Ares-
Six years had passed since Olympus trembled, since I had claimed her. Six years of gods watching us, whispering behind gilded walls, questioning whether our passion was a flame or a curse. Aphrodite was a wild thing, untamable, and I—always the warrior—had never known peace until her.
She lies beneath me now, her skin like molten gold, her breath a melody I would burn the world to hear. I could feel her pulse, steady and wild, as if it matched the rhythm of the wars I had fought. She doesn't say anything, but I can tell from the way her body moves with mine—she is with me in this, as we are together in everything, whether we want to admit it or not.
Her hands, delicate and strong, grip my shoulders, pulling me closer, urging me deeper into the storm we've created. The gods have forbidden us, but they don't understand. No one does.
Not when she has this power over me, this force that drags me into something more than I've ever known. She doesn't need to speak. Her silence is enough to make the world kneel.
The heat in my chest is more than the fire of war now—it's her, burning through me with every touch, every whisper of her lips as they brush against mine. Her eyes are closed, but I see her—deep in her soul, I see her. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who has me twisted in her grasp.
My body moves on its own, driven by something far older than us. I press deeper, and the world falls away, leaving only the warmth of her skin and the sound of her breath.
I want to forget the gods and their laws. I want to forget everything but this moment. But even as the storm builds, I know it's never just a moment for us. No, this is something much more dangerous.
I lean in close, my lips brushing her ear as I murmur, "You belong to me, Aphrodite. And I belong to you."
Her eyes flutter open, a mischievous spark behind her gaze, but there's something else there too. Something ancient, something binding.
"I know," she whispers, her voice a low purr that sends fire through my veins.
And for the first time in a long while, I wonder if she means more than just the words.
The heat of Aphrodite's embrace lingers, but it fades quickly as the world outside our sanctuary calls to me. A chill runs through me, though I can feel her body still pressed against mine. The weight of responsibility is never far behind, and just as I begin to catch my breath, my father's voice reverberates through the air—a voice like thunder, deep and commanding.
"Ares!"
It's not a request. It's a command.
I pull away from Aphrodite, the warmth of her body fading as the cold reality of the gods' demands settles over me. My heart still pounds from our closeness, but duty pulls me like a string tied to a war drum, never letting me forget my place in this world.
She watches me, those molten eyes tracing my every movement. I don't need to look at her to know the concern that's building in her expression, but this... this is something I must do.
I rise from the bed, my muscles taut and ready, a Warrior born of iron and flame. Aphrodite stays silent, but her eyes follow me, her lips slightly parted, as if holding back the words I don't want to hear.
"You should go," she says, the softness in her voice betraying the strength beneath her words. "Zeus needs you."
I don't look back as I pull on my armor. It's not that I don't want her words. It's just that my path is already set. I'll return to her—soon, but for now, Olympus awaits me.
The call of father is insistent.
I step into the vast courtroom, the walls of Olympus towering above me, adorned with carvings of gods and battles long past. The air is thick with divine power, and the gods are gathered, their presence filling the room with a hum of silent tension. My father, Zeus, sits on his throne at the far end, his stormy gaze fixed on me. The room falls silent as I approach, the weight of their stares heavy on my shoulders.
Zeus's voice breaks the silence, deep and commanding. "Ares," he calls, and the room seems to hold its breath. "You have been summoned for a task most important. It is time to put your skills to use."
I bow my head slightly, my posture straight, but my mind already racing with what he might want. The last time I stood before him like this, it was for a campaign—one that took months of preparation and left countless soldiers dead. But this—this feels different.
Zeus's eyes narrow, and the air crackles with tension as he continues. "Ogun, the god of war and iron, King of Ife-Ikoro, has crossed a line. He has dared to defy my rule, to show disrespect. It is an insult that cannot be ignored."
My heart skips, but I show no sign of surprise. The gods have always been at odds, their egos as sharp as their weapons. Still, the idea of waging war against Ife-Ikoro, Ogun's realm, makes my chest tighten.
Zeus leans forward, his voice low and deadly. "You are my son, Ares, the god of war. You will wage war against Ogun's people, and you will bring me his head. It is the only way to restore balance, to remind all of them that no one—no one—is beyond my reach."
A murmur ripples through the room as the other gods watch, their eyes flickering with curiosity or cold approval. The thought of killing Ogun, the god who has always stood tall and proud, sends a pulse of excitement through me. But it's tempered by something else—a sharp twinge of doubt. He is a warrior like me, and the idea of taking him down feels… personal.
"But, father," I start, my voice steady despite the weight of the task ahead. "Ogun is not some weak god. His people are loyal, and his power is not easily broken."
Zeus's expression hardens, his eyes flicking with the storm behind them. „
"You forget your place, Ares. You will do as I command, or you will face the consequences. Disobey me, and you will feel the full wrath of Olympus."
A shiver runs down my spine, but I keep my composure. My father has always been a tyrant, but I've learned the price of defying him.
"I understand, father," I say, my voice now hard as steel. "I will bring you his head."
Zeus's lips curl into a smile that is as cold and calculating as a thunderstorm. "Good. You leave at once. Ogun's pride will be his undoing, and once his head is on a spike, Ife-Ikoro will learn the true meaning of loyalty."
I bow, the weight of the mission sinking in. As I turn to leave, I can't shake the feeling that this war, this bloodshed, will change everything. There's something in the air—a shift, a tension—that tells me this will not be an easy fight. But it is my duty, and I will see it through.
As I exit the grand hall, the gods' eyes still burning into my back, I wonder how much of my fate is still my own.