Page 100 of Axios

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The city fell before the day came to a close. We’d had to kill some of the men at the harbor, but once several of them had met our blades, the rest surrendered. Eryx had wanted to kill them anyway, but I convinced him not to. They’d been pleading for their lives, and there was no honor in slaying a yielding man.

We’d then secured the fleet and blocked off anyone from reaching the ships.

Once the acropolis was seized and Agesipolis had control of it, we’d received word from another of the commanders to rejoin the other unit.

The first thing I did was check to ensure my friends were alive and well. I had not liked being parted from the three of them, and I’d had to force myself not to become distracted during the raid by worrying over their safety.

My worries were laid to rest upon seeing them, though.

Haden was unscathed—just covered in sweat and dirt. Quill had a gash on his cheek that looked as if it may need to be closed and Theon was heavily bruised, but they were safe.

Theon stepped nearer to Quill and cupped his cheek.

“Do not worry over me. It is only a small cut,” Quill told him.

It was very reminiscent of the words I had told Eryx when I’d been wounded during our first battle, and I softly smiled.

Then, Theon pressed their lips together. A gentle, but swift movement that had my mouth popping open in shock.

Even more of a surprise, Quill did not push him away. Instead, he reached and cupped the back of Theon’s head, pulling him closer.

Unable to stop myself, I searched for Agesipolis. Eryx was my heart and everything I desired in the world, but that did not keep me from still caring about the king. He had a place in my heart, even if it wasn’t as great as the one Eryx held. Perhaps not love, but a deep affection.

I saw him standing a slight distance away.

He was surrounded by his advisors and nodded as one of them spoke. Blood flowed from a wound on his shoulder and dripped down to the crease of his elbow, but it did not seem severe.

Yet… he looked weaker.

His body wavered as he stood in place, and he put out his arm to lean against a column. Sweat dampened his hair and glistened on his forehead, but having just finished taking a city, exertion was not out of the ordinary.

“He is not well,” Eryx said, following my line of sight.

I was relieved to know he was not angry at me for looking at the king. He seemed to share my concern.

“He is wounded,” I responded, justifying Agesipolis’ current state. I did not wish to believe anything more serious could be wrong with him.

“Such a minor wound as that would not weaken a man of his spirit,” Eryx countered, shaking his head. “We Spartans have suffered far worse than a cut on the shoulder, and he is a man who has fought in many battles. No, it is something else.”

As if sensing my eyes on him, Agesipolis turned and met my stare. The corners of his eyes creased at first, almost as if he were delighted to see me, but the moment faded as he stumbled and had to regain his balance by leaning more on the column.

The man with graying hair who accompanied him everywhere rushed forward to steady him, but the king held up his hand to stop him.

“I am fine,” I’d read from the king’s lips.

That statement was far from the truth. He grabbed his head and swayed again before collapsing to the ground.

Without hesitation, I ran to him. Movement sounded behind me and I knew that Eryx followed. Agesipolis lay on the tile, unmoving, and I fell to my knees beside him, touching my palm to his forehead. It was scorching hot.

Eryx went to his other side and examined him before looking up at the men around us and saying, “He is fevered.”

They responded to him, but I did not hear their words.

The king groaned and slowly opened his eyes to look up at me. He trembled as more sweat beaded at his brow. He tried to speak, but all that reached my ears were incoherent mutterings. It was more than a fever; I felt it in the bottom of my stomach.

Not knowing what to do, I looked to Eryx—as I always did.