"And I, you." Closing her eyes, she sank her hand in his hair and took a deep breath against his neck that left him covered with chills.
He wanted inside her so badly, his body felt as if it were on fire. But this was neither the time nor the place. "May I ask a favor of you?"
"Anything."
"The men are weary. Is there any way to arrange a small reprieve so that they can visit their families?"
"You ask for them and not yourself?"
"You are my family, goddess. I am more than content to be here, even in your absence."
She fingered his lips before she kissed him. "I wish we never had to be apart, for any reason."
As did he, but it couldn't be helped. "You are always in my heart, no matter where I am."
She pulled him close and held him tight. "Tell the men that they may take three weeks to ride home and see their families, so long as another war doesn't break out. I might have to recall them, and they should be ready to return at any time. But hopefully, they won't be needed."
When he started to pull away, she stopped him. "However, I'm hoping you won't go with them."
He pressed her hand against his lips and kissed her palm. "I will stay."
With one last kiss, he returned to the barracks to let the others know. Everyone was thrilled, except Galen who frowned at him. "Why can't you come with me?"
"Should something come up, one of us is needed to stay behind. I volunteered."
"It's not fair!"
"Fair has nothing to do with life or war, little brother. It just is. And we get through both as best we can. Now, pack. Take your furlough and send my love to Father, Perseus and Julia, and their son. Tell them that I think of them often."
"All right. But I shall miss you."
"I will miss you, too. However, I will enjoy a night's sleep without your snoring."
Laughing, Galen shoved at him. "I'm not the bear in the room. That would be Hector."
Hector grinned as he packed up his gear. "I would say I'm insulted by that, but it's true."
Aricles went to his chest and pulled out the small carved horse and soldier he'd made for his nephew. He handed them to Galen. "Take these to Theodorus and tell him that his uncle will hopefully see him soon."
"I will."
"And give Talia my best, too."
Galen blushed, yet didn't speak as he continued to pack.
Within an hour, even though it was almost nightfall, the men were gone and Aricles was alone in the room that seemed suddenly too quiet. Since he'd been born a twin and had shared a room at home with both his brothers for as long as he could remember, he'd never spent a night alone before. It was strangely unsettling.
That was his thought until he felt a warm presence behind him. His heart lightened instantly.
He turned, expecting Bathymaas.
Instead, it was the Greek god Apollo.
Aricles shot to his feet to confront him. "What are you doing here?"
An evil grin spread across his face. "Time for payback, Atlantean. And this time, there's no one here to interrupt us."
October 23, 12,249 BC
Frowning, Bathymaas materialized in the Eperon barracks. She'd expected Aricles to call out to her once the others had left, but it was long after nightfall, and she was certain they'd gone home by now.
Her frown deepened as she saw him in bed with no light whatsoever. Scared he was ill, she quickly closed the distance between them. "Ari?"
Horror filled her as she saw his battered face. Bruises covered him all over. There was one fierce mark in the shape of a handprint on his throat, as if someone had held him down and choked him.
With a light groan, he pushed himself up.
"What happened?"
Shame and torment darkened his gaze. "It's fine, my goddess. I'll heal."
"Who did this to you?"
"It doesn't matter."
"It matters to me! Was it one of the Eperon?"
He swallowed hard before he answered. "No. They went home in high spirits."
"Then who?"
He refused to meet her gaze. "Bathia, please... I've no wish to discuss it."
Tears clouded her vision as she saw how badly he'd been beaten. How she wished she had the power to heal him. But unfortunately, she didn't have the ability. "I'll call my aunt. She'll - "
"Please, Bathia... I'd rather no one else know about this."
"Why?"
A single tear fell down his cheek. "Please, let it go."
"You're scaring me, Ari. I've never seen you like this before. I don't understand."
Aricles fought the tears that choked him over what Apollo had done. He'd give the god credit - the bastard knew how to punish someone and ensure they'd rather die than tell another soul about it.
