Ares' Temptation (13 page)

Kaye’s words from the wedding came back to him.
Whatever the motives, lives are lost.

If he’d let Hectade live, Hekate would have never cursed him, leaving him—and Kaye—vulnerable to Poseidon’s attack. Perhaps showing mercy was a sign of strength, not one of weakness. To allow Poseidon to live would mean risking future attacks, but to take his life would anger the mermen, making more enemies for his kingdom. Who knew what kind of chaos would ensue, what kind of leader Triton would be? Poseidon was his uncle, and his father would not want to see his brother dead.

Using the hilt of his sword, Ares knocked the god unconscious and dragged him to the surface. He broke through to the air and swam for shore with Poseidon under his arm. The Sea God would live to face his actions.

Ares emerged from the waves to a beach littered in dead sea monsters. Kaye stood with her arms crossed, sword in hand. A wave of intense relief came over him at the sight of her. Her curls shot wildly from her head, and sand smeared her forehead. Her sundress was torn just above her right knee, showing her upper thigh. She’d never looked so sexy. The urge to kiss her came at him so strongly he licked his salty lips. “Not bad, for a mortal.”

She pointed to Poseidon. “Not bad for a War God.”

Ares dropped the merman in the shallows. Kaye sheathed her sword and threw her arms around him. “I’m sorr—”

She kissed him so hard, he couldn’t finish. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. Her soft lips opened, and he deepened the kiss, hungry for more. Desire flamed inside him. They’d never made it to the bed in their stay at the resort. He’d have to rectify that now that they’d broken the curse. That was, if she’d have him.

She broke off the kiss and buried her head in his chest. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“You underestimate my abilities.” He couldn’t keep the amusement and gentleness from his voice.

She laughed and pulled her head back to meet his gaze. “I did. Will you forgive me?”

He wiped the sand from her face and smoothed over her hair. “You haven’t seen me at my best these past few days, so it is understandable. Besides, I’m the one who should apologize.”

Kaye scrunched her nose. “Don’t worry about that. You had to keep the truth from me to break the curse. You needed your powers to save your people.” She glanced down at Poseidon. “I can see the great threat he poses.”

“Not anymore.”

She pulled away from him as if afraid of what he’d do next. “What are you going to do with him?”

“He’s coming with us.”

Kaye raised her eyebrows in question.

“To the temple, to stand trial in front of Zeus.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “A smart woman once told me I should reconsider my tactics.”

Kaye blinked in surprise. “I’m impressed.”

“I’m not the same man you met at the wedding.”

“And I’m not the same woman who dropped the fork on your lap.”

He glanced at the corpses on the beach. “I can see that.”

“So, the question is, where do we go from there? I mean, after we drop him off.”

Ares tapped Poseidon’s chest with his boot. “I’m hoping this gets me a vacation. Let’s say for at least a hundred years.”

“You might want to ask for a little more than that.” Kaye wiggled her eyebrows.

Ares shook his head in confusion. “But, you’re a mortal…”

“Hekate couldn’t undo all the effects of the curse.” Kaye put her arm around him as if bracing him for dire news. “I’m a little more than a mortal now. And I’m afraid you’re stuck with me for a long time.”

Epilogue

“And what do you think I’m supposed to do with him?” Apollo circled the Sea God’s body as onlookers came out in the middle of the square to gawk. Poseidon lay unconscious, smelling of fish and oozing gelatinous seawater onto the cobblestones.

It was like she’d been transported to ancient Rome. Stone buildings with giant pillars surrounded her. Gods dressed in everything from simple robes to extravagant gowns attended their business. Above her, mythological beasts pulled chariots in the sky. This must be serious if Ares was taking her to meet his fam.

“Get a tank,” Ares said simply. “He’s to go on trial before Zeus.”

Apollo approached them and lowered his voice. “You should have taken his head when you had the chance.” Seemed like Ares had an arrogant brother, too. And just when she’d made up with Bradley. Now she had to put up with a self-important god.

“That’s your bloodlust speaking,” Ares clapped his brother on the shoulder. “He’s our uncle, and this is my order as commander. Give our father the chance to work something out.”

