Alexander ~

I followed the goddess into the large silver tent, still cradling Aletheia with one arm to my chest. I was definitely surprised that she had slept through all the jumping on the trees as well as the fighting with the hunters. I put my hand on Aletheia's cheek and began stroking it slowly, glad that Morpheus was giving my daughter pleasant dreams that kept her from waking up.

"Alexander, what is this favor you are asking of me?" Artemis asked.

"Lady Artemis," I said. "This child that I am holding in my arms is my daughter Aletheia, whom I have just claimed rightfully mine. Her mother died giving birth to her and asked her husband to promise that he would look after their newborn daughter before she died. Her husband agreed, but once the mother died, he was so consumed with anger and hate towards the child that had caused the death of his wife that he used his belt to whip her continuously before leaving her alone to die. I was watching the whole time, and once the father left, I immediately went to heal the child and finally, claimed her as my own."

Artemis nodded, and gestured for me to continue.

"What I am asking for you to give Aletheia your blessing, Lady Artemis." I said as I knelt on the ground with one knee before the goddess. "Please allow her to join the hunt, a place where it would be safe for her, a place where she would be accepted as a member of an everlasting family."

"I did not know that you thought this highly of the hunt," Artemis said with a small smile. "I will accept your request, Alexander, but there is one thing that I would like you to do in return."

"I'll do anything you ask of me," I replied.

"I would like you to take an oath of chastity like my aunt Hestia, my sister Athena, and myself have taken."

"Is there any particular reason that you are asking me to do this?" I asked the goddess.

Artemis laughed. "It's just something to get back at Aphrodite."

"Very well then," I said. "I swear on the River Styx that I will remain chaste for the rest of my immortal life."

Thunder boomed in the distance and another vow was registered in my mind, signaling that what I had just said was taken into account.

"Did you give her any powers?" Artemis asked me.

"Yes," I replied. "The power to determine truth and lie as well as the power to shadow travel at will."

"I shall train her personally myself," Artemis said. "She will need to take the vow to become a hunter once she reaches the age of eleven."

"Anything you wish," I said as I gave Aletheia to Artemis. "And thank you for doing this favor for me, Lady Artemis."

"You're welcome," Artemis said. "You can always watch over her, but keep in mind that you can't directly interfere."

"I'll keep that in mind," I said before leaving to look for Thalia.

There you are, the meeting with Artemis and Alex. Thanks for all the reviews I received for the previous chapters! And tell me what you think about this chapter.

~the ghost king