Ares' Temptation

by Aubrie Dionne

  Ares stood over him. Normally, seeing a wounded enemy had no effect on the God of War, but this time, he felt the urge to help him. He turned to the soldier. “Get him a healer.”

  “Yes, sir.” The soldier jogged away.

  Ares ignored Apollo’s questioning gaze. “I am Ares. With whom do I speak?”

  “Pacifican, third battalion of the deep sea.”

  Ares leaned over him. “What is your message?”

  The merman reached for a shell on a chord tied to his neck. He cracked the shell open and pulled a dark curl out.

  Ares fell to his knees in devastation. Kaye. It had to be hers.

  He took the lock and held it to his cheek. The hair was silky against his skin and smelled of wild strawberries, eliciting sweet memories of soft kisses. “What has Poseidon done with her?”

  The merman coughed, and water trickled from his mouth. “She is alive. Held captive on the third island off the coast.”

  The price would be high, but Ares was prepared to give his life. “What does he want?”

  “For you to come alone.”

  “Impossible.” Apollo stepped in. His voice fell to a whisper. “Brother, this doesn’t sound like you. In the past, you’d be the first to start a full-scale invasion.”

  Apollo was right. But Ares wasn’t the same man who’d left Mount Olympus to track a witch. After meeting Kaye, all life seemed more precious. “I’m going alone.”

  “To go alone into the crux of enemy territory is suicide. I’ll gather the armada.”

  “No.” Ares stood and held his brother back. “No more large battles.”

  Apollo shoved his face in his brother’s. “I will not stand by and let Poseidon’s seamen slaughter you.”

  Ares remained calm as a moment of clarity hit him like a warm bath of light. He must go alone. It was the only way to defeat the Sea God once and for all. “This is my chance to reach Poseidon. Too many have died on both sides. If I succeed, we will have peace.”

  Apollo shook his head. “We can’t trust him. He’ll have his seamen kill you before you reach him.”

  Ares’ anger flared. “You underestimate me, brother.”

  “Your feelings for this…mortal have clouded your vision.”

  “No.” Ares held his brother’s stare. “If anything, they’ve made it stronger and given me clarity where battle lust would clog my senses.”

  Apollo sighed. “You truly think she’s worth it?”

  “I’d save her even if I didn’t think it would save the kingdom. But it will. You must trust me.”

  “I trust you. It’s Poseidon I don’t trust.” Apollo stared at the sea with loathing. “Don’t turn your back on him, and don’t fall prey to false hope. Given the chance, I’d chop off his head.”

  His brother’s council was wise. “I will be careful.”

  Apollo backed down and bowed his head. “You will always have my allegiance.”

  “And you will always have my friendship.” Ares clapped his brother on the shoulder. “See to it this merman is healed and returned to his people.”

  “For what reason?” Apollo stared at the merman in disgust.

  Ares had once had the same reaction, but now he only saw suffering. “To tell Poseidon I’m coming.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Replica

  Kaye hit the coconut against the rock again. This time she almost missed and scraped the side. The unbroken coconut fell at her feet.

  Damn it.

  She’d die of thirst before Ares even noticed she was gone.

  That’s if he was coming.

  Being the bait sucked. Sure, she’d be glad to see him again, but she wouldn’t want him falling into the hands of the enemy because of her. And she also didn’t want to die here on this deserted island as one of Poseidon’s play toys.

  An insistent cawing drew her attention. She whirled around and found a black bird perched on a vine above her head. A raven? On a tropical island?

  The bird took off, flying to the sand beneath a tree where a bottle of Dasani sat against the roots.

  She must be hallucinating. It was one of the symptoms of dehydration. Soon, she’d pass out.

  Hallucination or not, Kaye flung herself forward. She picked up the bottle. For a hallucination, it felt wonderfully cool and moist in her hands. She unscrewed the cover and gulped the delicious liquid. Water had never tasted so good.

  The raven cawed again.

  “What the hell do you want?” Kaye laughed. She had no idea why she was talking to a bird. Then she remembered the Tom Hanks movie, Castaway. That was it. Didn’t he start talking to a volleyball?

  The bird pointed its beak toward the trees as if it understood her.

  “What? You want me to go in there?”

  “Caw.”

  What kind of critters inhabited this island? Snakes, hairy spiders, and roaches came to mind. Sloths, too. Those things were harmless, but they gave her the creeps.

  The bird cawed again.

  “All right. All right.” Coconut in one hand and the Dasani in the other, she picked her way through the ferns barefoot.

  Black feathers ruffled from the back of a palm tree. The shape turned, revealing a humanoid form.

  “Hekate?”

  And she’d thought her day couldn’t get worse.

  Hekate smiled, but it wasn’t wicked. Her eyes were almost kind. “I see you’ve found my little gift.”

  Anger prickled the hair on the back of Kaye’s neck. “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t throw this coconut at you.”

  The witch spread both hands. “I mean you no harm. I’m here to help.”

  “Help? You got me into this mess in the first place!”

  She held up a finger. “Precisely why I’ve cleared my busy schedule to help you.”

