Page 46 of The Cursed Chalice

“Well, um, thank you for the clothes and the music box. I really do appreciate it.” I am trying my best to keep my knees from buckling.

He nods. I can only see the silhouette of his face. “Never a problem. Everything I have is yours.”

I chuckle a little. “Do me a favor? Turn your whole face to me when you are talking.”

Ares turns his face to me. “I didn’t realize I was doing that,” he confesses.

“There is no reason to. I like you exactly how you are.” I pull his face down and kiss him on the cheek.

“Goodnight, Ares.” I walk to my room and close the door behind me. Not before I hear the words, “Good night, Little Flame.”

“All of a sudden, you are quiet. Ares?” I grumble, walking out of the house and to the car.

One little kiss on the cheek, and Ares has been MIA.

“You’re a fucking coward.” Opening the car door, I am met with silence, but my scar pulses, reminding me that Ares is still there.

Soraya and Nisa are already buckled in, singing “Gnarly” by Katseye with raised voices.

I feel a sense of pride that the women who entered my home in fear are now singing at the top of their voices.

I did that.

“No, we did that, Aric.”

“Oh, so now you speak?” I reply.

Soraya looks at me. “Huh?”

“Oh, not you, sorry. Talking to myself,” I state and move the car down the driveway.

Soraya taps her chin and smirks. “You know, they say talking to yourself is a sign of being a genius.”

I laugh. “Well, call me Einstein, then.”

Nisa chuckles. “Hello, Mr. Einstein.”

Soraya tilts her head to the side. “You know, Einstein suits you. I will call you Einstein from now on.”

Another song starts, and I can see Nisa’s little shoulders shaking.

I look across at Soraya, and she is also moving in her seat. She turns to Nisa, singing and pointing. “I ain’t thinking about you.”

“This song is annoying. Who is this?” I chime in.

“Katseye, Einstein. And they are not annoying,” Nisa replies.

Soraya reaches around and gives Nisa a high five.

“Phobos got me a yearly subscription to Spotify,” Nisa shouts.

“You don’t say.” I smirk. Of course, my sons are smitten with Nisa. She is their new little sister.

For the next thirty minutes, I listen to Nisa and Soraya singing Katseye at the top of their lungs. I haven’t felt this…what’s the word?

“Content.”

“Yes, that’s it,” I whisper as I park in the mall’s parking lot. Nisa is already unbuckled and exiting the car.