[Third Person Pov]
"What? What do you mean Zoe was taken?" Lucian asked, his wolf face twisting with genuine surprise. His crimson eyes widened, ears perking up sharply. "How does someone just get taken?! Especially in front of a goddess."
"It was a mistake on my end," Artemis explained casually, though her grip tightened noticeably on the strap of her quiver. "We were led into a trap and ambushed by Kronos' men and a portion of his army. I was distracted, and by the time the fighting finally ended and the dust settled, I realized one of our own was missing."
"You? The master wielder of the bow—the weapon that demands the most unwavering focus—were distracted?" Lucian asked, tilting his large wolf head and looking at her with clear skepticism, as if he couldn't quite believe what he was hearing.
"Yes, Lucian, I was distracted," Artemis answered sharply, shooting him a troubled glare before turning away and marching ahead of him through the snow, her boots crunching with each determined step.
"Me and my big mouth," Lucian muttered to himself under his breath. Without hesitation, he rushed forward to catch up with her.
"Artemis, wait. I'm sorry," he said, his tone sincere and earnest as he fell into step beside her. "That was insensitive of me. I didn't mean it like that."
He nudged her lightly with his cold, wet nose in a gentle apology. "You are a woman who always comes across as incredibly capable, clear-headed, and possessing an innate sense of focus and dedication. It's hard for me to picture you as anything else."
Artemis stopped briefly, turning to study him closely. Her sharp gaze searched his crimson eyes, trying to gauge whether his apology was genuine or if there was something else hidden beneath it. After a moment, she sighed. "Forget about it. It's not important."
"On the contrary, I disagree," Lucian pressed gently, now walking right beside her instead of trailing behind. "What was it that had you so distracted? It could be important."
Artemis scoffed, a hint of amusement flickering across her face. "Are you sure you're not just being nosey?"
"That too," Lucian admitted with a sheepish tilt of his head, his tail giving a slight, almost embarrassed wag.
Artemis rolled her eyes, clearly amused despite herself, but then fell quiet. Lucian sensed she wasn't ready to speak and chose not to push further. The only sounds were the crunch of snow beneath her boots and the soft padding of his paws.
After a tense pause, she finally spoke. "Your friend Luke was there." The words caused the air between them to grow thick and heavy with sudden tension.
Lucian's reaction was immediate. A low, dangerous growl rumbled from deep in his chest. Artemis glanced over to see him baring his fangs, his snout curling into a fierce snarl as he continued to direct the threatening growl her way. "He's not my friend, and you insult me by insinuating that he is."
"He was part of your friend group, wasn't he?" Artemis countered, pushing his snout away from her with a firm but not unkind hand. She scoffed at the display of aggression. "From what I remember, you two were quite close."
"Yeah. Past tense," Lucian huffed, his mood souring considerably. "Not anymore."
"Well, he was stronger than I anticipated," Artemis continued as they trekked deeper into the snow-laden forest, ancient trees looming around them like silent guardians. "It took me by surprise. There was even a moment I considered shifting into my full divine form just to deal with him. He was… formidable."
"Can we stop talking about him?" Lucian grumbled in clear annoyance. He shot her a sideways glance immediately after. "Weren't you supposed to be hating men? Why the heck are you complimenting him for"
"You asked," Artemis remarked with a faint smirk, unable to resist rolling her eyes again at his predictable reaction.
She suddenly slowed her pace and came to a stop in a small, sheltered clearing. Lucian halted as well, his ears twitching alertly. "What's wrong?" he asked, spreading his heightened senses through the surrounding area in search of any threat. Yet nothing suspicious returned—only the quiet stillness of the wintry woods.
"We're taking a short break here for a bit," Artemis declared, scanning the clearing with a satisfied nod. The spot offered decent cover and a small natural windbreak.
"If it's for my sake, don't worry about it," Lucian said confidently, puffing out his broad chest. "I can go on for days without rest. And if you're the one who's tired, I'll be generous enough to let you ride on my back."
Artemis snorted and shook her head, already reaching into her belongings to extract her tent. "You wish. Besides, I've been going at this for some time now. I want to be both mentally and physically prepared before we push any further."
With a quick, practiced snap of the fabric and a whisper of magic, the tent unfolded and settled perfectly into place on the snow-dusted ground.
"Okay, if that's what you really want," Lucian said, not fighting her on the decision. He respected her judgment.
As Artemis slipped inside the tent to rest and gather her thoughts, Lucian settled down by the entrance. He lay on his stomach, resting his massive head atop his crossed paws like an overgrown, vigilant guard dog. His crimson eyes remained sharp and watchful, scanning the treeline with quiet protectiveness while the snow continued to fall softly around them.
After a while, Artemis poked her head out of the tent, her expression one of clear confusion as she stared at Lucian. "What are you doing?" she asked, bewilderment written plainly across her face.
