Page 120 of Axios

I gladly followed his lead, knowing his desires without him having to voice them.

While he strived for dominance in his life, there were times when he preferred for me to take control while making love. When we were younger and had first discovered our sexual natures, we’d had minor skirmishes over it, but I had soon learned that the conflict beforehand excited him and was why he often instigated it.

“Do not hurt yourself,” he said as I straddled his hips. “Take it slow.”

Even while in a lustful haze, he still managed to worry over my well-being, and I smiled.

“Ery, I feel fine,” I reassured him, rolling my hips on his and watching as he stared up at me in awe, parting his lips. “But if you wish for me to stop...”

When I began sliding off him, he grabbed my waist to still me. “By the gods, do not stop.”

I grinned down at his pleading expression and had to force myself not to chuckle.

“Very well,” I said, leaning down to capture his lips before lifting back up and grazing my fingernails along his bare chest.

He groaned as I sat back on him, putting pressure on his already stiffening member. Heat spread to my groin and my pulse quickened at the thought of having him buried inside me again.

I would never tire of the intense pleasure he pulled from me with every thrust and every kiss.

Once we were finished and both of our bodies were satisfied, I fell beside him and cuddled against his side, utterly exhausted and ready for sleep. It was not long before my eyes closed, and I went to a place where not even dreams could reach me.

With the arrival of dawn, we learned we’d be returning home in a matter of days. A large part of me was still angry that we would not be retaliating against Thebes for the attack at Tegyra, but I recalled Eryx’s words and knew he had been correct.

The fightinghadto end.

Haden bustled with excitement at the prospect of seeing his family, but Quill looked crestfallen and stared longingly at the field where Theon rested.

“I will not leave him,” he said.

He did not have to.

Eryx spoke to the commander who was remaining in the city with a small force of men and asked if Quill could join his unit. It took little consideration for him to agree, and the relief on Quill’s face upon hearing the news was like a man deprived of water learning he was to be led to a stream to quench his thirst.

Saying goodbye to him was difficult. Not only was I leaving Theon behind, but him as well, and I wished he’d change his mind and return with us.

“Take care of yourself, brother,” I said, squeezing his arm before stepping back. “Sparta will not be the same without you.”

His brown eyes watered, and I saw a slight hesitation on his face as if he were going to change his mind. Alas, that did not happen.

“I will,” he responded, nodding. Then, he lightly laughed. “Watch over Haden and ensure he does not do anything too foolish.”

I returned his laugh, even though my chest hollowed and humor was the furthest thing from my mind. Whether I’d ever see him again, I did not know, and the not knowing was like a nagging under my skin.

I said a silent prayer to the gods to keep watch over him—to give him peace where all he knew was mourning.

After we packed supplies and made all preparations to leave, we began moving out of the city. I looked back before we walked too far and saw Quill watching our departure.

An unreadable expression lit his face, and the farther I got, the harder it was to make out any of his features.

It felt wrong leaving him.

“He will be all right, Ax,” Eryx said, walking on my left side. With his new rank asenomotarch, he was at the front of the line instead of the middle, and of course, he insisted I be near him. “He is stronger than you think.”

I wished I could believe his words. Perhaps with time, I would, but for the moment, I could only remember how small Quill had looked as he held his knees by the lake—how when he looked into my eyes, I’d seen nothing but a broken man staring back at me.

Before we rounded the corner where the mountain would block Quill from view, I cast one final glance his way.

He looked away from us and turned, walking toward the field where Theon waited.