A crack of thunder in the distance is the perfect accompaniment to my mood. My hands are glowing like crazy, like I’ve turned into a flashlight. The shine is so strong that my bow is reflecting it like a mirror. “What did you say, Alex?”
For the first time, he looks uneasy. “Not the way he wants you to believe anyway. Sure, hundreds of portals pop open and close all the time—the path to the Other isn’t ever really closed—but that doesn’t mean you’ll actually find one. Not now. Not when you’re in the middle of your story.”
I pull the bowstring back. “My what?”
“Archer—Alex. Stop it. She’s not—”
The expression that twists Alex’s handsome features is one of disgust. He spares one pointed glare for Hunter before dismissing him entirely. “She’s not what? Ready for the truth? Your precious Noelle might not be. Artemis needs to know what’s happening. My sister needs to know—”
“I’m not your sister,” I snap. I don’t care what he believes, or how much his touch and his ridiculous insistence affected me.
He pretends not to hear me. Again. “Listen to me. We all have our part to play in the Other. You think your life is your own? Hardly. You’ve come here for a reason, just like the rest of us. You’re Artemis reborn. Reincarnated to re-live one of your myths, your stories. It’s the magic here. The price we pay for it. You can’t escape it. You can only accept it.
“When your story is over, you can go home. You’ll get a portal back to the other side. It’s that simple.”
Simple? Right. That’s the last word I’d use to describe any of this. But you know what?
I’m done.
I’m so fucking done.
I mean, Jesus, I still have scorpion guts in my hair. I’m squeezing the life out of a magic bow while glowing like a nightlight. Alex—who I absolutely refuse to believe is any brother of mine—says I have to act out some stupid story to go home? Fine. I’m over it. Whatever I have to do, I’ll do it, so long as it’s my ticket out of here.
“How do I do that?” I swivel, aiming right at Alex. “What kind of messed up story is this?”
His grin returns, cocky and sure. I want to slap it off his face. “Sorry. You’re asking the wrong guy.” He jerks his head over at Hunter. “He’ll know. In one way or another, Artemis and—” A barely smothered chuckle. “—Ryan are always linked together.”
I turn back to Hunter, moving the point of my arrow with me. His gaze follows the track of the bow stoically before he frowns and, with his healed arm, reaches up behind him.
Hell, no. “If you put that hood back on, I swear to God, I’ll shoot you twice.”
His hands fall to his side, the flat of his sword slapping into the meat of his muscular thigh. “I can’t.” His voice is soft, full of remorse, and I can tell there’s no way he’s going to give in. “I can’t tell you, Noelle, not now. I can’t risk changing the way the story plays out.”
I feel like I’m the one who’s been hit. Hunter… he didn’t deny it. Which means one thing and one thing only: he’s known the truth all along and he never told me.
He knew I was Artemis and never pushed it. He knew there was a catch to me going home and he never filled me in. He knew we were in this together—linked together—and he let me go on thinking he was only helping me out of the kindness of his heart.
Bullshit! It was all bullshit!
“Lies.” My voice is weirdly deep all of a sudden, but the long drawn out hiss on the “s” is even creepier. I can’t stop it, though. “Lies, lies and more lies. Enough! A shot from my bow is more than you deserve, you swine. I should curse you for your betrayal!”
I’m shouting. My furious words echo all around me, the vicious cry scaring me nearly as much as the words I’m saying because they’re not my words. I… I don’t talk like that. I don’t know what I’m saying.
And I’m suddenly really, really freaked out.
The arrow drops to the ground, its fall muffled against the trampled grass at my feet. I toss the bow right after it. I don’t want them. Because, at that moment, I really do think I might have shot them both—and it wouldn’t be my decision.
And that scares me more than anything else that’s happened to me since falling through that mirror.
17
Alex sniffs, then leans into Hunter. “She wouldn’t have shot me. But you…” With an easy shrug, he admits, “I would’ve.”
“Ya did,” snarls Hunter.
“Don’t whine. We already know you’re healed.”
