Page 138 of Axios

“I am not asking. Save the king,” Eryx repeated in a softer tone. “And return home to your family.”

It was then I knew what Eryx had done. He knew Haden would never retreat from battle again, but Haden would also never refuse a direct command from his superior.

This is the only way to save him.

The Sacred Band unit was closing in on us, slaughtering every Spartan they passed. They carried themselves as if they were invincible, slicing through our ranks with ease.

“If you do not go now, it will be too late,” I spoke with a sudden urgency. “Tell Leanna and Leonidas I love them. And when Icarius is old enough to speak and begins to question the world around him…” My eyes watered as I realized I’d not be around to see that day. “Do not dismiss his dreams and curiosities. Let his imagination run free and do not try to beat him into what they want us to be.”

Spartans yelled as they were slain.

“Come with us,” Demetrius begged as tears fell onto his dirtied cheeks, clutching my arm. He was so young, not yet fully lived his life, and even though he was the age of a man, he still had a boy’s innocence. “You two do not have to stay.”

Eryx squared his jaw. “I have already run from one battle. I shall not do so again.” He observed the Spartans still fighting around us. Felix was amongst them. “They are willing to give their lives, and I will not abandon them.”

I nodded and pressed my hand to his, letting him know I was with him. That I’d always be with him.

“You will forever be the father I never had,” Demetrius said, searching my face as more tears welled in his brown eyes.

Cassius grabbed him then and pulled him away. I knew the look in his eyes. All he cared for was getting Demetrius to safety. They hurried to the king’s side and spoke to him, preparing him to be lifted.

Haden was the last to leave. He stared at us, and so many unspoken words reflected in his gray eyes.

“It has been an honor to fight by your sides these many years, brothers,” he said, his voice breaking on the last word. “Until we meet again.”

And then he was gone.

I watched as he ran to the king and helped the other men lift him up. Only when I saw them retreating safely from the battlefield did I turn back to Eryx.

He stared at me. The green of his eyes was darker that day, more like a deep moss. Or an emerald. I focused on them, knowing it would be the last time I’d ever be able to hold their gaze. The last time I’d ever behold his beauty.

Earlier on in the fighting, I believed we could win—that our army was stronger—but after looking around me at the fallen Spartans and noticing how the whole left flank of allies had already fled back to camp, I knew there would be no victory for us that day.

“Do you recall the night Nikias told us of the three-hundred Spartans who gave their lives at Thermopylae?” I asked him, remembering the night with such vivid detail—the crackling of the fire and the smell of the burning wood, how all of us had listened to Nikias speak.

We’d been so young and naïve of what awaited us.

“One day, you all will leave boyhood behind and grow into men,” Nikias had told us. “Sacrificing yourself for your home is something you may face, and that is something that cannot be taught but must be instilled into each of you.

“I remember,” Eryx spoke. “You were so stubborn even then.”

I laughed at his statement as a tear escaped from my right eye. He wiped it away.

As he started to pull his hand back, I grabbed it and placed a kiss to his palm. He then gripped my chin and crushed his lips to mine. Our helmets provided somewhat of a block, but our mouths found each other anyway.

His earthy scent filled my senses, and I breathed him in—tried to attune to every part of his body as if we were one. The feel and taste of him and the way he smelled.

My mouth trembled against his, and I felt his do the same.

I wished we could go back to the night before. We’d been happy and together, a place where no one could touch us. Beneath the stars.

“I finally know the answer, Ery,” I said, resting my head to his.

“To what?” he asked before looking at the approaching men.

They were halted by our soldiers who fought with such bravery and vigilance. Some of the Thebans fell, but with every one that did, it seemed like more joined the fray.

“Nikias had said that every man at Thermopylae had the chance to run before the battle, that the king had dismissed the army. Some men had taken the opportunity to escape, but many stayed behind. He’d asked us why we thought that was. And I finally know why.” I stood as close to him as I could as we faced the swarm of Thebans. “Loyalty. Brotherhood. And love.”