Before I could react or even think Apollo had tackled me. I could feel a snap somewhere around my ankle followed, and I hollered in pain.

I was crushed under his weight but he didn't seem to notice. His eyes blazed into mine and I realized that this whole time I had never met his gaze... until now. He was a man in love who never wish to see anything but me.

His eyes moved down to the rest of me. My top was still soaked and clung to my body. The shorts were no better. I couldn't imagine what he thought when he looked at me.

I was never truly on the skinny side and never on the larger side either. I never really felt self conscious about it until moments like this, when people would look me over.

Most of the time when it happened one of my brother's would scare the guy away. They had always been good protectors. But they were not here. I didn't have Butch or Kyle, or even Blythe here to help me, I was on my own and I was scared.

Scared out of my own mind! Scared of how irrational gods got when struck by love. I asked Artemis once more to help me.

But nothing happened. Maybe there was no beast in the woods.

Apollo just looked at me. I tried to close my eyes but it was no use. He grasped my chin and raised it towards himself, "Open," he said and for some reason I obeyed.

His smile dug through my skin and I realized. He wants me to make a move. He wants me to fall for him, and he wouldn't give up until I did.

"Hi," his breath touched my face. It smelled like sweet flowers.

He knew he was attractive. He knew it wouldn't be long until I fell into his arms.

I forgot about the world around me. Only seeing his eyes, their warm glow. Reaching up I touched his hair. It was soft and wavy, and well... perfect.

I couldn't help it, I became just as entranced with him as he was with me. Somewhere in my head I knew I shouldn't, but my hands betrayed me. He lowered his head to mine and I nearly kissed him. My lips just brushed his before I pulled away suddenly realizing what I was about to do. I pushed him away.

A rustling and a screech came from the woods. He turned around towards where the noise had come from.

A bow appeared in his hand, along with a quiver on his back. Next to me appeared my own bow, quiver, and clothes. I had almost forgotten that I had left them at the lake.

In front of Apollo a huge beast leapt forward. It was unlike other beast I had hunted in this forest. It's head and front feet were of a mighty eagle. It's back two legs that of a lion.

"Perfect, a griffin is just what this romantic moment needed," Apollo said. His sarcasm was obvious. "Stand back, sweetie, I got this."

There was a problem with what he had just said, "Stand back". Even my brothers knew there was no better way to make me angry that to doubt my ability or try to stop me from a fight.

I stood up, ignoring the aching pain in my ankle from when I fell.

Apollo was definitely good with a bow, (as he should be being the god of archery). But the beast was too close for such a long range weapon, causing him to struggle.

One arrow stuck out of the griffins back leg but it didn't seem to be doing much other than making the beast angry.

I remembered my sword was still attached to my hunting dress and unsheathed it.

Apollo gave me a priceless look when I stormed in front of him and fought the beast myself.

To my surprise the griffin ignored me. It lept straight for Apollo.

No matter how hard I tried the beast wanted nothing to do with me, in fact it seemed to push me behind itself, like I was valuable treasure.

"Griffins are protectors," Haidar's words stuck in my head.

It's protecting me from Apollo. I breathed a sigh of relief then realized the danger Apollo was in.

The griffin snarled and snapped at him. Both trying to protect me. Neither aware of it.

"Stop!" I yelled to both of them. The griffin listened and stilled itself to look at me, but Apollo took the opportunity and with struck the beast heart with an arrow.

Gold dust cover both of us and I couldn't help but feel guilty for the poor creature who died trying to save me.

I was shaking and Apollo must have noticed because he put his arms around me from behind and whispered, "Your safe, i'll protect you."

Chills filled my body. I did need protection. From him.

I tried to break his grip around me but it was no use. His warm lips hit my neck and I knew I had to get away before I melted.

Hoping he didn't remember how I broke his grasp before I kicked his groin and moved away from his arms.

"Why do you keep doing that?" his annoyance brought a smile to my face.

"What? Protect myself," my voice sounded angry but my smile remained.

"From the griffin?"

"From you,"

"Why?" but it was less of a question than a declaration that he didn't think anything he did was wrong.

"you crept up on me while I was resting, perused me when I fled. Held me when I attempted to break your grasp," I had never thought I would yell at a god, here I was. "Yes, I need protection from you."

"I love you," like it was an excuse. He gave no sign of regret for anything he did.

"You don't know me," As I stepped backward I heard the cracking of bones. The adrenaline from before was gone and now the shooting pain in my leg was unbearable, causing me to fell on my back screaming.

"If you want me to go, I can,"

"No!" i looked down at my ankle. "Stay."

Apollo let out a laugh and approached me. Reluctantly I let him carry me to a tree so I could sit up.

His hands reached for my ankle. I prepared to wince at his touch, but instead I felt the pain leave me.

"God of medicine, remember." his joking smirk made me laugh.

"Will you ever let me go?" I couldn't help but ask.

His eyes met mine and I could tell he was a reckless god. Always seeking fun and pleasure. The opposite of myself.

"We both know that it's not that easy to run from a god." he teased. Then his voice changed, sounding like a warning, my body trembled as he spoke, "Remember the song, I perused her to the death,"

"No you won't" I choked. It was a lie, not to him but to myself.

"I am not a human Dana, don't expect me to act like one or abide by your rules."

"What do you..."

He moved closer and pressed his forehead to mine. "You will love me."

"I will never belong to you." my firmness scared even myself.

He seemed amused by the gesture and leaned in further. We were closer than nose to nose, "Don't kid yourself, you always have." the words bounced off my skin.

I could feel my heart racing. Whether it was fear or something else i did not know. "Uhhh, mmmm, uhhh." was all i muttered.

"From the moment I saw you starting a thousand years ago, and then again starting today. Even if you don't know it." a chill ran through the air as he spoke.

"Daphne had the right idea becoming a laurel to flee from you." rage consumed me.

He must have noticed because he softened and moved away barely an inch. "I'm not going to hurt you,"

"Then why do you touch me against my will."

"You never told me stop, not once."

I thought over it, he was right, i never told him to stop. I tried to break free of his grasp, but i never put it into words. I never told him, sure it was implied but implications can be misinterpreted. "Your right... but you also said you don't follow human rules, how can i trust you not to hurt me?"

"Human rules are limits like time, and space." he smiled and moved forward and smirked, "Even the gods have morals."

I felt stupid and angry all at once. He had meant for me to take what he said the wrong way just so he could make a point later on. I just knew it.

He looked into my eyes desperately, "Letting you go was the hardest thing i have ever had to do."

"This is wrong."

"Nothing has ever been more right." he caressed my cheek.

"I disagree," my hands found his chest and i shoved him away from me. He landed near my feet.

Before be could speak a figure came out of the woods. Her hair and smile mimicking that of the god in front of me.