Page 14 of Flamesworn

She took Ares’ chin in her fingers, trying to ignore the heat of their skin, the way her knees trembled at simply touching them.“You may be War, but Arktos is an army, and an army does nothing without orders.”

“Yes,” Ares breathed, swaying on their knees. “Order me.Commandme, beautiful. I am yours.”

Again she could feel the dangerous, enticing allure of what he offered. All the protocol and the hierarchies, the chain of command, the titles and the drills, did they matter?

Yes. Because they might be war and conflict incarnate, but that’s not who we are. That’s why War is submissive. They don’t need me to be a mindless follower willing to wield them like a cudgel. They need a dominant, a commander.

She put enough dominance in her voice that she was sure any submissive near would feel it and said sharply, “War may come, and we will face it as Arkoudai, for we do not fear battle. But we will not wage it recklessly like some offering in one of your temples. Those are gone. Our barracks and our training yards took their places, and that’s how we will meet war when it comes. If that’s not enough, then you can go back to sleep.” She leaned down, staring into their fiery eyes, and narrowed her own. “Do you understand, Gracious One? We revere you,Irevere you, but your fire willneverconsume us. It will never consumeme.”

“And yet I can feel how much you yearn for it,” Ares said, “how much it thrills you to think of burning–”

Kataida smacked them, and Aresmoaned, their face reddening from the slap immediately.

“You’re the one who seems to be burning,” she said.

Ares got gracefully to their feet. They were something like a small sun, their presence radiating heat, but not the kind you wanted. It was like a fire you were standing next to without realizing how hot it was, until you took a few steps away and felt the relief of cool air on your skin. “Fine,” Ares huffed, still sulky. “I know what armies are, girl. I have walked this land before youand yours left the green fields of Katoikos. I have walked this land since people first wanted what other people had, and took it by force. I might sleep, but I amnevergone.”

Their eyes glittered like rubies, and Kataida felt her breath catch. Gods, but they werebeautiful, even more like this than when they were on their knees staring adoringly at her. Ares was far more dangerous when they were focused, intent, when they weren’t dispensing strife like Theron gave Malik candy when his parents weren’t looking.

“I’m not asking you to be anything else,” she said. “But swords don’t swing themselves, andthissoldier only uses weapons that arereliable. Also?” She grabbed their hair. “Don’t ever call megirlagain.”

Ares’ smile looked sharp enough to draw blood. “I’ll call you whatever you want if you keep doing that.”

Annoyed, she dropped her hand–and tried not to blush when she saw the people watching. Great. She had a feeling this story was going to spread around Axon in a matter of hours. “I liked the songs,” she said. “Some of those I didn’t know.”

“I can show you more,” Ares said, still smiling.

“Let’s not.” Kataida turned to see her brother and Aleks standing there, staring. Theron was looking at her as if she’d lost her mind, but Aleks was looking at Ares.

“Did the Strategos get any information about the attack?” she asked.

Theron stared up at the sky, hands in his uniform trouser pockets. “You have a god following you around and you want to talk about intel.”

“Do you not understand how serious this is?” Kataida demanded, her temper sparking.

“Doyou, Miss I Guess We Can Hit Gods In The Face?”

Kataida opened her mouth, but Aleks moved smoothly toward Ares and held out a hand. “Hi. I know your brotherAzaiah. Welcome to Arktos. I understand you’re very connected to this country.”

Ares cocked their head, studying Aleks. “Yes. You’re not just my brother Azaiah’s, are you? You belong to Astra as well.”

Aleks smiled. “Yes, I’m one of his moon children. He’s very easily distracted by hot peppers. Have you had those? I feel like you might like them. Kataida, why don’t you bring Ares over for dinner? I’m sure they’d like to see how the cuisine here has changed. We don’t have as many battles, Gracious One, but we honor you in other ways.”

“You’re not Arkoudai,” Ares said, but they sounded curious, and more than a little pleased at the deference. Submissive or not, they were still a god.

“I’m not, but my people were from here, in a roundabout way. Elena can explain.”

“I don’t remember the last time I tried food,” Ares said, “but I used to like spiced wine.”

“I think you’ll appreciate the tea. Theron, if you wouldn’t mind staying at the house for a bit? Elena’s pregnant, and with Evander so busy now, we could use the help with Malik.”

“Yeah,” Theron said. “Sure thing, Aleks.” He gave Ares a sidelong look. “I get that you’re hot for my sister, and she drives me up a fucking wall half the time and is a gods-damned tattletale, but…actually, never mind, do whatever you want with her.”

“Theron!”

Theron smiled, but it faded as he took a step toward Ares. To Kataida’s surprise, he straightened, standing at perfect attention, looking more like their father than she’d ever seen when his expression turned severe. “My sister is a lot of things, but she’s a good soldier. I’m probably not. I’d probably fight dirty, and I mademyvows to the Lord of Dreams, so I’m not afraid of you.”

Ares studied him, and Kataida felt tense and wired, like she might have to leap between her brat of a brother and thegod he was challenging.But Ares didn’t seem angry, far from it. They moved toward Theron, who clearly was forcing himself to keep his ground against the press of Ares’ godhood, since Theron’s submission was more about challenging someone to prove they deserved it.

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