Page 32 of Axios

I’d forgotten it was that day.

Quill and Theon stood at the edge of the gathering, pushing each other and grinning. Theon put him in a headlock, and Quill thrashed around, slapping at the other boy’s arm.

Over the years, they’d both gained muscle but were still smaller than most of us. Their bodies held strength, though, and they were far from feeble.

Quill, who’d once been so timid and afraid, was now feisty and challenged boys twice his size. He and Theon had become close and were almost as inseparable as me and Eryx.

When we approached them, Theon released his hold on Quill and both boys straightened their stances. They had messy hair and grass stuck to the dark strands as well as dirt on their tunics.

“About time you two showed your ugly faces,” Theon teased. “Were you snogging in a tree somewhere?”

I punched his arm, feeling my cheeks heat.

Our small group knew about me and Eryx and not one of them minded or had ever said ill words toward us. They would always be my brothers, perhaps not by blood but by choice.

“Why do you ask?” Eryx spoke in a raspy voice and stroked his fingers down my forearm, making me wish we were alone so we could pick up where we’d left off. “Jealous?” He then proceeded to pucker his lips and make kissing sounds.

The playful side of Eryx was one not many got to witness, and I loved when he allowed it to surface.

Theon gagged. “I’d rather eat shit than go anywhere near that mouth of yours, dear friend.”

“I might have a go with you,” Quill chimed in, waggling his eyebrows suggestively. His brown eyes focused on me and he winked. “With one’s eyes closed, I’m sure it’s not much different than a girl’s mouth.”

Haden laughed. “Like you would know! You’ve not kissed a girl, so you have nothing to compare it to.” He stood with his arms crossed, revealing his thick biceps. “However, the night is still young… and there are many girls.”

His statement wasn’t nearly as exciting for me as it was to them. As they exchanged grins and walked off to where several girls stood and chatted, Eryx grabbed my hand and we followed. Once we stopped beside them, he released his hold on me, and I fought the urge to grab him again.

I had to remind myself that such public affections were looked down upon. Touching him could only be done in private. I missed his warmth, but I pushed the thoughts from my mind and tried to enjoy myself.

Occasions such as these were rare, and I didn’t want to ruin the night by being of low spirit.

It was quite amusing to see my companions interact with the girls. Even Haden—with his normally arrogant attitude and self-assuredness—stumbled over his words and acted a fool.

He motioned to the girl in front of him, and to the rhythm of the music being played around us, he said, “Your hair is as soft as the fur on a birds back, and your nose is as pointed as the tip of my spear.”

Theon howled with laughter and patted Haden’s shoulder as the girl scoffed and stormed in the other direction.

“What wrong did I say?” Haden asked, his brow scrunched.

“Apart from confessing she had a pointy noise?” Theon answered, unable to control his fit of giggles. “And, my friend, birds have feathers not fur.”

Haden looked puzzled, clearly not having the brains to go along with his burliness. I laughed, and he shot me a glare.

“I quite liked your ode to her,” Eryx said in all seriousness, hiding any traces of a smile. Only I knew he was jesting.

“Really?” Haden grinned.

Eryx nodded. “Yes. Go repeat it to another. I’m sure it will be more successful the next time.”

He had such a clever wickedness to him, and I found myself hiding my own smile.

“I shall!” Haden puffed out his chest before slapping his hand across my shoulder. “Axios, where is your sweet sister?”

“Leanna?” I gaped at him.

“Who else?” he asked. “Unless you have another sister we do not know of.”

Some of the more simple Spartan girls might’ve fallen for his charms, but Leanna was too intelligent to fall prey to such dimwittedness. Haden had first met her over a year ago, and since then, he had often spoke of her beauty—as well as other parts of her that no brother ever wanted to hear about his darling sister.