Page 68 of Axios

“And?” I pressed further. “You cannot say that and then not provide me more information.”

“Is he always so impatient?” he asked Eryx.

Eryx shrugged. “Depends on the day.”

I slapped my lover’s arm and met his amused gaze with disdain. “For that remark, you shall sleep a foot apart from me tonight.”

“Someone is being cast aside like a wet stone,” Quill said, looking between me and Eryx.

Shaking my head, I focused back on Haden. “What did my sister say?”

Haden slowly chewed his bite of meat, purposefully dragging out the moment. Just as I was about to throw my goblet of water at him, he said, “She wishes to continue seeing me. At first when we began speaking, I thought she only did so to appease my persistent pursuit of her, but now I think it is different.” The arrogance vanished from his face and he gazed down at his plate. “I believe her to fancy me as I fancy her.”

I recalled the way Leanna had smiled at the mention of Haden the day I’d gone to see her. Warmth settled in my chest.

“I wish you two the best,” I announced, taking everyone for surprise by the change in my tone of voice. “If anyone were to make her happy, I know it is you.” Thinking the moment to be too serious, I added, “Even if you are a bit dimwitted and clumsy.”

Haden smiled. “I shall ignore your last comments and only acknowledge the beginning. Thank you for your blessing. Truly. You are one of my best friends, and even though we jest often, know that I respect you and your wishes. If I were to be so fortunate as to have your sister by my side as my wife, I will treasure her.”

“I know this,” I said, sharing a look with him before averting my gaze.

Quill broke the silence.

“You will never believe the atrocious thing Theon did to me today,” he exclaimed after downing his water and slamming his cup on the wooden table. “He kissed me!”

The men erupted into laughs, all except Theon who glared.

“Atrocious?” Theon asked, shaking his head. “I think not. You enjoyed it.”

Talk then broke off into separate conversations. Ian, Melias, and Haden began speaking of the war, while Theon and Quill shoved and mocked each other. As for me and Eryx, we pressed our legs together under the table and ate our dinner in silence.

His left hand rested near my knee, and I reached down to interlace our fingers, holding onto him as I picked at the small amount of meat on my plate.

He moved his thumb in circles on the top of my hand, and he did it so easily, as if it were a natural act instead of an intentional one.

I was uncertain what the future would bring, but I knew Eryx would be beside me to face whatever it may be.

Chapter Seventeen

386 BC-Two Years Later

For two years, we’d lived each day wondering when we’d be sent to war. A Spartan naval commander had been ambushed by the Athenians and he, along with three-hundred and fifty of his men, had been killed.

When the news came of that, I prepared myself for our departure… but it never came.

Then, when Sparta sent its other commander, Teleutias, to gather the survivors from that attack and raid Piraeus—a port in Athens—I assumed we’d be called to join them.

We hadn’t been.

Last autumn, word had reached Sparta that Tiribazus—the Persian general—had summoned all of the major Greek powers to the Persian city of Sardis to announce peace terms. Sparta, along with the other Greek cities had responded to his request by sending diplomats.

Very little of the new terms had reached us, as it was still being discussed amongst the leaders, but it was clear that all of us were ready for peace.

Nothing could be done expect wait for further news.

We were now men of twenty, and our preliminary training for the military was completed. Adulthood had finally found us, and with it came the responsibilities of a true soldier. Which meant we’d be obligated to go to battle now that we were of age.

I no longer feared war like I used to. When the day came, I would greet it with my head held high, and if death wished to part me from this life thereafter, I would fight with every ounce of my strength and make it difficult for him to do so.