serious.”
“Excuse me?” Artemis shook her head before turning to Aralissa with an incredulous look.
Aralissa casually picked a piece of bark and tossed it to one side. “You're as stubborn as he is, you know.”
“I could punish you for speaking to me with such disrespect,” Artemis said, but her threat didn't have any fire behind it.
Aralissa grinned in response. “I know. I'll take my chances.”
Artemis blinked at the young woman's audacity. “Why are you here?”
“He made a mistake but he refuses to see it. He's in love with you.”
Artemis narrowed her eyes. “Jace? You're talking about Jace.”
Aralissa rolled her eyes. “Has anyone else expressed their love for you lately? Well, anyone who wasn't a power thirsty ass?”
Artemis shook her head. “Jace left. He could have waited but he didn’t. He doesn't love me. He was fulfilling his duty to me and I’m grateful for his help, but we cannot be.”
Aralissa tossed a piece of bark at Artemis. “Stop it.” She scrubbed her hands down her face, barely muffling her sound of frustration. “I thought it would be easier to get through to you but I didn't realize just how alike you two actually are.” She straddled the log so she could face the goddess. “He left because he loves you.”
“I still do not understand,” Artemis whispered. Her heart beat a wild pattern of hope and apprehension against her chest. “Have you spoken with him?”
Aralissa nodded. “He saw the way you reacted to Ares. The connection between siblings, especially twins, can be intimidating. Jace doesn't know what that's like; he has never felt that deep link to another person.”
“Ares is my brother,” Artemis said angrily. “My affections for Jace are completely different.”
Aralissa sighed. “But your loyalty lies deepest with your brother. Ares also came first in your life.”
“Have you spoken with him?”
Aralissa chuckled softly. “He came back alone, looking like a kicked pup. We've known each other since we were children.” She shrugged. “I'm making assumptions but I know him well enough to be confident in my words.”
Artemis stared at her feet in the grass. A ladybug crawled up one side of her toes and carefully made its way across. She held perfectly still as the insect walked across her skin. The tiny creature only paused when it had to reevaluate how to overcome an obstacle in its path. But it never gave up and never completely altered course.
She had been given the same choices.
If her future was with Jace, this moment of confusion and uncertainty was an obstacle too. She could give up, change course, or overcome.
She was Artemis, warrior goddess. She would fight for what she wanted.
And she wanted to be with Jace.
Artemis stood and pulled Aralissa into a sisterly embrace. “Thank you.”
Aralissa stepped back and flashed the goddess a large smile. “Go get him.”
Artemis spread her wings, and flew as fast and straight as an arrow from Ares bow to shake some sense into her soulmate.
Chapter 19
Jace picked up the final piece of glass and dropped it in a clay jar with the rest. The tinkling sound as they clinked together reminded him of the hole in his chest where his heart used to sit.
He'd almost turned and raced back to Artemis at least a dozen times on his trek home.
It's better this way. She can be with her brother. She would find a way to heal him and go back to her life as a goddess. She deserved better than a dryad in her life. She deserved power and security only another immortal could provide.
He hoped saying it often enough would make it more believable.
It didn't.
He put his head in his hands and breathed heavily around the lump in his throat. He'd never felt such loss before. A piece of his soul would forever lie within Artemis because of what they'd shared in the cave.
It's better this way, his mind repeated.
The door burst open and banged against the wall with a resounding thud causing the remaining jars to shake on their shelves. Jace spun around, prepared to fight. He assumed the Fury had come to finish him off.
Artemis stood there. She met his eyes as she lowered her foot from where she'd kicked. She pointed an angry finger directly at Jace. “You!”
He put his hands out and backed up as she stalked forward, finger still outstretched.
Her eyes were rimmed with irritation and her cheeks were blotchy with redness. “What is wrong with you?”
Jace opened and closed his mouth rapidly. “I… I'm sorry?” he stammered.
Artemis growled in frustration. “I left Ares and you were gone. I was alone. And now it feels like something inside of me is missing.”
Jace narrowed his eyes in confusion. “I...” he began again.
“Shut up!” Artemis barked. “It's your fault. I fell in love with you. When we made love, I must have transferred some of my immortal ability to you. I'm not at full god-strength without you around. It feels like my heart has been ripped out of my chest and it's your fault.”
“Oh, goddess,” he said as he took a step forward. “I didn't want to get between you and Ares.”
Her fist hit him in the chest. “You idiot. He has a life there. He's hidden and protected. My presence wouldn't make him safe; it would bring even more unwanted attention to the encampment. Besides, weren't you listening? I'm no help to anyone unless I have you with me.”
He caught her next punch and held on when she attempted to jerk from his grasp. He rubbed a thumb across her knuckles. “I was afraid. I thought it was easier to leave before I lost you.” He brushed his lips against her closed fist. “I was wrong.”
“You should kiss me now,” she demanded.
Jace laughed and pulled her body flush against his. “You don't mind being with a mere dryad?”
Artemis rolled her eyes. “I told you to kiss me, not question me.” She lunged forward to capture his mouth with hers. Her fingers tugged at his tunic until he pulled it off. She backed them toward the bed without breaking the contact between them.
