The Struggle

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  looking into the name on the delivery truck, we grabbed food from the cafeteria. She wanted to go outside, and I had no problem with that. Who knew if the whole sitting in the sun thing was helping with the bands and the pregnancy, but it couldn’t hurt. There was at least an hour or so before the sun went down.

  I wanted to take her back to the island, but we wouldn’t have the blood results until tomorrow. Although Josie was fairly confident nothing was going to change in those results, she wanted to stay.

  Honestly, I think she missed everyone and wanted to be at the Covenant, and if that was what she wanted, then we’d be here. For now, she was probably safer here.

  But I’d have to go back in a couple of days to recharge. I wasn’t thinking about that. Kind of like pissing on your own parade right there.

  Carrying our trays outside, we walked to the courtyard, passing through the vine-covered gates. Josie led the way, heading past the benches. She roamed until she found a pretty large patch of grass, then sat down, placing her tray in front of her. I’d loaded her plate up. Fries. Chicken tenders. A salad, because she figured she should eat some sort of vegetable. A bottle of water and a soda. A side order of strawberries.

  The early evening sunlight glinted off her bowed head, turning all the shades in her hair into spun gold. Its length fell over her shoulder, brushing her thigh as she bent forward to pick up the can of soda.

  She lifted her chin. “You going to join me?”

  “I was thinking about just standing here and staring at you some more, to be honest.”

  She grinned as she popped the lid to her soda. “Well, that doesn’t make me uncomfortable or anything.”

  Laughing, I sat beside her. My plate just had a burger on it. I wasn’t hungry, obviously, but how could I pass up a burger? “I thought you liked it when I stared at you.”

  “Not when I’m about to stuff my face full of food.” She dug into the fries first. “It’s weird that I still have to eat as a demigod, but you really don’t have to eat as a god.”

  “I don’t make the rules,” I murmured, hoping she didn’t connect the dots back to the fact I did have to feed. “Have you been sick at all today?”

  She shook her head. “Just nauseous this morning. I’m kind of surprised I’m having symptoms already. I hope that doesn’t mean I’m going to spend nine months puking my guts up.”

  My eyes widened as I picked up the burger. “You and me both.”

  “I also have no idea if I’ll be pregnant for a full nine months.”

  That reminded me. “By the way, Alex told Aiden.”

  Her lips twitched. “Of course she did.”

  “You’re not mad?”

  She shook her head and then took a drink. “Aiden’s the love of her life. I doubt there’s a single thing they don’t share. People are going to find out eventually. I just didn’t want him to find out before I told you.”

  I smiled at that. “We should keep the news to people we really trust. We don’t need the news getting out there to those we don’t want to find out.”

  Josie nodded in agreement as she moved on to the tenders, dipping the crispy pieces into ranch dressing.

  “Anyway, I think Alex is going to be searching for books on pregnancy. She wants to know if we’re having a god or not.”

  Her hand froze halfway to her mouth. “Those are some words I never thought I’d hear before.”

  I chuckled as I glanced over at her. Her levels of aether were still low and the lights flickered. Was it the bands or the baby? Speaking of the bands, where in the hell was Apollo?

  And what in the hell would he do when he found out Josie was pregnant?

  That should be interesting.

  Sensing an approach, I glanced up to the gate. “We’re about to get company.”

  A few seconds later, Alex and Aiden entered the courtyard, and right behind them were Luke and Deacon.

  “We’d figured you be out here,” Alex said, carrying a small paper bag. As she came closer, I could smell the buttery popcorn. “So, we’re interrupting you.”

  “We’re not just bothering you,” Deacon said. “I’ve got—”

  Catching his gaze, I shook my head. If they were out here, that meant they’d found out something about the warehouse. I didn’t want it brought up in front of Josie. I didn’t want her to know, because I fully planned on taking care of business without her knowing.

  She’d be pissed.

  But a safe and angry Josie was better than an in-danger one, because even though she had the bands on her wrists, she would want to be involved since it had to do with this bound demigod. She’d forgot our deal and I’d rather have her yell at me afterward than before.

  I also didn’t want her to worry, because she would. She knew that, if we found Mitchell, it was likely we’d find a Titan. Hell, the damn bastards could just be waiting for us to figure out where Josie had been held.

  Luckily Deacon caught my stare and clamped his mouth shut. I glanced over at Aiden, and he seemed to read the silent message I was sending his way.

  “You’ve got what?” Josie asked.

  “I’ve got a . . . a story to tell you?” Deacon said, his brows lifted high.

  Luke frowned.

  “You do?” she asked. “About what?”