“Very well.” Apollo walked by Kaye, glancing at her like she was a fly on the wall. “You know the rules. Mortals are not allowed in our realm.”

“Take a good look.” Ares lifted an eyebrow and gave Kaye a knowing glance filled with pride. “She’s more than meets the eye.”

Apollo turned around and stared at Kaye. He walked over and touched a curl on her head. Kaye’s heart sped. Her dark hair glowed in the sun, much like the way Syrinx and Ares did. She hadn’t seen it before because she’d been too devastated by losing Ares. Now she didn’t know what to think. But she knew not to lose her cool.

“A byproduct of Hekate’s curse.” Kaye met Apollo’s gaze and held out her hand. “I don’t believe we’ve officially met. Kaye Underhill.”

Apollo stared at her hand with annoyance. “You will continue to distract my brother?”

Man, he’d be a hard nut to crack. The holidays would be brutal. Kaye took her hand away. “Nice to meet you, too.”

“That brings up my second point.” Ares took his brother aside. “I believe this…gift…deserves a vacation. I’m taking my leave of my duties for a while.” He slapped his back. “And putting you in charge.”

As Apollo blinked in shock, Ares took Kaye’s arm and started walking away. He spoke over his shoulder. “Let me know if there’s something you can’t handle.”

Apollo bristled. “I can handle a lot.”

“Good.” Ares winked at Kaye. He lowered his voice. “Because we have to celebrate.”

“More songs?” Kaye tried to keep the sarcasm from her voice as they walked from the city square to the palace on the mountain side.

Ares glanced at her with longing. “No. Tonight I have something a little different in mind.”

…

Ares showed Kaye to a room at the top of a winding staircase inside the palace. Marble floors stretched over a large stone balcony overlooking the city and the ocean beyond. Translucent fabric draped over a four-poster canopy bed fluttered in the warm breeze. Bowls of fruit splayed out on a large mahogany table set with long, tapered candles burning brightly.

“This is your room?” On the wall, a spare set of armor hung along with a rack of weapons. Kaye touched the hilt of one of the swords. The weapon sung to her a song of its own, calling.

This would be her life with Ares. She never wanted to go back to the insecure woman she’d been before meeting him, wondering what strangers thought of her and fearing embarrassment each day. Now, she was strong and free. She would help him protect his realm, and in return, he would make her his goddess. Their children would play in the gardens in this mythical land with the blood of gods running through their veins. Her white-picket fence had turned out to be a monolith of Roman columns.

And she’d love every minute of it.

“Yes.” Intensity and yearning burned in Ares’ gaze. “We will not be bothered here by mortal, god, or witch.”

Kaye ignored the call of the sword. She had stronger desires to contend with. “So how do you suppose we celebrate?”

Ares stepped toward her and scooped her up in his arms. “I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time.” He pulled her close and kissed her so passionately she felt warmth all the way to her toes. He squeezed her tightly against him, and she molded to his hard chest. Desire surged inside her. Kaye had more than earned this by surviving a curse, slaying a dozen sea monsters, putting up with an arrogant brother, and walking up several hundred steps to reach this room.

She opened her mouth, deepening their kiss. He picked her up and carried her to the bed. Soft furs brushed her back as he laid her down. His hands traveled under the fabric of her sundress as she unfastened the buckles on his armor. She pulled the breastplate off and dropped it on the ground with a clang. Kaye rubbed her hands over the hard, gorgeous muscles that lay underneath. She unclasped his cape, and it fluttered to the ground as well. Next came those tight leather pants.

Giddy disbelief bubbled up inside her.
This is it.
She’d finally get her chance with Ares.

As their bodies met, the timing, the place, and the passion were perfection.

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About the Author

Aubrie Dionne
is an author and flutist in New England. She started writing because her flute students urged her to publish the stories she made up in their lessons. Her books are influenced by her undying love of
Star Wars
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Star Trek
, and by her own musical life. When she’s not writing, Aubrie teaches flute and plays in orchestras.

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