“Why, you—”
“Shut up. Both of you, just shut up.”
Without the threat of my bow, Alex decides to challenge me. He takes a step closer. “Maybe the huntsman is right.” And another. “Maybe it was too soon. It’s still true, Artemis. All of it.”
I back away, knowing that it’s a retreat and hating that a part of me sees that as weakness. The huntress never retreats.
But Noelle St. James is no huntress. She’s an admin from New Jersey who wants nothing more than to go home.
So that’s what I’m going to do.
I still have the reassuring weight of my knife against my hip. I think for one second about throwing the cloak down by the bow, maybe adding the enchanted quiver to the pile. Shaking my head, I leave them where they are. It’s not worth the extra flounce.
Without another word, I turn my back on Alex. On Hunter. I can’t spend another minute here with them, not when my head is spinning, my hands are glowing, and there’s a sudden personality switch that tells me that I might not be alone in my head.
I’ll figure this whole Artemis-whatsit mess out when I’m home in bed, curled up with Dudley. Not now. Not here.
I start to walk away.
I feel like an idiot. I was so, so stupid to trust him. All along I actually believed he was going to help me find a portal and get back to New Jersey. My mom always told me there’s a price for everything. I’ve gone my whole life making sure I’d be able to pay. And to think I forgot that lesson for even a second? Stupid, Noelle. What a fool.
I don’t know who I’m more disappointed in: Hunter for tricking me, Alex for exposing his deceit, or me for falling for it.
No matter. When I find my own portal and put this place in my rearview, it won’t matter one bit.
“Noelle, don't.” Hunter’s voice is a desperate plea calling behind me. “I'm sorry, darlin’, so damn sorry. But he’s right. We’re in this together. You can’t go.”
I refuse to respond. He’s sorry? Well, I'm so fucking angry, I’ll shoot him if I stay.
A rustle of leaves. A murmur that’s probably Alex goading Hunter some more. I refuse to stop or turn around, not even when Hunter says softly, “Please, Noelle. Don't leave me on my own again.”
His soft plea damn near breaks my heart. I recognize the loneliness. It’s the same way I begged my mom not to go before she died. Desperation mixed with resignation. It hits me then that his “help”, his friggin’ charity was never about me. If I believe Alex—and I… I can’t—then Hunter’s been waiting for me to fill some role I’ll never be cut out for.
He might have said Noelle. I know he means Artemis.
At first, I keep my back to him. “I always meant to leave. I’ve been dying to go. You know that.” Then, because it’s important that I see his expression, I face him again. “Were you ever going to let me? Or was it just about your stupid story?”
I hate that he’s so good at hiding his emotions. Sure, he’s frowning, and his jaw is tight, but he’s looked upset and kind of constipated ever since he returned to the clearing and discovered Alex there.
I put my hands on my hips. “Well?”
“It’s not that easy—”
“Make it easy.”
“You know what I could go for right now?” asks Alex. “Some popcorn. It’s hard to get good popcorn in the Other.”
I spare a quick glare over at Alex. He has relaxed his position, standing further back as he crosses his arms over his che
st. An amused spectator, that’s what he is. I have the sudden urge to pick up a rock and throw it at him.
He waves one of his hands regally in Hunter’s direction. “Sorry to interrupt. I wouldn’t want the huntsman to get away without answering your question.”
As if I needed a reminder. Forgetting about the instigator, I scowl at Hunter. “So?”
“I swear, I’ll take you to a portal—but not before it’s time to. You’re not supposed to go yet. Now that you’re back, I can’t let you go until the story’s over. I won’t be abandoned again. I can’t. The story must have its ending.”
Alex perks up. “A tragedy?”
Hunter’s eyes flash a warning. “Not this time.”
My hands close into fists at my side. I can’t let either or them think I’m just gonna stand her and accept that this is my lot without a friggin’ fight first.
Bad Ass Noelle’s rasp is back. “You can’t keep me here.”
Talk about déjà vu. This is the first night we met all over again. Except, this time, he can’t con me into following him with the promise of food. It wouldn’t work. My nausea is almost out of control. I don’t know if I’m ever going to want to eat again.