Bathymaas sat down by his side and brushed the hair back from his face. "Is there anything I can do?"
He still couldn't bring himself to look her in the eyes. He wasn't sure if he'd ever be able to do that again. "Just stay with me for a little while... I don't want to be alone right now."
She took his hand into hers and held it to her heart. "I have no intention of leaving you, precious... Have you eaten?"
He shook his head.
Using her powers, she summoned him a platter of meat, cheese, and fruit. Then to his complete shock, she hand-fed it to him. That went a long way in easing his horror, shame, and pain. But it still wasn't really enough.
Right now, all he wanted was to die.
Bathymaas felt her own tears sting her eyes at the way Ari continued to act. How she wished she had the powers to read his mind or turn back time to see what had been done. She hadn't been joking when she said he scared her. Something inside him had been broken.
Wanting only to fix it, she conjured a bowl of water and gently cleaned his injuries. As she brushed her cloth over his neck, she paused at the sight of a bite wound.
Apollo.
It had to be. As part of her curse against Leto, Hera had condemned the twins to live on blood. Unlike the other gods, Apollo and Artemis had to drink from others in order to live. It'd been a harsh sentence, but Bathymaas had had no way to undo it. Not without killing the twins.
"This was done because of me, wasn't it?" she breathed.
For the first time since her arrival, he met her gaze. "Nay, my lady. Never think that."
He could deny it all he wanted, but she knew the truth. This had been his punishment for stopping Apollo's rape.
In that moment, a darkness came over her. One that was bitter and violent.
Terrifying.
She'd never felt anything like it before. All she wanted was to exact revenge on Apollo for hurting him.
And one way or another, she would make Apollo pay for this...
October 30, 12,249 BC
Bathymaas ached at the sight of the tormented shadow that had yet to leave Aricles's eyes since his fight with Apollo. A fight he still refused to talk about. It pained her that she couldn't ease his anguish, no matter what she tried. Aricles had told her that she helped just by being with him, but she knew better.
Apollo had left a lasting scar on his soul, and for that, she wanted the Olympian's heart in her fist.
Trying not to think about it, she sat in the circle of Ari's muscular arms while they fished at their spot. Leaning against him, she could feel the deep beats of his heart against her shoulder blade. "I'm glad you stayed with me. I would have missed you terribly had you gone."
He kissed the top of her head. "I would have missed you, too."
"Are you homesick for your father and brother?"
"A little, but I'd be more homesick for you had I gone with Galen to see them."
Those words thrilled her. "Are you just saying that to make me feel better for my selfishness in keeping you here?"
"No, Bathia. Promise."
Rising up onto her knees, she turned to face him and pushed him back to rest on his elbows. "I want to take the sadness from your eyes, Ari. Tell
me what to do to make you happy."
Aricles smiled at those precious words. "I'm happy just being with you."
She pressed the backs of her fingers against his whiskered cheeks. "Your smile is tinged with sadness and it makes me hurt to see it so."
Aricles closed his eyes and savored the warmth of her hand against his skin. He hadn't touched her since Apollo's attack. The shame had been too much for him and he hadn't wanted to taint her with it.
But now...
He needed her to hold him. Leaning forward, he kissed her and let the scent of her skin and her soft touch erase all the pain inside his heart. She was all he really needed. "You are the air I breathe, Bathia."
"Then marry me, Aricles."
He pulled back with a gasp. "Goddess - "
She placed her fingertip to his lips to keep him from speaking. "I know your arguments, Ari. But I don't care about anything else. I've spent eternity protecting others, and thinking only of their needs. I want to be selfish now. Every time I close my eyes, I dream of me and you and our baby in a small cottage. Just the three of us. Tell me honestly that you haven't thought of it, too."
"Oh, Thia, of course I have."
"Then run with me."
"I can't leave my brother and the others. Who would fight with them if I were gone?"
"Then I shall end this war between the Chthonians. Would you marry me if I did so?"
