“And you had it lying around in my size?” I teased him, grinning.
Lucian shrugged. “Christmasiscoming up, and I figured that might be a useful addition to your wardrobe.”
He could say that again. “Thanks, Lucian. Really.”
Kleos pressed her lips to his, adding her gratitude to mine.
My smile dropped. He was right. I was going to need it.
I cleared my throat. “Listen, would you guys mind if I left Amavi with you for a little while soon?”
“Of course,” Kleos replied.
“It’s no hardship,” Lucian added. “She distracts that demon cat.”
“Are you going somewhere?” Kleos asked.
She knew I rarely went anywhere—not without her at least.
“Yes.” I bit my lower lip. “I need to go for a hunt.”
The couple exchanged a glance.
“Hunting what exactly?” Lucian asked first.
“I’m not sure. Apollo said any legendary beast will do.” I closed my eyes, repeating to myself that I was doing the right thing.
“You’re going to have to rewind a bit, smols,” Lucian said.
I was reluctant to tell Kleos, guessing that she’d have a hard time letting me do it alone. But I needed to.
Sensing my anxiety, Amavi stopped playing, bringing her large head to my lap, demanding a pat. I was more than happy to let her ground me.
I ran through everything Apollo told me, and concluded, “I don’t feel like Artemis. It’s just too weird. But Cas suggested I go on a hunt, and I think I should try.”
Kleos nodded. “Well, I’ll sleep better knowing you have access to divine magic.”
“We can take the hound, of course. But if you’re supposed to hunt like the goddess of old, don’t you think you should take her with you?” Lucian asked.
I looked at the puppy. Less than a week ago, she’d looked like a newborn. Now she acted young and playful certainly, but she looked fully grown. Still, I was reluctant to put the cheerful puppy in danger.
“I’ll decide after I’ve found a beast to hunt in the first place,” I decided. “Now what’s for dinner?”
28
SILVER
Gideon called an emergency meeting the next morning, although it was Saturday, and none of us were supposed to work.
I couldn’t blame him after the mess at the club on Thursday night. Paris wasn’t the only city where the cursed reserves wreaked havoc, which meant that the Guard had several nations demanding answers, begging for help, or shouting recriminations.
I made my way to the arena in a foul mood, due in no small part to the fact that for the first time this week, Cas didn’t wake me up with the smell of bacon and coffee in my kitchen. I half expected him to not bother showing up, but he was already in the conference room when I arrived, stroking the giant snake curled up on the table next to the map. To my annoyance, Amavi decided to ask him for a pat, the traitor.
Somehow, seeing him here annoyed me more. If he was fine, why hadn’t he made me breakfast?
I realized that the complaint made me sound incredible entitled, so didn’t voice it.
The room was busier than it had been on Monday: another team of protectors, two inquisitors I didn’t know, and five runners had joined us.
