Page 163 of Eryx

He gritted his teeth when I denied him yet again. My own need for release was rising as well. I thrust harder, faster, and reached between us to stroke his leaking cock. The camp was filled with our grunts and skin slapping skin. But I cared not if the men were stirred from sleep by the sounds.

All that mattered was Axios.

His mouth popped open and his half-lidded eyes watched me. I stroked him once more, and then he was coming apart. I followed. Pressure built inside me before I shuddered and buried my face in his neck, my cock pulsing inside of him.

Afterward, I rolled off him and stared up at the sky, breathing heavily. Every time we made love it was intense, but nothing like that time. It had been both physical and emotional as I’d fought to make the moment last.

“Do you think the men heard us?” Axios asked, nestling against my side.

“By the way you were gasping and groaning?” I asked, smirking. “Yes. I believe the whole camp heard us. Perhaps even the army across the valley too.”

Axios slapped my chest and chuckled. I watched his face as he looked again at the stars. An hour passed, maybe more, and his eyes remained open.

“You need to sleep,” I said, moving my fingers along his arm.

“As do you.” He peered at me.

I smiled and pressed my face into his hair.

“Perhaps I’m holding onto the night as long as I can,” he said.

My heart raced and my throat felt tight. It was becoming more difficult to hide my fears. An army waited for us on the other side of the plain. One we would face at first light. I knew our men were strong, and I needed to believe in our abilities.

But then I remembered the sight of Theon dying on the battlefield. I remembered other fallen Spartans throughout the years of war. I moved my hand down Axios’ stomach and traced the jagged scar present there, and the memory of him being stabbed entered my mind.

“Me too,” I whispered, holding him tighter.

“Tell me the story of the moon,” Axios said, resting his head on my chest. Neither of us wanted to sleep.

My eyes watered and I kissed his temple.

And then I did.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Battle of Leuctra

On the morning of the battle, Spartans sat on the ridge and polished their shields in sight of the enemy. Others prepared their weapons, sharpening swords and staring across the plain at the Theban hoplites. Men with longer hair made a show of tying their hair back. It was a ritual for the men and a way to antagonize the enemy.

Song of Castor was sung as we dressed in our armor and formed lines to descend into the valley. King Cleombrotus rode past us on his horse and the cavalry followed. The infantry fell in behind them.

Our army consisted of fourmorai, seven hundred of which were full-fledged Spartiates. The rest wereperioikoi. The allied army brought our number close to eleven thousand, with a thousand of them being cavalry. We outnumbered the Theban army who stood in formation on the plain.

The king positioned the Spartans on the right wing, ensuring he was surrounded by the best fighters.

And then we waited.

Epaminondas commanded the Theban army, and he had proven himself to be innovative and clever when it came to strategy. It was the reason I remained cautious instead of arrogant like the other men around me. Thebes had been outnumbered at Tegyra as well, and we had still been defeated.

Axios stood to my left and Haden was on the other side of him. Quill stood with Felix, Ian, and Melias behind us. Demetrius and Cassius were positioned in the line ahead of us. I took a deep breath and slowly released it.

I glared as I saw the Theban general Pelopidas. He had led the attack at Tegyra. My hand tightened around my spear. Because of his actions years ago that had sparked the war between Sparta and Thebes, I had lost my brother.

We would win this fight.

There was no other option.

Our phalanx was twelve men deep and spread out among the two wings. That was when I noticed the enemy formation. Epaminondas had placed his strongest men—the Sacred Band—on the far left and the cavalry and light infantry stood in front of them.