Aricles bit his lip at the sweetness of her request. "You already own my heart, body, and soul, Bathia. I willingly gave them to you long ago."
"Then you are my husband?"
He smiled and brushed back a strand of hair from her cheek. "I can think of no greater honor than to have you as my wife."
Lifting the hem of her peplos, she straddled his hips and kissed him soundly. "You are mine, Aricles of Didimosia. Proud warrior and gentle farmer - so named the Phoenix by your brethren. I will have no other to love, and you are, and will always be, my husband."
"And you, Bathymaas, goddess of justice and owner of my heart, are the only woman I'll ever love. You are everything in my world and all I'll ever live for." He kissed her hand. "You are forever my wife."
Bathymaas removed the pins from her peplos, baring herself to him. She trembled at the beauty of his eyes as all the sadness faded from them and was replaced by love. That was what she was used to seeing whenever he looked at her. She'd missed it terribly.
Pulling up his chiton, she removed it to leave him bare before her. She brushed her hand over the chills on his arms as she smiled at him and toyed with the necklace she'd given him. He never took it off.
She bit her lip as he gently slid her peplos down her hips and off. They both shivered when the center of her body brushed against the hard, rippled muscles of his abdomen.
Aricles arched his back as she leaned forward and brushed her breasts against his chest before she laved his nipple. Gone was any thought of anything other than the woman in his arms. And when she slid herself onto him, he growled as ecstasy pierced him. He lifted his hips to drive himself even deeper into her body as she rode him slowly. For once, they didn't have to fear Malphas or one of the others stumbling upon them. They were alone and had a full fortnight still to enjoy each other's company.
He cupped her breasts in his hands while she smiled down at him. "This settles it, love. I'm not moving from here for the rest of my life."
She laughed at his teasing. "I believe I was the one who begged you to run away."
He hissed as she reached behind her back to cup him. "I must have been out of my mind to refuse."
"Well... since you're so compliant..."
Lifting his hand to her face, he stared deep into her eyes. "Right now, Bathia, you could ask me for the moon and I'd find some way to get it for you."
Bathymaas savored those words, just as she savored the sensation of having him deep inside her. Wrapping herself around him, she rolled until he was on top. Without a word, he took the lead and thrust against her hips until she couldn't take it anymore. Crying out, she raked her hands against his spine and clutched him against her.
Aricles ground his teeth at how good it felt whenever she held him like this. There was nothing he loved more than the sight of her face when she came for him. She was the earth and heaven to his Kalosis. Completely lost to her, he buried his face against her neck so that he could inhale her lily scent as he found his own release.
Shaking and breathless, he laid himself against her, taking care not to crush her with his much larger frame.
She ran her finger down the line of his jaw as she stared into his eyes. "My precious husband."
"My beautiful wife."
Leto turned toward her son with an arched brow as Apollo manifested next to her to see the slut-whore with her bastard human. "Told you, didn't I?"
He gaped at the sight of Aricles rutting with Bathymaas. Fury mottled his cheeks. "When did this happen?"
"From the way they went at it, without hesitation, I'd say it's been happening."
"And the bitch dared to deny me while whoring herself for a fucking mortal!"
Leto rubbed his back sympathetically. "She's not worthy of you, my son. Rather she craves the cock of a mongrel dog. The last thing you want is to touch something so fouled."
But that wasn't what he felt. He wanted vengeance on both of them for this betrayal.
And by Zeus, he would have it.
Leto smiled at him. "We now have the way to break them both."
Apollo caught his mother's arm as she started to leave to tell the others that Bathymaas wasn't as impartial as they thought. "Wait... let's think about this for a minute. If we tell the other gods, Bathymaas still has her band of warriors to fight us and interfere with our plans. But if we hold off, we can use this to destroy the Eperon for once and for all, from the inside out. We can make them turn on each other."
