Page 49 of Flamesworn

“You’re not the fuel the fire burns, Kataida,” Ares panted, and there was something so ageless about their voice, a riot of gunfire and cannon-fire and mourning bells, the crackle of a funeral pyre, the somber intonations to the dead. The way her name sounded when they said it made her bite her lip, nearly on the edge of an orgasm she didn’t think she’d wanted. “You’re the oxygen.”

Her whole life, she’d never felt like she belonged, had always felt like an outsider despite her deep, abiding love for her country. Nothing had ever felt right until she’d taken a cultist’s life with her blade, but eventhathadn’t made her feel like she felt now. It wasn’t being fucked by Ares over a table, it wasn’t that they were doing it to her precise instructions. It wasn’t even the knowledge she could tear their throat with her teeth, rip the skin, feel blood soak her, and they would come for her just as hard as she was going to come forthemnow.

It was being known, being seen, beingunderstood. Tears pricked the back of her eyes, as if Ares’ rough, hard thrusts werea sweetly-whispered declaration of eternal devotion, because to her, they were.

“I do love you, bright eyes,” she managed, “and I changed my mind. Make me come on your cock, but don’t touch me. Just this.”

Ares pressed a hot kiss to her shoulder, and fucked herharder,faster, the cock growing almost impossibly large, the head rubbing against the spot that made her toes curl in her boots and her calves threaten to cramp, the edge of the table digging into her so hard it was like someone had struck her in the stomach, and there were more splinters now in her fingers, leaving smears of blood on the wood.

Ares curled their fingers around both of Kataida’s hands, and she gripped them tight as her vision wavered and sweat stung her eyes. She was making sounds like they were killing her, and she was so close, so close–

There was a sound from behind her, a rustling noise, and for half a second she thought someone was opening the tent flap and interrupting them. She didn’t care, not one fucking bit, and she wouldn’t stop no matter who it was. But the tent stayed closed, and the sound came again, and Ares’ weight changed just a bit on top of her, becoming more solid and somehow different, all at once.

One last hard thrust and she came with a sharp cry, managing to gasp out,don’t stop,and they didn’t, fucked her through it until she came again, and once more, before she couldn’t hold her breath long enough to fall over the edge. She slumped forward, limp and boneless, dragging in air like she’d run here from Staria and trying to flex her left foot to ease the sudden cramp in her calf. Her head felt quiet, and she was dimly aware that Ares had eased up a bit, their cock notquitethe imposing length as before. She heard the rustle again, and just as she tried to muster the energy to turn her head and see–

There was the scent of sulfur and ozone, and Ares tensing over her as they came. She forgot about the sound as she simply felt them on top of her, the friction of the uniform fabric replaced by skin once more. She was wet with sweat, thighs slick and damp, and when Ares stepped back, she could barely pull her pants up before she collapsed on the ground, leaning back on her hands in much the same way Ares had earlier, seated on the table.

Ares, who looked the same again, hair braided and naked, sat down next to her and took her hand, like they couldn’t bear to stop touching her. “Was that good? Did I do it like you wanted? Was I useful?”

“Yes,” she laughed, weakly, but the last part made her frown. “I’m– I didn’t mean to use you. I wanted to hurt you earlier and I didn’t, because I shouldn’t…do that. I’m sorry if I shouldn’t have–” She stopped talking, arching a brow as Ares carried her hand to their mouth and licked at the sore places where the splinters had torn skin. “You don’t care, do you? If I use you for sex when I need to hurt someone.”

Ares shook their head, their tongue a whip of heat like running her fingers through a candle flame. “I love you. I want to be what you want.”

“You are,” she said, and she had told them that she didn’t want them to change for her, but what had they told her earlier about divine nature? All of it was change, even Leviathan. “Thank you. I did need that.”

Ares’ smile was half-sweet, half-wild, and they leapt like a cat at her, which startled her into a shriek and she batted at them, too warm by far to have anyone on top of her, especially Ares. “Stop!”

“I want to lay on you and stare at you sleeping,” Ares said reverently, and she shook her head, because she had no ideaif they were simply caught up in post-sex adrenaline or if they really meant that.

There was no chance to ask, though, because there was a rustle that this time shedidrecognize as her tent opening, and while she was somewhat dressed, it was clear with Ares naked and on top of her that she hadn’t been alone.

“Soldier Akti?” Menelaus’ voice called out, and she swore softly, shoving again at Ares’ shoulder.

“Yes, one moment,” she called, and waved a hand at Ares as she grabbed her water skein and downed half of it in one drink. Ares simply had clothes where they hadn’t before, and went back to perching on the table they’d just fucked her over. Kataida took a few seconds to wipe her face and button up her pants before saying, “All right.”

Menelaus came in, and–was her mind playing tricks on her, or did he glance at the table where Ares was sitting?

“Kataida,” he said, with an expression she couldn’t place. “Stavros spoke with me. It’s time to go.”

“He said the force wouldn’t leave until sundown,” she said, dumbstruck, scrambling to her feet. When had Stavros decided this? Had she wasted time she could have been headed to Axon by having her immortal lover fuck her over a table in her tent? “Did he change his mind?”

“He did, and there’s no force,” Menelaus said, eyes darting around the tent, this time looking everywherebutAres. “They’d think it was an invasion if we were caught, which is why it’s just going to be us.”

“So he did go with my plan after all,” she said, nodding.

Menelaus’ gaze returned to hers, sharp and watchful. “With one minor change. Stavros thinks he knows where they’re keeping Damian. We’re going to bring him safely out and take him directly to your father in the capital.”

Kataida blinked. It seemed strange to her that after being so staunchly against letting her go on her own to Axon, Stavros would send her alone to extract the Beast from a cadre of armed soldiers.

But she wasn’t going alone, was she? She was going with Menelaus and Ares, and what better guard could she have? Still, something of her confusion must have shown on her face, because Menelaus spoke again.

“The Beast stayed his hand because of you specifically,” Menelaus said. “I’m not sure the same could be said for a soldier whowasn’tof your line, since clearly, he’s never stayed his hand before. It requires subtlety and bravery, and there’s no one better suited for that than you.”

Kataida inclined her head, though there was still that lingering feeling of discomfort. “Thank you, sir.”

Menelaus smiled and patted her shoulder. “It isn’t flattery, it’s the truth. You’re an exemplary soldier and more than capable. We’re heading to the Thousand Soldiers. Are you ready?”

Kataida shouldered her bag and nodded decisively. “More than, sir.” Of course she was. This was even better. She could deliver her uncleto her father, which was a much better plan. Telling her father Damian was still alive and was still being held captive by the same people who’d had him forthirty-one yearswould have only added to his concern and stress, especially once he found out Damian was unwilling. Better to bring Damian to him in person, she couldn’t argue with that.

---