At the last second, she spun and tossed Jace on the sheets. He yelped in surprise when she climbed up to straddle him as soon as he landed.
He ran his hands up her thighs to settle on her hips. “What made you come back?”
Artemis stripped the dress from her body and tossed it somewhere near the foot of the bed. “Aralissa came to see me.” She leaned down to kiss her way up his chest. “And a ladybug showed me the way.”
Jace wrinkled his nose in confusion but Artemis didn't waste any time taking his mind off of whatever he'd been about to ask.
Later, as they watched the sunset cast shadows along the wall, Jace ran his fingers through her silky hair. The sound of the fire crackling filled the small room. And, for the first time, Jace thought it sounded like a home. A soft rain began outside the window, washing the old away and nurturing fresh growth.
He pulled his goddess in closer and kissed her on the top of her head. She sighed and nestled her naked body against his until they were pressed together from head to toe.
Artemis tilted her head back to invite him into a kiss and whispered, “I love you.”
Epilogue
Artemis twitched her nose. She’d been napping in the sunshine when a tickling sensation brought her into the waking world. She squinted her eyes open and saw an abnormally large flower bent so the petals could brush her skin.
She smiled and turned her head to where her soulmate knelt with his fingers in the dirt. “Yes, love?”
Jace returned her grin. “Your daughter wants to practice her battle skills again.”
Artemis stretched as she stood. She raised a playful eyebrow. “Someone should tell her about her daddy’s battles against the minions of Zeus and let him train her.” She cupped a hand around her mouth and called out, “Catriona, I challenge you!”
A h
igh-pitched squeal split the air seconds before a young girl burst from the house. Her white-blonde hair was pulled into a braid that fell down her back. Her bare feet had recently started showing the beginnings of a dryad vine pattern. Jace had told Artemis the pattern was usually present at birth so he didn’t know if Catriona’s would spread like his.
The sound of a baby’s wail began inside. Catriona dropped her wooden sword and slapped her hands over her mouth. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to wake Baz!”
Jace blew a kiss and went in to calm his crying son.
Artemis scooped the girl into her arms and squeezed her in a tight embrace. “I know it was an accident Cat. Now, let’s work on your offense today.”
“I need my sword!” Catriona squirmed until her mother put her down. “A warrior never forgets her sword!”
Artemis picked up her own sword. “Never.”
Catriona immediately swished her small weapon in practiced attack patterns that Artemis parried easily.
“Again, but faster this time,” Artemis instructed.
Catriona’s cherub face squished in concentration as she repeated the motions again.
Artemis heard a baby giggle and put her hand up to pause the training. “I see someone decided to join us instead of finishing his nap.”
“He heard everyone out here having fun without him.” Jace bounced the dark-haired baby as he spoke.
Catriona put her sword down and rushed to her father’s side. She hugged his leg and he placed the arm that wasn’t holding her baby brother on her back.
Artemis put her hand over her heart and smiled as it pulsed with a feeling she could never go without again…
Love.
Dear Readers
Thank you for joining us on this epic journey of retelling the story of Artemis and Jace In The Veil of Vengeance. When we first thought up this concept, we wanted to use the rich world of Greek mythology, but reimagine a time when the old gods were banished and the new ones were trying not to repeat history. But, some things are destined.
Please stay with us because we have a lot more in store for you. Gods in love, gods at war, gods trying to find out who they are.
We plan on four books in this series with each story being around 30,000 words:
In the Veil of Chaos
In the Veil of Shadows
In the Veil of Vengeance
In the Veil of Ruin
But, we are open to more in this series and that is entirely dependent on you. If you are enjoying this series and want more—let us know! And the way we know this is through your reviews and feedback.
Authors live by word of mouth and recommendations, so if you love this series and want more—please tell us. You can leave a review on Amazon, tell your friends, shout our book, and then we’ll know you want us to continue.
The next book in the series, In the Veil of Ruin, is where the newly mortal God of War meets a Priestess of Peace. We hope you are really excited about it because it’s shaping up to be fantastic.
Acknowledgments
I’m so honored to be part of this series. I love Greek mythology and writing Artemis was a blast. I want to thank my husband for encouraging me when I wanted to quit. Your support, as always, is invaluable. Thank you to my unofficial street team: Sarah A, Virginia T, Amy H, Tally S, Lesley S, Kristen D, Olivia P, and Inez D.
About the Author
Kasondra is a military spouse (but she's not very good at it) and mom to 2 feral boys and some spoiled cats.
She enjoys reading pretty much anything she gets her hands on and has been known to read the back of cereal boxes in a pinch.
Don't take her too seriously. Well, unless she's being serious but you usually can't tell so good luck there.
You'll recognize nods to shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Supernatural in her books because she has an obsession (bordering on unhealthy) with them.
Stay to the lights, get the salt, and if the apocalypse comes...beep me.
If you enjoyed this story, be sure and check out “Dream Harvest” too! Come and find me on Facebook and don’t forget to leave reviews.
In the Veil of Vengeance Page 9