She laughed. "I knew I raised you right, boy. And once those bastards are dead, we'll destroy both Bathymaas and her human tsoulus."
November 1, 12,249 BC
Aricles froze on his way to the stable as he felt a now familiar presence that made him sick to his stomach.
Apollo.
Ready to battle, he turned on the Olympian and glared at him.
"What do you want?"
With a sinister smile, Apollo ran a hungry gaze over Aricles's body. "What I want is not the same reason as to why I'm here... It seems my mother learned something quite fascinating about you and the goddess you serve."
His blood ran even colder as he steeled himself to show no emotion whatsoever. "I don't know what you're talking about." He tried to step around the Greek god, but Apollo cut off his path.
"Oh, I think you do. And I have a little proposition for you." Apollo raked him with a smirk. "You will either get a cold and be unable to fight in the next couple of battles we intend to initiate, or I'll tell every god in existence that our little justice queen is doing the forbidden dance with her champion. In fact, for all I know, she's having sex with her entire Eperon."
Growling, Aricles started for Apollo, but the god blasted him back so hard, he rebounded off the wall.
"Don't push your luck, Atlantean. You're not that good, either in bed or out of it." Apollo closed the distance between them and seized him by the throat. Using his powers, he held Aricles completely immobile. "Will you cooperate, or do I ruin her forever? Have you any idea of the mockery she'll endure? Or what the other gods will do to her for violating her sacred duties as an impartial judge?"
Bile rose in his throat at the prospect, but what choice did he have? No one could ever learn about him and Bathymaas. It would destroy her. "I'll do it."
"Good, boy." Apollo ran his finger down the side of Aricles's face. "Pity I don't have more time for you today. But I have a battle to plan. Next time, however..."
Aricles jerked away from him, wanting to plant his xiphos straight through the god's stomach.
If only he could, but their weapons only worked against the
gods when Bathymaas charged them.
Apollo stepped back and raked a sneer over him. "By the way, I'm not the only one who knows about you two. There's another god, so if you're thinking you can spear me during battle and protect Bathymaas... think again. So long as I live, my mother will remain quiet. Should I expire too soon, everyone will know about your transgressions. Both with Bathymaas and with me. So much for your vow of chastity, right?" His smile turned even more mocking. "And tell me how much your goddess would love you if she ever found out that I had a piece of your ass, too? And if you breathe a word of this to her, I will see her powers stripped and kill her myself."
Aricles looked away as shame and fear filled him. A tic started in his jaw as he gripped his sword and forced himself not to attack. "I will never understand how the Greek people stomach you."
And he was going to find a way to kill this bastard. Sooner rather than later.
January 20, 12,248 BC
Dressed in his armor, Aricles stood on the edge of the battlefield as the rest of the Eperon readied for the coming battle. He'd started to fight with them, until he'd seen Apollo. The god had given him a look that let him know Aricles wouldn't be a part of this skirmish either.
The moment Aricles stepped back from his horse, Hector glared angrily at him. "You are going to fight this time, aren't you? Or are you sick again?"
When Aricles didn't respond, Haides slammed his fist into his cuirass, forcing Aricles to take another step back. "He has no intention of fighting this day either. Look at him... he's not even armed with his spear."
Galen frowned. "What's wrong with you, brother? What changed with you while we were away? This is our fifth battle that you've refused to fight in."
When Haides went to attack him, Malphas came between them. "Eperon, down. Save it for battle."
Haides spat on Aricles. "I'm not battling with a coward I can't trust at my back. He's as likely to stab it as my enemy is."
Malphas turned to Aricles. "Are you still ill?"
Wiping away the saliva from his face, Aricles nodded.
Monokles curled his lip. "There's nothing wrong with him. He's as fit to fight as any of us."
Phelix shoved him from behind. "Get him out of our sight, Malphas. None of us want him here. Send the bastard home with the rest of the women."
Before Aricles could move, Haides ripped his helm off his head and threw it to the ground. "Go!"