Page 28 of Broken Obsession

“It’s just what I’ve been calling you in my head. It’s not like you left me your name the other night. It’s fitting though, don’t you think?”

“How so?”

“Oh, I don’t know, that stupid angelic face and the demonic ways you spend your free time kind of paints a devilish picture.” Eden made a face when Ares tipped his head thoughtfully. “Come on. There’s no way you’ve never been compared to a fallen angel before.”

“The Pantheon of Light on Usurn doesn’t contain a Lucifer,” Ares pointed out.

“That’s a shitty excuse. Lucifer is the oldest devil in the book. Everyone knows about him, even if he’s not part of the most popular religion in the universe.”

“My name derives from that of an ancient war god on a planet far away.”

“You saying you’re the god of war instead?”

Ares' brow furrowed. “I’m the God of Creation.”

…Okay…

“Careful, you say that to the wrong person and they’ll start thinking you believe it.” Eden cleared his throat, feeling like they were veering too far off course. “Whatever, I’m calling you Lucifer. If you don’t like it, stop calling me Ransom or Starling.”

Ares pursed his lips. “Lucifer is fine.”

Eden rolled his eyes. “Untie me.”

“All right.”

“Really?”

“I only restrained you so I could tend to your injuries,” Ares explained. “I knew you’d fight back if I didn’t.” He glanced toward the kitchen, where Eden’s multi-slate was visible on the counter. “Feel free to call the police if you’d like. I won’t stop you.”

“Why not?” A sinking feeling entered his gut, and maintaining eye contact was all he managed to do to cover his reaction.

“Perception,” he replied. “That’s all there’s ever been, and all there ever will be. People don’t care about things like the truth or reality, they care about how they perceive things. How they themselves are perceived. I’m Ares Major. Calling anyone short of Zar Corbett will get you nowhere. No one will stand against me. My perception is law.”

“Who is Zar?” And why did Eden instantly dislike him?

“It depends on who you ask.”

“I’m asking you.”

Ares paused, and Eden didn’t like the way he was looking at him, like he was trying to dig under his skin. “Are youjealous, Starling?”

“That’s absurd.” Eden tugged pointedly at his bindings. “Untie me already.”

“No,” his voice took on a low rumble, contemplative, “I don’t think I will anymore.”

“That’s not funny.”

Ares crouched in front of him, careful to maintain enough distance that Eden couldn’t touch him no matter how hard he stretched against the ropes. Even his ankles had been secured to the legs of the chair.

He’d gone through a lot more trouble restraining Eden than he had with Galen.

That realization gave him pause.

“Was it on purpose?” he found himself asking before his mind could catch up to his mouth. When Ares gave him a silent look to continue, he elaborated. “Did you want Galen to come at me like that at the boathouse?”

“What makes you say that?”

“That’s not an answer.”