I woke up and Daylen was gone. I couldn’t tell if the darkness was day because I’d become custom to grey clouds. He could have just gotten up to get a glass of water, but I got up to check on him. I found him in the living room in stripped shorts and a white vest. He had his communication pod on the table.His glasses were on the table near it. He rubbed his eyes and I smiled. He looked like any ordinary boyfriend. In the midst of everything that was going on was it foolish to want something normal with him?“You’re not planning on sleeping here are you?” I asked, startling him.“Artemis, no I got a call and I didn’t want to wake you. It was Marcus, but it’s nothing important.”“Anything else on your mind?” I found the courage and sat on his laps.He grinned and cupped my thigh. I was wearing one of his many white shirts.“Mostly you.”I rested my head on his shoulder. “What about me?”“I don’t want to lose you.”“Neither do I.” I whispered.Blood bonds, castles and gods so many obsta

“Don’t talk to anyone. Don’t use your powers, don’t do anything to draw attention to yourself Artemis. You’ll get into the castle with Marcus.” Daylen said.Solaris’ castle had to be the most magnificent piece of infrastructure I’ve ever seen. A castle with twelve towers and blocks made of glass and marble gargoyles. Crystal clear material but no one could see what was laying beyond whose walls.“Why can’t I go in with you?” I asked him.“Because people will assume you’re my lover.” He grunted.“She kind of is dude.” Marcus sighed.He looked at me and I looked away. He grabbed my chin and made me look at him. He smirked. I groaned. I didn’t want to see that. Walking across the street into that enormous castle had me shivering.“I just don’t want people associating us because it’ll put you in danger.”“How romantic.” I rolled my eyes.“Hey. I’m serious Artemis. I need to make sure you’re safe.”“Yes, yes I got.” I wrapped my arms around myself.“Marcus will take you to my office. Wai

“Your majesty your brother is here to see you.” The giant grey ogre roared into the throne room.I flinched. Honestly those things could not speak at a normal tone.“Send him in.” I said.“Yes your highness.” He shook the earth beneath my feet as he walked out. I was hunched over my tactic table overlooking every city I’d conquered and yet to conquer. I waved my hand over it so Jason wouldn’t see it. I didn’t fully trust him. I knew he was going against our mother by trying to kill Daylen, but didn’t mean I trusted him not to do me in so he could claim all the glory.He was an attention seeker like that. Didn’t care for Daylen, but something about Jason was he always wanted to seem something he was not. Thanks to my father. I’m nothing like Avon sometimes when I look in the mirror I see more of my mother than I do anyone else. It burns like acid on my skin if I’m being honest.“Jason, what brings you here?” I ask as if I don’t know.He marches in, scrawl on his face like the boy that

 “Daylen!”Solaris sent us somewhere. Somewhere safe it had to be, but where in the dysfunctional world was safe right now? I was cold thanks to the mist that hung loosely in the air and grabbed at my skin.“Artemis?”A soft mist obscured my vision. Seconds later the mist was sucked in by the ground. Daylen’s doing. I spotted him and ran into his arms and was separated the second I was in his arms.“Oh my gosh.” I ran my hands through my hair.“It’s okay. We’ll figure this out.”“How! They captured your mom. We have no idea where we are.”“We’re in the mage dimension. Paradis isn’t safe anymore. Now that my secret’s out.”He pulled me into his arms. It was the safest place for me right now.“I’m so sorry Daylen.”He gripped the back of my head, “It’ll be fine.&rdquo

“You need to hold a hearing with the King and Storm.” I told Apollo.“Difficult because they don’t want to see me. It was hard enough getting into Paradis.”“Tell them you support a Paradis without Solaris. That should get their attention.”Apollo bobbed his head from side to side then nodded. “Fine. If you hear explosions know your time is up.”“Fair enough.”We went our separate ways. The castle was crawling with guards and unfortunately Marcus wasn’t around to get me inside. He found a lead on Stella’s whereabouts. Apparently the shapeshifter has a cave where it stores all its victims.“You’re not thinking about getting in through the front entrance are you?” Artemis asked me.I eyed her and wondered how dumb she thought I was.“I’m just asking Daylen.”“Of course not. The castle as weak spots. We’ll get in through one of the sides.”She nodded. We got up to walk along the street when a spark between our palms jolted us apart.Artemis winced. “Ouch.”“I’m sorry.” I said, holding ou