Artemis hesitated as she neared her bedroom. She chewed her thumbnail in indecision. Maybe she should just go to Zeus's temple for a while and think of something on her own ...
"What did you do?"
She jumped at the sound of Acheron's voice coming from behind her. "l thought you were in bed," she snapped. "I had to go to the bathroom."
"Oh."
His swirling silver eyes were piercing as he glared at her.
"What have you done, Artie? And don't say, 'Nothing.' I know by the way you're acting that it's going to seriously piss me off."
She hated when he could read her so easily. How did he do that?
But she refused to be the one on the defensive. So she did what she always did. She went on the offense. "Well, it's your own fault."
He rolled his eyes at her. "Of course it is. Everything's always my fault. So what did I do now?"
She narrowed her gaze at him in anger, but there was still a par! of her that was terrified of him. Most of all she was terrified of what he was going to do when she told him what she needed ... and mostly why she needed it.
"You have to promise me two things before I tell you." A tic worked in his jaw. "What?"
She took a step back to put more distance between them. "First that you won't kill me. Ever. And the second that you'll stay here another week."
Ash hesitated. This had to be even worse than he suspected for her to want to make such a bargain with him. His gut knotted in anger. He could feel his eyes turning red and his cheeks growing warm. But she wouldn't care about that.
And he knew her well enough to know that if he didn't give her what she wanted, she'd never tell him whatever it was that had her so nervous.
"Okay. Fine."
"Say the words, Acheron. I want to know you are bound by them."
He cursed before he spoke between clenched teeth. "Fine. I promise I won't kill you, and-"
"Ever. "
Ash took a deep breath before he said, "Ever." Gods, how he'd like to choke her.
"And you'll stay here for another week ... unless I need you to do something for me."
That made his blood run cold. "Do what?"
"Say it, Acheron, and then I'll tell you."
Oh yeah, this was going to infuriate him. He only hoped he could keep his word. If not, he'd perish from it right alongside her. "All right. I won't leave here for another week, unless you need me to do something."
She let out a long, relieved breath. "Good. Now you stand right there."
Okay ... He did and wondered what the hell was wrong with her ... besides the fact that she was selfish and cold.
She, on the other hand, moved to the other side of the room, far away from him.
"What are you doing, Artemis?"
"I had something to tell you."
"Have," he corrected. "And yes, we've already ascertained this. What is it?"
"You're getting angry."