Page 93 of The Cursed Chalice

This evening would be different.

Dusk settles into night by the time the lasagna is ready. I set the table and take a seat opposite Nisa, Ares’s place waiting at the head. Nisa talks about school while we both wait for him. Maybe we should start eating.

“Sorry for being late.” Ares pulls the chair and sits.

I study his appearance. Dark blue shirt, charcoal pants, and he smells like whiskey and peppermint.

I take my time sharing the food. I take up Ares’s plate, and he stops me. “I will plate mine.”

Shock fills me as I watch him listen intently to Nisa while plating his food. He doesn’t touch it. He pushes the plate away.

The lasagna tastes like paper. All I am able to do is listen to Nisa as she talks about school and her new art teacher.

A few minutes later, I get up and begin to clear the table. Nisa and Ares also get up.

“I can do it, Raya.” Nisa picks up the plates and carries them into the kitchen.

Ares pushes back and begins to walk away from the chair.

“You’re not carrying your plate?” I ask, feeling more annoyed than sad.

“Right.” Ares grabs his plate and cutlery.

As he turns away, I can feel the distance growing between us minute by minute.

“Are you coming to bed tonight?” I ask, gripping the back of the chair and steadying myself for his response.

He doesn’t look back. “I have a ton of work to complete, so I may sleep downstairs. I don’t want to wake you.”

“I don’t mind…”

He nods and walks away. I think it’s time for me to find my independence again. That night after cleaning up, I sent an email, reaching out to my old job, asking them if there are any openings.

It doesn’t take long for me to receive a reply. I can start work in the morning if I please. Tomorrow at 10:10 a.m. I will be back at work.

I close the laptop and head downstairs. Let me inform Ares.

ARIC

Ares went into rest when we entered our office. I sit on the sofa and demolish the lasagna. It melted in my mouth. Now, an empty plate is staring back at me.

“We have a ton of work to finish.”The burn pulses on the side of my face.

“I want to talk to?—”

“Fuck no, Aric. We agreed.”

“I didn’t agree to shit. But I understand.” I understood that I was not powerful enough to defend Soraya from the gods. But hell, seeing her looking sad, it hurts me.

I find myself sitting behind my desk, signing off on some new contracts.

A knock stops me. “Come in.”

I close my eyes, inhaling her scent from behind the door.

The door opens, and Soraya sticks her head in.

“Hey, can we talk?”