Chapter 48

"Let's go," Artemis abruptly announced, setting out to leave the forest. Alexander had been laying around while Artemis sat on a log doing nothing like every other day in her life. She had been thinking over this decision for a while now and made up her mind to leave the forest in search of a book. "Chop chop. Aren't you in need of stretching your legs?"

Alexander got up from the ground quickly but was puzzled by their surprise adventure. Since he had been taken here she had not once left the forest. What could she possibly need now? "Where are you planning to go?"

"We are going to search for a book. I would go alone but why not utilize your skills to protect me? We're not going to be gone long since I can't stay out for too long. The place is supposed to be near the temple I took you to."

'You mean the place where you kidnapped me?" He corrected her.

"Same difference. When are you going to get over the whole kidnapping deal? It's not like you are disliking the experience you are having. Anyone not enjoying this would be plotting their escape or screaming at the top of their lungs in hopes that someone would hear them."

"Would you like me to scream so you can give up on expecting me to be screaming?" It wasn't the first or second time she mentioned him screaming because she had kidnapped him.

"I'm just saying that it's not normal that you weren't freaking out that I kidnapped you. Unless you have been meaning to kill yourself and saw this as the perfect way out? You get to hang out with a Goddess and then she kills you. The perfect ending for your sad pathetic life."

Alexander didn't understand the need for her to say his life was sad and pathetic. Did she hear other things when he spoke of his life? "I never said my life was sad or pathetic. I quite like the life I had."

Artemis cleared up some branches in the forests that had fallen onto the path they were walking. "Maybe you aren't really looking at your life properly. The pathetic part is a reach on my part but I do think you're sad."

"Then, I think the same for you, Artemis. Instead of putting on the act of being angry at the world all the time, just say you're sad and lonely."

"You're probably right. My life is sad and depressing since I rarely get to leave the forest and I talk to a tree daily. You on the other hand serve a king whose ways you despise, you are in the middle of a power battle between your father and the king, and you just got engaged to a woman who you do not love. How would you express your life as?" Artemis wondered. He could join the club of having very bad days.

"Tiring. That is how I would describe my life. Having to carry out orders I don't want to do but am obligated to. Everyone comes to me to deal with their problems with the king. I contemplated quitting early and just helping people on my own. It doesn't feel like I have been a general these days but a therapist for the king. Though we are friends, Darius has his purpose in life and I have mine. I don't want to be calming him down over and over."

"That is good to hear but once again I am surprised you are telling me about your dislike for how your relationship with the king is these days. Don't think I'll ever blabber this to the king to mess with him? You know how much he likes you, hearing that you dislike him would hurt his feelings. Do you think there is a slight possibility that he likes you? I had never seen a man so obsessed with another man unless there were feelings involved." Artemis found it funny that Alexander might have two siblings crushing on him.

"You lucky bastard. You have ways for you to obtain power coming in left and right. In my personal opinion, you should forget the princess and go after the king. The downside is you'll just be his mister. He wouldn't be allowed to marry a man since he needs an heir and you-"

"What on earth are you talking about? What weird fantasies are you coming up with when you plan to kill the man? And I am not into men and never will be for the sake of having power. If you want power so bad why don't you marry Darius and be the bridge between humans and Gods?" Alexander suggested. It sounded to be the best idea to bring peace.

"Don't make me consider wanting to kill you again Alexander. Back to the previous topic, you must have so many people jealous that both siblings like you. Like that captain from the day of the festival who looked ready to fight you. I'm sure a lot of people aren't missing your presence. We're here," Artemis said when they got out of the forests. "What on earth is happening here?" She asked because of the sight before her.

In the distance, a girl was running in their direction with a group of men chasing after her. "Help me!" She yelled to Alexander and Artemis.

"Go on. I know you want to," Artemis stepped aside so that Alexander could be the hero again.