Blistered (A Modern Greek Myth Book 1) by Deidre Huesmann

Author:Deidre Huesmann [Huesmann, Deidre]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: k'12
Publisher: Evernight Teen
Published: 2016-11-08T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Temple of Hephaestus

Azalee didn’t know what she was looking for when she frantically patted Joel down. After a wild few seconds she remembered something Apphia had once said: Breath is the last sign of life.

She cupped her hand within an inch of Joel’s mouth. Her heart slammed painfully when she felt nothing. Just before the tears welled up, a barely noticeable warmth spread over her chilled fingers.

“Oh, thank Selene,” she whispered.

Niribelle shrieked. “Selene? Are you insane? Look what you did to him!” She shoved Azalee aside and cradled the young man’s face. The dead quartz in his ear slapped against her knuckles. “Joel, precious boy, wake up. Don’t you dare give in. It is not your time to meet Hades!”

Sweet Elysium, get a grip, Azalee wanted to say. The rise and fall of Joel’s chest became more apparent by the moment.

Just as she opened her mouth, Joel groaned. He stirred, his head lolling away from Niribelle as his azurite eyes opened. He squinted. “Artemis…?”

Relief washed over Azalee, choking her words. “No. Just me.”

He inhaled deeply, his broad chest easing down as he offered a faint smile. “Azalee.”

Niribelle forced his gaze back with a firm hand, her full mouth forming a pout. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” Joel gathered his arms beneath him and sat up, holding his head with a cringe. “I just got dizzy for a second. I’m fine.”

Azalee felt she could collapse as well, yet somehow held herself up straight. “Good. You’re too big to bury.”

Joel snorted.

Niribelle jumped to her feet, her skirt whirling in an impressive blast of movement. “How dare you,” she shouted. “Your running away would have killed him just ten seconds ago! He only collapsed because all his energy was spent chasing you. We won’t get sunlight for at least another hour. How is he supposed to replenish his energy until then? Don’t you dare joke about his death now, you horrendous wench!”

Her mouth contorted as though she had more to say, but Joel’s hand on her calf stopped her. “It’s okay, Nini,” he said, glancing at Azalee even as he spoke to their blonde companion. “That’s just how she shows she cares.”

Azalee lowered her eyes, wishing she had left her hair down to hide the burning in her ears.

Niribelle sneered. “Oh, how lovely. Should I assume she just adores me, then?”

Perhaps it was Joel’s quick recovery, but Azalee couldn’t be bothered by Niribelle’s sarcasm. She smiled at the ground. “Yes, Niribelle. We’re best friends.”

With a disgusted growl, Niribelle jerked away from Joel and stormed away to retrieve her fallen bag. “Hurry up, then, bestie. Or dawn will break before we reach the city limits. Don’t come crying to me when you explode into a pile of rotten ash!”

Gently, Joel said, “That wouldn’t happen, Nini. She’d be ash.”

Niribelle rolled her eyes to the heavens. “Sweet lady Aphrodite,” she muttered, somehow making the words sound like a curse.

Even though Joel stood and appeared fine, Azalee couldn’t ignore the concern glancing off her heart. She lowered her voice when he stooped to grab his pack.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.