Page 103 of Beneath Scarred Vows

"Isn't it? You didn't like that I was defending George, so you decided to remind me who's in charge. Who has the power."

"I grabbed you because I was angry?—"

"And that makes it better?" I interrupt, voice rising.

"No. It doesn't. Nothing makes it better."

His admission catches me off guard. I expected defiance, justification, hell -even brushing it off. Not this raw acknowledgment.

"Then why did you do it?" I whisper back.

The plane shakes again, and this time, without thinking, I reach for his hand. He intertwines our fingers immediately, his grip firm and steady.

"Because I thought you were choosing him over me," Ares admits. "And I lost control."

I scoff.

"I wasn't choosing him over you," I say. "I was choosing the truth over blind revenge."

"That," he says, loosening his grip on my hand. "You think I don't know the truth? You think my brothers failed?"

I shake my head. "No, but mistakes happen. Uncertainty can and will exist in life, Ares. What if?—"

"And if you're wrong about him?" he asks, not letting me finish. "If he really did order the hit on my father?"

The mere suggestion makes my stomach turn. It's almost unthinkable.

"Then I'll be the first to admit I was wrong," I say firmly. "And I won't stop or get in the way of whatever it is you need to do."

He nods, unsure what to say. After a few minutes, the turbulence is gone, and he goes to undo his seatbelt.

"And what about us?" The question slips out before I can stop it. "What happens to us after this?"

"What do you want to happen, Katerina? It all depends on you."

"On me?" I pull back slightly, anger flaring again. "You're the one who thinks I'm betraying you, that you've made a mistake, and whatever else you fucking said."

"I know," he says. "What do you want?"

"For starters, an apology for hurting me."

He looks away, jaw tight. "I wasn't thinking clearly."

"That's not an apology."

"No," he agrees. "It's not."

We sit in silence for a moment, the hum of the jet engines filling the space between us.

"I've never apologized to anyone in my life," Ares says suddenly.

"That's not something to brag about, Ares."

He shakes his head in agreement.

"I'm sorry, Katerina." His eyes meet mine, and for once, I see that all his walls are down. "I'm sorry I hurt you."

As I process the words, I start to feel sad. Even though I thought this is exactly what I wanted, now that I've gotten it, I realize it doesn't help. It doesn't change things.