Book 3: Chapter 67: Annabeth

Book 3: Chapter 67: Annabeth
Annabeth

I made my way to my tent as quickly as I could, but my mind was still reeling. I had never seen Lexy lose control like that. I had never seen her close to breaking. Guilt gnawed at me as I wondered how long she had been near that edge, and if we were even clear of it yet? It's not like she was really making much sense. I mean, she hadn't even noticed that she was bleeding, and I couldn't see her wounds which scared me more. She must be using some kind of Mydem to hide her injuries. Something I hadn't even known she could do. 
I opened my tent flap, and Jake sat up immediately from where he was lounging on the couch. 
"What the hell happened?" He demanded. 
I looked down at myself and realized that I was covered in red. "It's not mine." I said quickly. 
"Whose is it?" He questioned through clenched teeth. 
It's rare that he leaves my side, especially when we aren't in the confines of home, not that home was safe apparently. Two houses we had thought were safe had been breached in a matter of weeks. I tried not to think about it. He had been insufferable. Especially after my fight with Austin. I was never alone anymore. I was shocked that he had left me in Lexy's tent and did not stand guard. It would have been a very him thing to do. 
"Lexy's." I responded and made my way to my little room to find an outfit that would be appropriate to meet with a King of another countries. 
"What. Happened?" 
"I'm not sure. She was having a panic attack when I went in. She was using Mydem to hide her injuries, so I don't really know the extent of it, but Seth said she was pacing and like flipping out, and she must have torn something that was healing because she hadn't been covered in blood when I had seen her just about an hour before. But there was blood everywhere..." 
Jake frowned. "She had a panic attack?" 
"Yea." I shrugged. "Her and Matt had a fight I guess after we left them, and the only thing she really said was that her sister was dead." 
"That's odd. There's probably more to it." 
"Yea definitely." I agreed, grabbing a dress from the closet and stepping into the bathroom. "I don't know what to do with her or about her. Like she has every single right to be mad at me. I've been a shit friend. I blamed her for something that she didn't even do. I let Vivian manipulate my visions. I believed my enemy instead of listening to her. I haven't made her return easy. Like I get that she hates me. She should hate me. But today, when I walked into that tent, when I hugged her, when we just laid there, and she sobbed, completely breaking down, it was like she was my best friend again." 
I stripped off my clothes with ease but wished I had time for a shower. I was sticky. But there wasn't time. Not when there was another King in our camp looking to talk to me. To us. Crap. I wasn't prepared for this. 
I could feel Jake's pride, though it felt kind of random. "Why do you feel like that?" I asked as I slipped on the black dress. 
"Because I'm picturing you naked." He teased, avoiding the question. 
"You're incorrigible," I rolled my eyes, even as my heart beat a little faster at his blatant flirtation. 
God. What was happening? Austin and I weren't even officially broken up and I was flirting with Jake. And living with Jake. And spending nearly every waking moment with Jake... He was my guard. Just like he had always been. But something had shifted again when Lexy came back. It was like all the missing pieces were back in play, and I had no idea what game I was even playing. 
"Do you know if Alex knows about this meeting with the King?" I asked, trying to distract myself from wherever my head was trying to take me. 
I can practically hear him straighten from his spot on the couch. "What meeting?" 
"I don't know exactly. Lexy set it up. That's what she was doing. Or at least one of the things she was doing anyway. I don't know. She hasn't been the most open with me." 
I stepped out of the bathroom, still messing with my hair a bit, but feeling satisfied that I didn't look like a complete wreck. 
"I-" Jake froze as his gaze raked over my body in obvious appraisal. "My god, Beth, you look stunning." 
I couldn't help the smirk that took over my lips. "Why Jake Graening are we crossing those guard lines again?" 
A blush crept up his cheeks, but I gave him a slight smile. "Thank you." 
"Anything for my Princess." 
My heart skips a beat. I didn't miss the way he called me his. It was so at odds from the way he used to spit the word at me in the beginning when he was trying to deny how much he wanted me. 
"If you keep looking at me like that, I don't think I'll make it to the meeting." I admitted. 
"No, no no," Aiden called out as he walked into the tent with his hands over their eyes, taking a page from Lexy's book before I could respond. "Absolutely not. Put the flirting or whatever the hell you two call this on hold. I was told to come and get you as now there are two Kings impatiently waiting to meet with the Prince and Princess of Calina as promised." 
I frowned. "Two Kings?" 
"The King of Gala, King Glorian and the King of Lysolee, King Louis are both here." He answered seriously. "King Glorian learned that King Louis was coming, and demanded to come too."  
I sghed, but took the arm that Jake offered me, and headed off to see what the hell it was all about.