It’s not guilt, I assure myself. And I’m not panicking.
Bad bacon, maybe.
Or, perhaps, the discovery that I’m supposedly the reincarnation of a goddess and, if I won’t let her hijack my life and act out some stupid story, I could be stuck here in the Other.
Permanently.
No. I refuse to believe that. All I need is a portal. Alex even said they pop up all the time. So what if it’s not mine? I’m not above hi-jacking someone else’s trip the hell out of here. The longer I stay, the more I feel like I’m not myself, and that is not okay. If I’m not careful, I might start to buy into all of this baloney.
I loosen my fists, holding up my hands palm out so that I’m warding him off. Though he hasn’t moved to follow me, Hunter looms in the distance. I’m suddenly super aware of his giant size. He’s a big man whose pinched expression looks like I’m trying to take away his favorite toy and he’s doing everything he can not to reach out and snatch it back.
Only I’m the toy. And, damn it, I really thought I might have trusted him.
Yeah. Not anymore.
“Look,” I say, trying to reason with him, “I’m not who you think I am. I don’t belong here. And, Hunter? It’s not my fault that you’ve been left behind before, or your stupid story doesn’t have a happy ending. You can’t blame me for that.”
“You’re the only one who’s ever gone and left me alone.” His accent is gone. His voice is filled with a rich timbre that makes my belly quiver. Stay strong, Noelle. “Don’t do it again. It’ll be different this time. Honest.”
Honest.
I grit my teeth.
“Save your words, huntsman. This Artemis won’t fall for it.” Alex’s chuckle rubs me raw. “Look. Even now she’s slipping through your grasp.”
I shiver, then roll my heavy head on my neck to shake the reaction. Why do I get the feeling that he’s… happy to be right?
I realize that if I stay here, arguing with either of them, then they both win. I can’t let them get me drawn in by stories or questions or promises that don’t mean anything. I’ve already wasted so much time.
How many nights would I have let Hunter talk me into waiting for the right moment to search for the portal? He always has an excuse and I always let him get away with it. I don’t even want to imagine the disaster Dud is turning my condo into.
I have to get out of here.
Turning away from them, I'm ready to storm off again when I'm forced to come to a sudden stop. My path is blocked.
I gape.
Holy. Shit.
It this for real?
There’s a… a deer—no, a big buck blocking my path, its head angled down at me as if it’s been waiting a while for me to notice him.
I mean, he’s absolutely magnificent. I’ll give him that. At least four feet tall with an impressive rack of antlers that span half that, his tawny fur shines in the sunlight. Intelligence gleams in an eye so round and shiny, it reminds me of a black marble.
With a shuffle and a snort, he nods his head and moves in place. I get the distinct impression that he's inviting me closer.
Oh, great. Now I’m beginning to believe that I can talk to animals. Call me Dr. Dolittle because I’m buying what this buck is selling. Because if it comes down to the majestic creature in front of me or the pair of jackasses hovering behind? I’m immediately reminded of Alex's cocky grin and Hunter’s guilty frown.
The buck blinks slowly at me.
Yeah. No contest.
Without breaking eye contact, I slowly shrug the quiver over my head and off my shoulder, letting it drop. I remove the cloak from around my throat. The leather pools at my feet. Stepping away from it, I notice the silver glint of the sandal straps. Those, I’m keeping. They’re mine now. Mainly because I still have no clue how to get them off without cutting the straps.
My plan was to take Hunter’s cloak with me. In that instant, I change my mind. I don’t care how nippy it’ll get tonight. He can have it. I’m good.
“Stay here,” I murmur to the buck. Maybe he really can understand me because he doesn’t move as I back up.
Whoa.
The bag Alex tossed at me earlier is lying on its side in the grass, forgotten. I almost forgot about it myself until I caught a glimpse of my dirty nightgown. Fresh clothes. That’s what Alex promised me. I probably shouldn’t take anything from him.
I do, anyway.
