I had two days. Frankly, my wound was all closed up, and not even all that sore by now unless I tightened my muscles, but I decided I could take the time to try that whole hunting business.
The next time we faced a threat, I wanted to be prepared, useful, not a sack of potatoes Cas had to throw over his shoulders.
I made my way down to the library in the archives.
“Isn’t this a lovely surprised?” I recognized the librarian smiling at me.
She’d been one of Kleos’s mentors over the last year. Regrettably, her name escaped me.
“Yeah, this isn’t really my scene without Kleos,” I admitted, waving to the tall stacks of dusty books.
“Yet here you are, which I suppose means you’re in need of research material. May I be of assistance?”
I nodded. “I need books on, erm—” It felt awkward as fuck to voice it. “Artemis’s hunts. If there are any.”
Her eyes widened. “The hunts. Interesting. Well, it’s not truly a matter many books have lingered on, but I can think of a few.”
Two hours later, practically hidden behind a pile of old volumes, I walked to my place, itching to text Kleos to beg for her help. At least a couple were in Greek. It looked like I was going to have plenty of work to do this weekend.
I frowned when my door swung when I lowered the handle, without having to use my key, but the smell of cheese and—unless I was mistaken—seafood, cleared up my confusion.
Him.
Amavi hopped inside, tail wagging high, confirming my suspicion even before I spotted him, wearing the flowery apron I only kept for Kleos’s sake, and nothing else on top.
Somehow, I managed to glare, although the sight made me want to lick my lips and laugh all at once.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded.
Cas shrugged. “Cooking. Prawn risotto with asparagus.”
That sounded—and smelled—delightful, damn him.
I huffed and dropped my pile on my dining room table, before starting the first book on top.
I was paging through it, scanning for keywords in search of anything that seemed relevant, when Cas brought a plate and fork to me.
“I see we’re researching.” He sat opposite me with his food, and grabbed a book. “The hunts, yes?”
I grumbled a thank you which hopefully encompassed his assistance as well as his cooking, still irritated with him.
To my annoyance, Cas read much faster than me.
Occasionally, he’d say something far too interesting.
“I really think you ought to recover the quiver and arrows Apollo gave you. It’s depicted in just about every illustration.”
I hummed in agreement.
“I don’t think Artemis hunted stags at all. They’re always shown as part of her retinue of beasts and maidens, not the victims of her bows. You’ll want a monster.”
Again, I had to agree.
“Would you like me to read the texts in ancient Greek next?” he asked once he finished the first volume.
I closed mine with a thud. “What are you doing here, Cas?” I demanded.
He shrugged, leaning back casually. “The snake’s boring at night. He tends to sleep. I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