  Kaye narrowed her eyes. She didn’t trust this woman any more than she trusted Poseidon. But seeing as she couldn’t go anywhere, she didn’t have much of a choice. “I don’t understand.”

  “I never meant it to get this far. All I wanted to do was teach Ares a lesson. I knew you’d have to get over him, but I didn’t intend for you to become Poseidon’s prey.”

  What was this? A witch with a conscience? Beggars can’t be choosers. Whatever her motivations are, as long as she wants to help, I should take advantage. Kaye straightened like a queen giving orders. “Then get me out of here.”

  Hekate snorted. “I’m not that powerful. I can’t just snap my fingers and snatch you away. I’m in the Sea God’s realm, and Poseidon is much more powerful than I am.”

  “So how are you going to help me?”

  “I’ve brought this.” She held out her hands, and Kaye’s sword appeared, polished and ready to go.

  Kaye’s hope dropped to her feet. That’s the best she could do? “That’s a replica. It’s not even a real sword. Besides, I don’t have Ares’ powers anymore. I’m useless.”

  Hekate looked sheepish. “The powers became a part of you, and when it came time to break the curse, I could not completely separate them from who you are. I’m sorry. I tried.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, you might have a little more oomph than you used to. That and…” She muttered. “You might live an extra two hundred years or so, give or take.”

  “What?!”

  Hekate shrugged, and her crow-feather cape rustled. “Sorry. I tried my best.”

  Kaye took the sword. Hekate was just setting her up for failure, as well as ridicule. Poseidon would have a field day if she came at him with a movie prop. “I don’t believe you. I don’t feel any different.”

  “Tell me this: are you as clumsy as before?”

  Kaye thought back. No tripping, no tumbles, no broken antiques. At least not yet. “No.”

  “Voila.”

  Was this a lie to boost her confidence? If what the witch said was true…Kaye couldn’t even worry about the repercussions. She had to get off the island first. “You want me to go up against Poseidon
with my replica sword and the leftovers of Ares’ powers?”

  “Not just you. Ares is on his way. But the odds are stacked against both of you. You will need to use it.”

  “Ares is coming?”

  Hekate nodded with certainty. “He’d give his life to save you.”

  “Only because of some sense of responsibility.”

  “No.” Hekate pulled a fern from the ground, studied it, then scrunched the stem up and stuffed it under her cape. “He cares for you. Back when he was cursed, he asked me to spare you the heartbreak. He couldn’t stand lying to you.”

  “So why didn’t you?” She unsheathed the sword. The hilt settled in her hand like it was meant to be there. If she sharpened the blade, the sword would at least be a weapon—better than throwing coconuts.

  “You had a right to know.” Hekate’s crow flew to her shoulder, and she reached in her cape and gave it a seed. “Besides that, I’d already cast the curse. I could not alter the end product.”

  “It’s not right to curse innocent people.”

  “I was blinded by revenge. I wanted to sever Ares’ head, as he had my brother’s. But what would that achieve? Another member of his family killing another one of mine. The cycle would continue until both of our families dwindled. The curse was the only way to slow Ares down, to make him see there’s more to life than spilling blood.”

  Kaye nodded. Ares had changed from frowning at Syrinx’s wedding to buying Grammy a birthday gift. Hekate’s curse had worked, even if it had also brought her here, to this forsaken place.

  “Don’t give up on Ares so quickly.” Hekate pet her crow. “You are his salvation.” Smoke rose around her body, and she started to disappear. “May the fates be with you. Or in your words, good luck.”

  Kaye swung the sword, cutting a gash in the foliage. She hadn’t lost her touch. “With Poseidon or Ares?”

  The raven cawed.

  Hekate raised a hand in farewell. “With both.”

  …

  Ares transported himself to the third island off the coast. A powerful god could travel in an instant, but his army would have to sail over Poseidon’s monster-infested seas. He could not take that risk. Kaye was his responsibility, and he alone would save her. If he could stop Poseidon at the same time, all the better.

  Palm trees blew in the breeze, and the waves lapped lazily at the shore. He unsheathed his sword, undeceived by the calm surroundings.

  “Kaye!” He turned in all directions, senses heightened.

  No answer. Was this one of Poseidon’s tricks?

  The ocean rose in a great wall, coming at him with tremendous force. Ares stepped back. A sword would do no good. Had his faith in his uncle been misplaced? Would Poseidon be so underhanded?

  If so, he’d fight those mermen to the death under the sea. With his powers back, he could hold his breath long enough to take an army down with him. Poseidon knew that, and he wouldn’t trade so many men, even for one powerful god.

  Ares stood his ground.

  The wall lessened as it reached the shore, and Poseidon swam from the wave into the shallows in a glorious crashing of waves. He slithered forward and jabbed his trident into the sand. “Ares, son of my brother Zeus, and God of War, you have come.”

  Ares had no patience for formal pleasantries. He pointed his sword at the Sea God. “Let us end this battle right here. Right now. With the two of us.”

  Poseidon laughed, and eels slithered from his beard into the waves. “Unnecessary. I already have you.”