"Standing guard?" Lucian replied, barely lifting his large wolf head from where it rested on his paws. "I highly doubt you want a man alone with you inside your tent, so I figured I'd stay out here in case anything dangerous comes along."
"Just get inside, you idiot," Artemis said, rolling her eyes. Despite her words, there was a hint of amused fondness softening her tone. "And in case you've forgotten or simply weren't aware, I've had plenty of male hunters inside my tent before."
Lucian simply stared at her in silence, letting the accidental innuendo hang heavily in the cold air between them. Artemis stared right back with a deadpan expression, seriously considering leaving him out there to freeze as punishment.
"So… you wouldn't mind if I changed back?" Lucian asked cautiously, not particularly eager to be turned into a deer and hunted for sport.
"Oh, I never really cared what form you took," Artemis replied, waving a hand dismissively. "Like I said, I've traveled with male hunters as part of my Hunt before. I just said that—" She paused, her gaze dropping to Lucian's striking crimson eyes before she quickly looked away. "Don't worry about why I said that. Just come in already. Besides, you made a really cute dog, so I didn't bother correcting you earlier."
"If you wish, ma'am. Pardon me, I suppose," Lucian said with mock formality. In a fluid shimmer of shadow and power, he reverted back to his human form, rising smoothly onto his own two feet. Artemis noticed how his ears had turned a noticeable shade of red, and she suspected the flush had nothing to do with the biting cold. The sight was unexpectedly adorable, though she refused to admit it out loud.
The interior of the tent was far more spacious than its exterior suggested, enchanted to feel like a cozy indoor winter cabin. Warm, ambient light glowed softly from magical lanterns, and the air carried a comforting stillness. Artemis led him toward the indoor fireplace crackling gently in the center of the space.
"If you're cold, I can whip up something hot for both of us to drink," Lucian offered, already pulling off his sweater and leaving himself in just a fitted black t-shirt that accentuated his athletic build. "Only if you're interested, of course."
Artemis had been about to politely decline, but then she remembered just how strangely skilled Lucian was in the kitchen. Curiosity got the better of her. "Sure, go ahead. Surprise me."
"With pleasure," Lucian said, offering a theatrical bow that made her lips twitch in reluctant amusement.
She watched him work from her seat, leaning forward with her chin resting on her palm. Her gaze remained fixed on him throughout the entire process—his precise movements, the quiet confidence he carried even in such a simple task. She didn't even notice the faint, soft grin that had settled across her own lips as she observed him.
She was pulled from her daze when the rich, warm aroma of hot cocoa began drifting through the tent. Lucian soon appeared before her, carrying a small tray with two steaming mugs, each generously topped with marshmallows and a swirl of whipped cream.
"My offering to the Goddess of the Hunt," he announced dramatically, presenting the tray with a flourish. "Hot chocolate made with home-grown cocoa."
"Thank you," Artemis said, accepting one of the mugs. She was immediately enchanted by the deep, earthy, and sweetly aromatic scent. She blew gently across the surface before taking a careful sip.
"Woah…" Her eyes widened in genuine disbelief. "How does this taste so good?" She took another eager sip, savoring the rich, velvety flavor.
"Like I said—home-grown," Lucian replied with a proud smile as he sat across from her. "By yours truly."
"You're a gardener now?" Artemis asked, amusement coloring her voice as she quietly chuckled at the image of the son of Hades tending to a garden.
"Yes, yes I am," he confirmed, enjoying his own drink. "I kind of have to be, with me being an alchemist and needing to cultivate my own ingredients. It's also how I train and refine my powers."
"Just how are you able to do it?" Artemis asked, shaking her head in quiet wonder. "It just doesn't make any sense to me. The son of Hades being able to produce any kind of life is just… unheard of." She paused, a shadow crossing her expression. "Oh right, you don't trust me. Forget I even asked."
"It's not that I don't trust you," Lucian muttered, looking away as his cheeks warmed. "It's just… rather embarrassing."
"Huh?" Artemis asked, now even more bewildered—and undeniably more curious.
"Okay, just promise me you won't laugh, alright?" Lucian said quietly, lowering his cup from his lips.
"It's hard for me to find much humor in anything these days," Artemis admitted plainly, bringing the mug back to her lips for another sip. "So you don't have anything to worry about."
Lucian licked his lips clean and stared at her with a perfectly straight face. "I was conceived during a threesome between my father, my mother, and Persephone."
"Pfft—!" Artemis was taken completely by surprise. She spat out a mouthful of hot chocolate before bursting into unrestrained laughter, nearly doubling over as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
Lucian simply stared at her with a deadpan expression, watching as the usually composed Goddess of the Hunt laughed freely at his expense.
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