  “About, um . . . Well, did you know that the guy who played John Winchester who was on Supernatural is now on The Walking Dead and he plays this guy who pretty much bashes people’s heads in with a bat? Sam and Dean must be so proud of their dad.”

  Josie blinked slowly. “I . . . I didn’t know that.”

  “Yep.” Deacon dropped down beside her. “Maggie used to be on Supernatural too.”

  I didn’t quite know if that was a good save or not, but hell, whatever worked.

  “Where’s Gable?” Josie asked, picking up another fry. “Is he with Cora?”

  Deacon stretched out his lanky frame as Luke sat on the nearby bench. “Yeah. Colin’s with them too.”

  “How’s she doing?” she asked.

  “Better every hour,” Luke answered, leaning back as he crossed his arms. “We still have that other demigod to find.”

  “That one’s in Britain, right?” Aiden sat down next to Luke, and I guessed no one was leaving anytime soon. “The haunted town.”

  “Gasp!” Deacon waved his hands. “You actually remembered that?”

  “How could anyone forget?” Alex sat in Aiden’s lap. “It’s all you talked about the whole drive back to the Covenant.”

  “Dude, who wouldn’t be excited?” he exclaimed, shaking his head. “It’s an entire town that’s supposedly haunted. Like, if I’m not scared to death when I go there, I’m going to be disappointed.”

  “Who said you were going there?” Aiden asked, wrapping his arms around Alex’s waist.

  Deacon groaned. “Can we not have this conversation again? I’m going to get the other demigod before they get . . .”

  I looked over at Alex. She kept glancing at Josie like she was seconds away from bursting into a torrent of questions. I was surprised she hadn’t blurted anything out yet. Though I figured Deacon and Luke would discover what was going on.

  Tuning them out, I focused on Josie. She was looking at the roses with a strange, almost perplexed look. I nudged her shoulder. She glanced over at me. “What you thinking about?”

  She smiled as she ducked her chin. “Nothing. I just . . . I was dazing.”

  I looked down and willed her plate closer to her. “You should eat more.”

  “Look at you, being all godly and not even touching the plate,” she said.

  Chuckling, I leaned into her. “Just imagine how creative I can—”

  A fissure of energy rolled across the courtyard, rising the fine hairs on my arms. Everyone felt it. Grabbing Josie’s arm, I launched to my feet as ancient, bronze-colored doors appeared just in front of the gateway. Runes were carved into the metal—runes and symbols that represented the Underworld.

  “Wha
t the . . . ?” Aiden was already on his feet, as were Alex and Luke.

  I stepped in front of Josie as the doors opened, prepared for anything to come through those doors.

  Mist rolled out, creeping over the grass and roses. Then a form appeared, and as the heavy mist retracted a blond boy I hadn’t seen in a long, long time strolled forward.

  That I was not prepared for.

  Stunned, I dropped Josie’s arm. What in the world?

  “Caleb!” Alex shrieked, causing Josie to jump. “What are you doing here?”

  He grinned in her direction. “Long story, but first, there’s something I’m here to do.” His bright blues eyes focused on us. “Something really important.”

  Gods, he looked like the last time I’d seen him alive, all messy hair and a big smile. He started toward us, and out of instinct I blocked Josie.

  Caleb’s smile spread, reaching his eyes. “I’m here because of Apollo.”

  “What?” Alex whispered in a thick voice.

  “Let me see her,” Caleb asked. “I can help her.”

  There was a part of me that didn’t trust him—trust anyone when it came to Josie’s safety, but that damn girl had stepped around me. I looked down as Caleb reached over and took Josie’s hands in his.

  “Hi there,” Caleb said, turning her hands so they were palms up. “It’s time, don’t you think?”

  “Time for what?” she asked, that strange look settling into her features again.

  Caleb smiled, and Josie gasped. My heart about fucking stopped in my chest.

  “Oh my gods,” Josie said, pulling her hands free as she stumbled back.

  Spinning, I reached out and wrapped an arm around her. Blood drained from her face as she stared at Caleb like she’d seen a ghost. But that was impossible, because Josie had never met Caleb.

  He’d died before we met her.

  “I’ve seen you before,” she whispered.

  I swung toward Caleb. His brows were pinched together. “Sorry.” He looked over at Alex. “But we’ve never met before, and I just need to ho—”

  “But we have,” Josie insisted, lifting her startled gaze to mine. “I’ve seen him before—I’ve seen this in a dream. Oh my gods, I get it. It wasn’t a dream. None of the dreams have been dreams.”

