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I hope you all had an amazing thanksgiving without Further more Chapter 16

AS ALWAYS I DO NOT OWN PJO OR HoO

*Chapter 16: The First Kiss*

The silence between them stretched, the air thick with unspoken words. The fire crackled, casting flickering shadows across Artemis's face, and Percy found himself mesmerized by the way the light softened her sharp features. She looked almost human in that moment—not the aloof, untouchable goddess he'd always known, but someone vulnerable, uncertain, and, for once, not so different from him.

He realized, with a start, that she was waiting for him to speak.

"Artemis," he began, his voice unsteady, "I've been trying to figure out how to make sense of all this. Of us."

Her silver eyes flicked to his, sharp but not unkind. "And what have you decided?"

Percy hesitated, running a hand through his hair. "That I don't know how this is supposed to work. I mean, you're a goddess, and I'm just a guy who happens to be good at getting into trouble. But I know one thing—I don't want this to be something I regret. I don't want to let fear stop me from... from trying."

Artemis didn't respond immediately. Instead, she studied him, her expression unreadable. When she finally spoke, her voice was softer than he'd ever heard it.

"You're braver than most mortals, Percy," she said. "But even the brave are allowed to be uncertain."

He smiled faintly. "Uncertainty is kind of my specialty."

That earned him a small chuckle, the sound light and fleeting. But then her gaze turned serious again, and she leaned forward slightly, her voice quieter now.

"This isn't something I ever expected," she admitted. "And I don't know what it means either. But I..." She hesitated, as though searching for the right words. "I want to see where this leads. With you."

Percy's heart thudded in his chest. He wasn't sure if it was the firelight, the way her words wrapped around him, or the steady, magnetic pull he felt toward her, but before he could second-guess himself, he leaned in.

"Artemis," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the crackling fire.

She didn't pull away. Instead, her gaze held his, unwavering, as though daring him to close the distance between them.

And then he did.

The kiss was soft, tentative, and fleeting, but it sent a wave of warmth rushing through Percy that had nothing to do with the fire. Artemis's lips were cool and gentle against his, a contrast that only deepened the connection. For a moment, the world seemed to fall away—no gods, no monsters, no impossible odds—just them.

When they pulled apart, Artemis lingered close, her breath ghosting against his skin. Her eyes, usually so guarded, were filled with something raw and unspoken.

"Percy," she said softly, her voice almost a whisper.

He smiled, his own nerves giving way to something lighter, freer. "Yeah?"

She didn't answer right away. Instead, she reached out, her hand brushing against his. "Whatever happens next, we'll face it together. Agreed?"

"Agreed," he said without hesitation.

Artemis allowed herself a faint smile before leaning back, her usual composed demeanor settling over her once more. But the warmth of her touch and the memory of her kiss lingered, and for the first time in a long while, Percy felt a sense of clarity.

Whatever the future held, they'd figure it out. Together.

WOW, OMGGGGG THEY FINALY KISSED

-EXCITED SCREAM-

Also I will be posting 2 Chapters today so be on the lookout.

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