Page 27 of Beneath Scarred Vows

My eyes drop to his lips for a moment as he clenches his jaw, highlighting the annoyingly perfect definition of his face.

"I've never needed protection before," I say.

"You weren't my wife before." Ares leans forward. "Things have changed."

"Clearly." I cross my arms. "So what, he follows me to the bathroom too?"

"If necessary."

"That's insane."

"That's security," Ares counters. "Chris will maintain a respectful distance when appropriate, but he goes where you go. End of discussion."

I shift forward in my chair. "Are you trying to protect me or keep me from running away?"

His eyes squint. "Where would you run to? Back to your uncle? To the people who sold you to me without a second thought?"

His words sting because they're true. I have nowhere to go. No one waiting for me. The realization sits like a cold stone in my stomach.

"Chris stays," Ares says. "Unless you'd prefer I escort you everywhere myself?"

The thought of being constantly in Ares's orbit makes my skin flush hot. I glance at Chris again, who stands at attention, his face still carefully blank.

"Fine," I spit out. "But he keeps his distance."

Ares nods. "You tell me if he doesn't."

I feel like I'm suffocating. "I need some air."

Without waiting for a response, I walk out of the office, leaving Chris with Ares. The hallway is blessedly empty, but I hear footsteps behind me. I turn around and see him.

My new shadow.

I quicken my pace, heading for the back of the house where I'd spotted doors leading to a garden. Behind me, Chris matches my stride effortlessly. Not too close, not too far.

I push through the glass doors and step onto a stone patio. The morning air is cool against my flushed skin.

The garden is beautiful—meticulously landscaped with stone pathways winding through beds of flowers and ornamental shrubs. In the distance, at a table reading, is Calli.

I walk over to her.

"Morning," I call out as I take a seat.

"Oh, morning trouble maker. How are you feeling today?" Calli asks.

"I've been better," I say and nod toward Chris. Calli follows my gaze.

"Well, at least you now know Ares's way of dealing with things," she says.

"A bit excessive don't you think? It's like he's out to get me."

"Well, don't take it personal. My brother, he's been on edge since our dad's death. He roams the house, checks security cameras, can't sleep. He's just paranoid. He's not normally like this."

"What is he normally like?" I ask.

"Believe it or not, easygoing and fun," Calli says and leans forward. "Like, he loves parties and always made a big deal of celebrating all of our birthdays. Now? Mine and Theo's just passed and nothing—he's too paranoid for any of it. It's a shame to see his spark kind of get dimmed. We're all sad and suffering, but I think with him, it's been taken to a whole new level. He has so much responsibility now, seemingly out of nowhere," she says with a sigh and leans back in her chair. "My poor bro."

Just when I'm about to respond, Ares approaches us.