I loop the bag around my wrist and, careful not to look at Hunter or Alex, I go back to the buck. When he lowers his head and bends his forelegs, I don’t question it. He’s offering me a ride. I’m shaken up enough not to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Deer.
Whatever.
There’s no saddle, of course, not that a suburbanite like me would know what to do with a friggin’ saddle. Good thing I’m tiny because I just manage to make this work. Once I’m seated as comfortably as I’m gonna get, I pat the buck between his massive rack of antlers. He responds like it’s the signal I mean for it to be, taking off like a shot, loping past the two guys.
“Noelle!”
Hunter. My hair is whipping around my face and I almost fall off the buck when I glance to look behind me. He’s already sprinting after us.
“Don’t follow me,” I yell out, then swivel back so that I can hold onto my ride. I reach out, gripping his antlers because I need to pretend like they’re a steering wheel.
Phew. Bad idea. With my arms stretched out in front of me, I get a whiff of my pits. Yeah, so my deodorant definitely wore off a while ago. My hair stinks like smoke and leather. I’m in dire need of a bath.
Hmm.
I nudge the buck with my knees. Why not? “Hey, um, Bambi? Do you think you could find me a river or a lake or something like that?”
There’s got to be running water around here somewhere. Hunter would have filled up his tub if I let him, and I did get to splash my face last night. Animals—even friendly, mystical bucks—need to drink.
Impossible as it seems, the buck jerks his head and veers to the left, obviously changing direction. Did that… did that really work? Holy shit, I’m talking to a deer.
Even more amazing?
He’s listening!
When did my life turn into a Disney movie? I swear to god, if I break into song, I’m gonna hunt Alex down, stand in front of him, and let him try again with his arrow. I mean, a girl has got to have her limits.
Right?
18
Hunter
“She’s magnificent.”
Tearing my eyes from the buck as it speeds off in the distance, I immediately reach for the sword at my side. She warned me not to follow her. She didn’t say anything about keeping her brother in one piece.
Noelle is magnificent. And I’m the only one allowed to appr
eciate her out loud.
Fate’s aligned so that, this time, Artemis is mine. So she came in the package of a five-foot firecracker with midnight hair and a form that would tempt a saint to sin? Just means that Noelle is mine, too.
In one fluid motion, I unsheathe my sword. My arm works just fine, not even a lingering twinge from his shot. I blame the archer for that, too. Not the injury, though that hurt like hell when he stuck me, but our fast healing meant the pain was gone by the time her soft, little hands were done bandaging me.
No, I’m more stung by the betrayal in her wounded eyes when she realized I hadn’t been truthful with her.
I’ll feel the pain from that one look for far longer. And it’s all his fault.
The archer scoffs as I raise my sword. “Put that away, Huntsman. You know that’s not what I mean. These stories are twisted, and I don’t mind a little kink myself, but there’s only a pure love between my sister and me.”
“Doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate my Noelle.” You’d have to be blind not to. “Leave her be. You’ve done enough damage.”
His eyebrows quirk at my possessiveness. I don’t care. She’s got me thinking, and she’s right. I know deep in my soul that she’s Artemis returned. There’s still that spark, that fire that makes her different, though, and the way she reigns in Artemis’s fury is amazing to see.
The Artemis I’ve known through the millennia would’ve taken the shot. Noelle, bless her, she stayed her hand.
Which means I still have a chance.
“Damage?” echoes the archer. “By telling her the truth?”
I scowl. “You’ve got no role to play in this tale, Archer. You’ve already stuck your nose into our story too much.”
“Don’t tell me you’re still mad about a little arrow wound? You healed.”
“You shot at Noelle.”
“Please. We both know who I was trying to hit. And you should be glad I did.”
“Really?” I’d love to hear this one. “And why’s that?”
Reaching up, the archer fiddles with the golden torque around his throat until it’s sitting just so. “Simple. She would’ve taken the first portal mirrorside that she found. But, look at you. Hero. Taking an arrow in the back so she didn’t? How could she leave us now? I gave her a reason to stay.”
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