Page 62 of The Cursed Chalice

“Someone doesn’t want us here.”

“I don’t care who. Can you move it?” I feel like a caged tiger pacing.

Hecate closes her eyes, and her palms rotate. “Destruction of the unseen wall crumbles before me. I am Hecate, Key Bearer. Open for me; no barrier will remain.”

The wall disintegrates as gold sprinkles burn away the barrier like a paper lit on fire.

Hecate stands still and inhales deeply. “There is a god at play here, Ares.”

Once the barrier is gone. I rush to Soraya and pull her to mine. Her frame is limp, and her lips are dry.

“Oh, poor child.” Hecate places Nisa’s limp body in her arms.

Deimos and Phobos walk in, breathing heavily. I look at them and let my rage flow through me.

“Burn this place down to the ground. It should be nothing but ash and steel when you are done.”

They both nod, fists clenching.

“Hecate, get us home now.”

“As you desire.”

In a flash, I am back in Soraya’s bedroom, placing her gently on the bed. I check for any bruises, and thankfully, I see none.Elias Thorne is a dead man walking. I sit at the side of Soraya’s bed, watching her sleep. I failed her.

Hecate appears in Soraya’s room. “I can draw the tranquilizer out of her.”

“What of Nisa?”

Hecate grimaces. “They didn’t hurt her. But I fear if we arrived later…”

My jaw clenches, wanting to go back to the building. I should have ripped each man limb from limb.

“This shows me that Soraya is not safe without me,” I whisper more to myself than to Hecate.

I hear Hecate huff. “You think she’s safe? With you? Please. You’re the God of War, breaker of men, destroyer of worlds.” She lifts her eyebrows and smirks. “Mr. Walking Red Flag.”

I look at Hecate as she traces symbols in the air. Golden sparks flicker on her fingertips.

“You can’t possibly understand how much she is beginning to mean to me.”

Hecate rolls her eyes. “You’re right. I value my sanity.”

“Hecate,” I warn her.

“You still want her dead, right? I mean, it’s not like you love her,” Hecate whispers, waiting for me to respond.

Love? Do I love her? I think about last night, the way we made love. The urgency. I close my eyes and inhale. No, I love Talia.

I open my eyes. “I need her to die to save Talia and…myself.” My words taste bitter. My hands still have the blood of the men I tore apart to save her. Hypocrisy burns my soul. The truth is simple: I saved her only to lose her later.

“Maybe it’s time for you to look at different angles of this curse, Ares. Find a different approach.”

I remain silent because I had a lot to think about. However, one thing remains constant: Talia’s soul. That matters to me the most.

“Did you smell the myrrh and tart grape?” She asks, walking to the side of the bed and taking Soraya’s hand.

“No.” I touch the tips of Soraya’s fingers. I just want her to be better.