Page 94 of Eryx

“We could always have a wedding just between us,” I suggested. “A ceremony by our stream. And maybe Theon could marry us.”

My attempt to make him laugh was a success. He snorted and playfully shoved me away. However, only the last part had been said in jest.

“I love you, Ax,” I said, feeling the words in my very core. “I know we may not ever have the life you wish to have, but I hope having my word is enough. My heart and my body are yours until the end of our days. I swear it to you, by the gods.”

Tears sprang to his eyes, and he went to wipe them away. He hated crying because he said it made him weak. I didn’t think him weak. I gently grabbed his wrists to still his hands. As his watery gaze met mine, I cupped his face and leaned forward to kiss a tear that had fallen from his eye.

He was the most precious thing in my world, even if I had difficulty expressing it at times. But here—now—I vowed to always be his.

“And I swear to forever be by your side,” Axios said, as I focused on him. “To love and defend you, and to spend the rest of my days pleasing you. This I swear, by the gods.”

We sealed the oath with a kiss. His tears tasted salty on my tongue and more fell from his eyes as our mouths pressed together over and over. Axios deserved the moon and the stars, yet all I could give him was my fidelity and love.

I prayed it was enough.

“Snuck away to snog again, eh?” Theon’s voice sounded from behind us.

Axios smiled against my lips before pulling away to look at our friend. “Interrupting again, eh?”

Theon snickered before throwing a leather ball at us. “Up, you lovebirds. We wish to play.”

“Play?” I held the ball in my grip, turning it slowly in my hands. “Perhaps when we were boys, but we are men now.”

Quill ran into the courtyard and called out, “Come on! Haden and Melias are already on the field waiting for us.”

“Eryx is too much of a man to play a game of ball with us,” Theon said, upturning his nose.

“Is that so?” Quill asked, narrowing his eyes at me. “Very well. He can go spend time with the older men and listen to more of their war stories while we play a game and actually enjoy ourselves.”

I rose from the grass and approached the two of them, still turning the ball in my hands. “I suppose I can play.”

Mischievous grins spread across their faces before Theon grabbed the ball from my hands and took off running with it. Quill jogged after him.

Axios stepped up beside me, watching them flee the courtyard. “It will be nice to play like we are boys again. I often feel like we were forced to become men much too fast.”

And so we chased after our companions and joined them in a game, temporarily forgetting about training and responsibilities and instead laughed and thought of nothing but the moment we were in.

Chapter Eighteen

As the days passed, Axios and I settled into an easy life. Simple. For two years, we trained nearly every day with our youths before practicing drills with the army. With peace reigning among the Greek city-states and the threat of war lifted, many of our days also consisted of dance, song, visiting the marketplace, and training the horses.

We were warriors… yet, with the time of peace, we were also able to experience a citizen lifestyle. The helots farmed the lands, and I sometimes oversaw their work when I wasn’t training.

I mostly enjoyed working with the horses.

“Easy, girl,” I said to the brown mare as I smoothed a hand along her dark mane. She had been startled by the men who were training nearby, and I worked on calming her. Eventually, she nickered and pushed her head against my palm. “Yes, I am pleased to see you too.”

I led her around the field at a leisurely pace. For the longest time, she hadn’t let me near her. It had taken patience and dedication to earn her trust. A feeling I knew well. I rarely trusted anyone, either, with the exception of mysyssition.

“You are too good with her. I do believe she adores you.”

I turned to see Axios standing beside the fence.

“Jealous?” I asked with a grin.

He chuckled and shook his head. “I can muster the strength to share you, I suppose. But only with her. I cannot believe you named her Xiphos.”

“Why not? It’s a strong name.”