Page 26 of Eryx

However, despite our many differences, our friendship had only grown stronger. I had practiced with Axios every afternoon for the past two years, working on his reflexes and building his strength. Even on days when our trainers pushed us hard, we still made time to work on our own drills. We hunted, ran, and performed tasks that challenged him intellectually.

Every ten days, the boys in our herd were inspected to ensure we were progressing in our training. An ephor carefully examined each boy, checking for any signs of weakness and feeling our muscles. Physical fitness was of the upmost importance, and any boy who failed to meet expectations was publicly mocked and forced to perform extra drills until he was no longer a disappointment.

That’s where we were headed that midday.

“I feel no different now than I did ten days ago,” Theon said, as we approached the building where the magistrate waited.

“Yes, you still look small,” Quill responded, grinning.

“You’re one to talk,” Theon scoffed. “You are the smallest of us all.”

“I’m big where it counts.”

Haden barked out a laugh as Axios shook his head.

Quill, Theon, and Haden had become close friends since thediamastigosis.The five of us rarely went anywhere without each other, with the exception of when Axios and I snuck away to our secret place near the stream.

“I’m big everywhere,” Haden said before flashing a cocky grin. Light-brown hair brushed the tops of his ears, and his pale gray eyes contrasted with his bronzed complexion.

He’d become even stronger over the years, towering over me in height and bulging with thick biceps and broad shoulders. Like a bull. He never challenged me, though. When I spoke, he listened. When I asked him to do something, he obeyed without hesitation.

“Stop,” Quill said, holding his stomach. “You’ll make me lose my breakfast.”

The ephor examined us one by one. Haden was first, earning appreciative nods from the older man. Quill was met with a skeptic eyebrow raise, as he usually was, but when the man ran his hands over Quill’s rounded arms and hard abdomen, he nodded.

When it was my turn, the ephor lifted my arm and lightly traced his fingers along my bicep. He glided a hand across my shoulders before smoothing them down my spine. The manner in which he touched me might’ve been confused for sexual desire, but he was only performing his duties.

“Excellent,” he said under his breath.

After the examination, I turned around and met Axios’ stare. His jaw was tight and his eyes were narrowed in anger. Why? Beneath the anger, I saw something else. It was a look I’d seen on the boys’ faces when they stared at girls.

Could he perhaps think of me in that way, an attractive thing that made his body warm and his blood race?

There had been a shift between us lately, subtle yet powerful. I had caught Axios admiring my body then blushing when he noticed me watching him. Unbeknownst to him, I’d often admired him too. I failed to understand what the shift between us meant, yet I couldn’t stop it from happening.

I walked toward Axios to stand with Haden and Quill, and as I passed, I lightly brushed my hand across his thigh. The contact made my fingers tingle. A spark shot up my arm and traveled through my veins.

Axios approached the magistrate, dropping his cloak to the ground to stand naked. As the ephor touched him, my fist tightened.

Gods, I wanted to be the one to run my fingers across his smooth skin. I wanted to wrap my arms around his bare chest and press my face into his hair. My heart accelerated in its beating and my breaths came a bit quicker.

I didn’t understand the thoughts running through my head, but they refused to allow me rest.

As I stood beside Haden, I found myself looking at Axios in a new light. The years had been kind to my friend. Sun-darkened skin, silky black hair, and he’d finally lost the boyish roundness to his face.

As if sensing my eyes on him, Axios looked at me. I had no shame in my appreciation of his impeccable form. I wanted him to see me admiring him. He had a poor perception of himself and felt as though he’d never match me in strength and skill, but he was incredible just the way he was. I needed him to believe it too.

My gaze trailed from his face and down his muscled body.

His cheeks darkened and he turned away from me like a bashful Adonis. I saw signs of the god of beauty in Axios, even if he didn’t see it himself.

The ephor dismissed us after all boys were inspected, and we walked back outside. Not only was there a shift between me and Axios, but also one in the air. The day lacked the humidity of summer and, though the sun was hot, the air held a slight crispness as it caressed my face. The season would change soon. The days would grow shorter and the nights longer.

As we slowly advanced down the path, I remembered we wouldn’t have training that day. While I’d miss the physical exertion, I had another thing to look forward to. Our herd had been invited to attend asyssitionthat evening.

Once a man reached age twenty, he joined asyssition, which was a group of fifteen or more men who dined, slept, and trained together. Reminiscent of our herd but the bonds went deeper.

The men in yoursyssitionbecame your brothers. You fought beside them, bled with them. They became your family. It was an honor to be accepted into one.