Page 167 of Eryx

“I finally know the answer, Ery,” he said, resting his head against mine.

“To what?” My gaze moved to the hoplites closing in on us.

Spartans stopped their advance, cutting the enemy apart. Thebans fell before more joined the fray. Our men fought with every ounce of strength and courage they possessed.

“Nikias said that every man at Thermopylae had the chance to run before the battle, that the king had dismissed the army. Some men had taken the opportunity to escape, but many stayed behind. He’d asked us why we thought that was. And I finally know why.” Axios moved closer to me, turning his attention to the soldiers approaching us. “Loyalty. Brotherhood. And love.”

Felix was among the men who pushed the enemy back. He roared and decapitated one before piercing the other in the heart.

I pressed my hand to Axios’, meeting his gaze, perhaps for the last time.

“Ax,” I whispered, feeling like I was about to shatter into a million pieces. “In all the ages, there has never been a love like ours. No one has ever loved another as I have loved you. If we fall today, my soul will find yours. For I am eternally yours… in this life and the next.”

The ends of his lashes glistened with tears, and he blinked them away. “Ery, I lo—”

His words were cut off by frantic shouts ahead of us.

The Sacred Band broke through the line of Spartans and hacked at them, blood misting into the air as our men were slain. Then they charged at us. A man ran at Axios, and I stabbed him in the gut. I quickly surveyed the area, seeing no more than two dozen Spartans fighting with us. The rest of our force had either fled or been killed.

Felix fought four men at once, sweat pouring off his body under the heat of the sun. His dark hair fell free, the leather strap having broken. The man at his side stepped back as more hoplites advanced, and then he ran away, leaving Felix alone. Our former trainer raised his shield to block an attack and jabbed another man in the eye with his spear. Men swarmed him, and I averted my eyes as he was taken down.

As Axios and I fought the surge of enemy soldiers, I noticed him weakening. His arm shook as he held his shield, and he winced when he had to lift it. Three men attacked him at once, and just as I tried to help him, I was shoved to the side.

I stumbled but regained my footing to block the sword that had been aiming for my chest. The battle seemed endless as the bodies piled on top of each other. The stench of blood and sweat—of death—filled my nostrils. My stomach rolled as I saw two familiar faces among the dead… Ian and Melias. They lay a foot apart, their hands reaching toward each other.

I yelled for Axios as I swept my gaze through the area. My heart pounded, my breathing hitched, and my hands shook from both adrenaline and fear. Then I saw him. Several men circled him, and he defended against them. Blood poured from a wound in his stomach.

No!I sliced at the man in my way before running toward him.

A soldier stabbed him in the gut as another struck him in the back. As their blades pierced his skin, I felt the same sensation in my chest.

“Ax!”

I fought to reach him, my blade slicing through walls of flesh as I ran. My heart was breaking even more, piece by piece. If I could just reach him, I would carry him off the field. My pride and honor be damned. I would live the rest of my life as a coward if it meant keeping him safe.

Axios dropped his shield as he swayed on his feet. I could see him but was too far to do a damned thing to help him. I screamed for him to look up. A soldier neared him with his sword drawn. When the soldier swung, Axios tried to deflect the hit but was too unfocused. He was sliced across the chest and fell to his knees.

“Axios!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.

Four men surrounded me, and I ducked beneath one swing before jumping up and bringing my shield down on the man’s neck, snapping it. Axios knelt in the dirt, reaching for his sword with sluggish movements. He’d been stabbed three times and was losing a lot of blood.

“Gods. No, no, no,” I cried as I watched the man I loved fading away. “Ax! Open your eyes!”

Please,I begged the gods.Spare him.

Finally, I broke through the enemy soldiers and threw my arms around Axios. His helmet had fallen off, and I shoved mine off too. I cried as I held him, hearing his harsh breaths as he fought to breathe.

There was no saving him this time, and the realization took all of my strength, took all of my will to keep fighting. I held his face in my hands before kissing him softly on the lips.

“Ery?” he asked, his eyelids fluttering as he tried to open his eyes.

When he finally did, more tears streamed down my cheeks. He looked so weak as he smiled at me. I moved my thumb along his jaw, staring at him as long as I could. His body shook as more blood gushed from his abdomen.

“Do not be afraid,” I said, smoothing the damp hair from his face. “Death is not the end.”

Spartans yelled as they were slaughtered. The two dozen men I’d counted only moments ago were now down to only a handful. The enemy grew closer.

“Ery, you have to fight,” Axios wheezed. “Leave me and go.”