  “What?” I clasped her cheeks, confused as all hell. “What are you saying?”

  Josie then did the damnedest thing, considering she was so pale. She smiled—smiled wildly. “I am special.”

  “Um, yeah . . . yeah you are.” I was starting to get worried.

  Alex shifted closer to Caleb. “What is she talking about?”

  “I have no idea,” Caleb said.

  “You don’t get it.” She gripped my wrists. “Some of the dreams I’ve had—they weren’t dreams. They’re prophecies.”

  Chapter 33

  Josie

  Holy crap, I was special!

  I just hadn’t known it.

  Well, I wasn’t as special as Cora, who could bring plants back to life, and tell when someone was sick or pregnant, but I had been having prophecies. And it made sense. My absentee father was the god of prophecy among many other things.

  “Josie, what are you talking about?” Seth’s amber’s eyes were full of concern.

  “I saw this—I saw him coming to me in a dream. Just like I saw Atlas, but didn’t realize it was him,” I explained, slipping free of Seth’s gentle grasp. “Every time, right before and after I’d have those dreams, I’d get headaches. Remember the headaches?”

  “Yeah, I remember them.” Seth dropped his hands to his sides.

  I whirled around. Everyone was staring at me like I’d grown a third boob out of the center of my forehead, and no one seemed to care about the gaping doors that appeared out of nowhere—doors to the Underworld that were still wide open.

  “I saw you!” I said to the boy who had to be a year or so younger than me. “You walked up and took my hands. And you—” I faced Alex. Her cheeks were damp. “You were crying in my dream.”

  “I’m so damn emotional,” Alex said, wiping at her cheeks. It was then I remembered who this boy was. Deacon had told me about him—about Alex’s friend who’d died in a daimon attack. Caleb. “It’s just different seeing him up here.”

  Spinning back to Seth, I threw up my hands. “I know this sounds crazy, but I’m positive that’s what’s happening. If only my . . .” I trailed off, lowering my arms. If only my father was around to fill in the blanks, but this boy had said his name. Turning away, I faced him. “You said my father sent you?”

  “Yeah,” Caleb responded. “He’s been in the palace—Hades’s palace, and let me tell you, those two threw down like cray.”

  Seth was by my side. “Is that so?”

  “Yep. Like, it was so bad that Persephone threatened to leave if Hades didn’t agree to whatever Apollo had demanded, and I don’t know, but that screws up the seasons or something,” Caleb explained. “And then I was summoned to the palace.”

  “Why did they summon you?” Alex asked the question that was obviously at the forefront of everyone’s mind.

  “He figured that, since I was already dead, Seth couldn’t really kill me.” Caleb shrugged as my jaw popped open. “I think it’s also because Seth wouldn’t want to hurt me, right?”

  “Right,” murmured Seth.

  Deacon was standing. “Damn, it’s good to see you. Really is, but why would they send you up here?”

  “Because none of the gods will come near me,” Seth answered rather smugly.

  “Bingo,” Caleb agreed. “So they got this idea to send me up to take off those things—those bands on your wrists.”

  Now what he’d said in the dream—in the prophecy—and a few moments ago made sense. “You . . . you can remove them?”

  Caleb extended his hands again. “That’s what they tell me.”

  I started forward, but Seth stopped me. “Wait. How do we know that this isn’t a trick?” he demanded. “No offense, Caleb, but they could be using you without you even knowing.”

  “Do you really think that?” Alex asked, sounding stunned. “That Apollo would use Caleb to harm his own daughter?”

  “Damn,” Luke muttered. “That would be beyond messed up.”

  Pressure expanded in my chest as I looked over at Seth. “He wouldn’t.”

  His jaw hardened as he stared down Caleb. “How do you remove the bands?”

  “I just need to touch him,” Caleb explained. “See, Hades had placed his hand on my head and said some weird, magical mumbo-jumbo. Told me that all I needed to do was take her hands and move my fingers over the bands. They’d unhook.”

  “And that’s all?” Seth demanded.

  I really couldn’t believe Apollo would agree to anything that would harm me. Granted, I wanted to drop-kick him, but he was my father. He’d weakened himself to unbind my powers.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Seth said in that freaky way that made you think that he was reading your thoughts. “It’s not Apollo I’m worried about. It’s Hades. There’s always a catch with him.”

  “Well, there is a catch,” Caleb said.

  I stiffened. “What do you mean?”

  Caleb glanced at Seth with a sheepish grin. “Hades wants me to put the bands on you.”

  “What?” I gasped.

  “Oh shit,” Luke said under his breath as Alex stepped forward.