Page 83 of Eryx

“Anyway,” Haden said, snarling at Theon before focusing on Axios and me. “During training, I had one boy who did as I’d instructed and finally managed to tackle his opponent by carefully watching the other’s movements and seeing a weakness in their form.”

I understood the pride in Haden’s voice, for I felt the same when one of my youths advanced in their skillset.

Haden leaned against the wall behind him, crossing his arms and moving his arrogant smirk to Axios. “Also, I talked to Leanna again.”

A short pause followed.

“And?” Axios asked. “You cannot say that and then not provide me more information.”

Haden looked at me. “Is he always so impatient?”

Knowing it would get a rise out of my lover, I shrugged and said, “Depends on the day.”

Axios slapped my arm, and when our eyes met, my smile widened. He glowered before saying, “For that remark, you shall sleep a foot apart from me tonight.”

“Someone is being cast aside like a wet stone,” Quill said, looking between me and Axios.

I held my tongue, mainly because I knew I’d laugh if I opened my mouth. Axios could threaten me all he wished, but I knew that once we lay down, he would seek my arms just as he always did.

“What did my sister say?” Axios asked Haden. He was doing his best to ignore my hand on his thigh, one that had moved closer to a certain area between his legs.

The arrogance slipped from Haden’s face. He slowly chewed his food, purposefully delaying his response. “She wishes to continue seeing me. At first when we began speaking, I thought she only did so to appease my persistent pursuit of her, but now I think it is different.” His gaze dropped to his plate as his cheeks darkened. When he spoke again, it was nearly a whisper. “I believe her to fancy me as I fancy her.”

“I wish you two the best,” Axios said with warmth in his voice. I cocked my head at him, finding his change of tone interesting. Instead of mocking Haden, he was giving his blessing. “If anyone were to make her happy, I know it would be you. Even if you are a bit dimwitted and clumsy.”

“I shall ignore your last comments and only acknowledge the beginning.” Haden smiled and seemed more like his confident self again. “Thank you for your blessing. Truly. You are one of my best friends, and even though we jest often, know that I respect you and your wishes. If I were to be so fortunate as to have your sister by my side as my wife, I will treasure her.”

“I know this,” Axios said, before averting his gaze.

I wondered if his mind was in the same place as mine: thinking about a life we’d never have. Haden and Leanna could choose to be married someday. However, marriage was not something two men could experience in Sparta. I would never have the blessing of calling Axios my husband… and that truth weighed heavily on my heart.

“You will never believe the atrocious thing Theon did to me today,” Quill exclaimed, breaking the silence. “He kissed me!”

We all laughed, all except for Theon.

“Atrocious?” Theon shook his head. “I think not. You enjoyed it.”

I arched a brow at Axios, wishing for him to tell me the story of how theatrociouskiss had come about. He leaned over to whisper in my ear, and his breath on my skin sent shivers down my arms.

“I dared them to kiss each other, because they were mocking me for always kissing you,” Axios said, before he lightly brushed his lips across my earlobe. “I never expected them to actually do it.”

I chuckled at the story, finding it both ridiculous and delightful.

As the men broke off into scattered conversations—Theon and Quill shoving and mocking each other while Haden, Ian, and Melias spoke of the war—Axios and I pressed our legs together beneath the table and ate our dinner in silence.

Though silent, much was said between us.

I rested my hand on his knee, and he reached down to interlace our fingers. My thumb moved in circles on the top of his hand. And as I held onto him, I remembered the conversation with Nikias.

In two years’ time, Axios and I would be age twenty. Then, we could be sent to war at any moment. Nikias had always been gentle despite the tough training. He’d been stern but fair, and many a night we had sat around the fire as he’d told us stories. War had changed him. It had taken some of the gentleness and replaced it with a sharp edge.

Would the same happen to Axios?

Would the gentle heart I adored be shattered and replaced with an empty vessel as Nikias had said?

No, I told myself as I clutched tighter to his hand.

Once we left for war, we’d both be changed by it. But if my conversation with Nikias had taught me anything, it was that Axios and I would keep each other strong.