  Ares growled. His hands tightened on the hilt. “Not without a fight.”

  “Oh, I think not.” Poseidon raised a hand and three giant crabs, each as big as Kaye’s metal chariot crawled from the sea.

  Ares was not impressed. “I can take them, and you.”

  Poseidon raised his giant, hairy, white eyebrows. “Maybe you can. But you will not try.” He gestured toward the palm trees. “Get the mortal. Bring her here.”

  The crabs scurried forward, and Poseidon turned back to Ares with a smug smirk. “You will trade your life for hers without a fight.”

  Ares’ hopes fell. Poseidon had him. He would not allow anything to hurt Kaye, and if that meant giving himself up, then so be it. But he wasn’t a fool. He kept his sword raised. “I’ll need a message from my brother saying she returned unharmed.”

  “That can be accommodated.”

  Pride surged within him even as the bitterness of defeat spread. “You may take my life, but you will not defeat my army, my brothers and sisters, and my father.”

  “You are wrong. I will find their weakness, just like I found yours, and take them down one by one. You think I enjoy my confinement to the sea? I can never travel beyond these waters. This ocean is a prison until I drown the whole damn realm.” Poseidon’s gaze glowed like a disgruntled lunatic’s. “Zeus’ lands will be mine.” He scanned the palm trees. “Where in Hades’ Underworld is that mortal?”

  “Hi-ya!” Kaye jumped from the ferns wielding a strange-looking sword. One of the crabs followed her, clicking its pincers. She ducked as it swiped at her head then stabbed it in the underbelly. The crab teetered, then fell.

  Ares gawked in surprise as pride swelled within him. That was his Kaye. Just like Grammy—a fighter until the end.

  She kicked the crab’s pincer claw away and swung her sword in an intricate pattern of crisscrossing arcs. The other two crabs crawled from the beach, claws up and ready for battle. Kaye hit a claw with her sword, forcing the crab back. “Ares, fight!”

  Right. Regaining his senses, Ares knocked Poseidon’s trident from his hand. Caught by surprise, the Sea God fell. He recovered quickly, rolling in the shallows. His trident lay in the sand, five feet from the where the last wave spread upon the sand.

  Ares stood between Poseidon and his trident, wielding his sword. “Go back to your ocean, and be content with what you have.”

  “No!” Poseidon’s face grew red as he drew upon his powers. A tidal wave rose from the deep sea.

  “Hades’ Underworld.” Ares backed onto the sand. “Kaye, get back!”

  “I’m a little busy right now.” Kaye had felled another crab and now faced the third, dancing back and forth and sparring with its larger claw along the jungle’s edge.

  Ares ran toward her as the wave hit the island. For a moment, everything was submerged in the water. Ares grabbed Kaye and brought them to the surface. As Kaye gasped for air, the wave dragged them back into the sea.

  “Find something to hold onto.” Ares swam against the current, but the tide was too strong. They were going in.

  Kaye grabbed a vine and reached for Ares.

  His fingers slipped through hers. He held his breath and gripped his sword. Disoriented, he allowed the current to take him deeper into the sea. If he had to face Poseidon this way, then so be it. His sword worked under water as well.

  Mermen swam around him, predators around their prey. Ares knocked the first one unconscious with the hilt of his sword. He slashed through two more before they backed away. They were no match for him. On the other hand, Poseidon’s skills only strengthened in his own domain. On land, Ares could take him any day. In the sea…that was another story.

  Poseidon came at him like a shark. His sword clanged against the trident as Ares deflected the sharp points centimeters from his face. The Sea God slammed into him, and they wrestled, sinking deeper into a ravine where only the faintest rays of sun shone.

  Ares’ chest tightened. Poseidon would bring him deeper and deeper. The Sea God could stay under for years, but Ares, even with his powers, would weaken without air. He punched Poseidon in the face, then slashed him back with his sword. Blue-black blood oozed into the water. The cut was superficial, but it surprised Poseidon enough for Ares to grab his beard and pull him skyward.

  He swam towards the light as Poseidon writhed in his grasp. The Sea God speared the trident at his feet, forcing Ares to release him to evade the blow. Ares dove up and away, swimming feet over head
until he righted himself and brandished his sword. They hung suspended, facing one another.

  Poseidon speared his trident again, and Ares caught the prongs in his sword. They locked in a battle of wills, each one’s muscles bunching with the force. Poseidon drew strength from the sea. Normally, Ares drew his strength from his sword and the thrill of battle, but instead, he tapped into his feelings for Kaye. He wanted to keep her safe. But more than that, he wanted her, and the only way for them to be together was to defeat Poseidon.

  Ares’ will strengthened, and he pushed Poseidon back, slashing the hand holding the trident. Poseidon released his weapon and clutched his bleeding hand to his chest.

  Ares paused, suspended in the water as his hair and limbs moved back and forth with the current. A week ago, he would not have hesitated to deal the fatal blow. Poseidon had kidnapped Kaye and attacked his father’s lands, and he would not hesitate to drown the whole mountain under a mile of seawater.

  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.”