Ares (Contemporary Mythos Book 3)

I’d barricaded myself in my apartment for the past two days, ignoring every phone call and text Chelsea sent me. If she weren’t out of town, she’d have beaten my door down by now. A normal woman would’ve immediately confided in her best friend—sought their approval for the crazy decision they were about to make. I don’t think anyone would describe me as a normal woman. Whether I gave Chelsea the chance to believe me was my choice. In life, there wasn’t always time to stew on the outcomes. Decide now. Organize the potential crumbling pieces later, but make a choice.

I sat on my couch with my head between my knees, groaning.

A mysterious whoosh filled the room, sending my hair flying. With narrowed eyes, I flipped my head up and threw a punch. My fist collided with flesh and bone.

“It’s me!”

I blinked several times. “Dino?”

“Yeah.” He rubbed his chin with a grimace. “You sure pack a hell of a right hook. Now I get it.”

“Dino. You’re a—you’re…” I stared at him wide-eyed.

He closed his eyes and sighed. “Shit. I forgot you didn’t know who I am yet.”

Holding my hands in front of me, ready to defend if necessary, I backpedaled.

“No need to be on guard with me.” He held out a large terra cotta hand. “My real name is Dionysos.”

Shifting my gaze from his face to his outstretched hand, I shook it. “Dionysos. God of wine?”

“And festivity, wild frenzy—” He paused, a wicked grin sliding over his lips. “Pleasure.”

Growling, I turned away. “I’ve had it up to here with Greek gods lately. What are you even doing here?”

“I’ve heard all about these visits and can see why you’re pissed.”

I let my hand flop at my side and arched a brow.

“Word gets around fast with us.” He tousled his long hair as he scanned my mediocre apartment. “Homey.”

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

Dino walked to my coffee table, picking up an empty take out carton. “You haven’t gone outside in two days. Don’t you think this is a bit overkill?”

I pushed past him and picked up the cartons, pizza box, and paper cup. “I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

“Does his name rhyme with ‘cherries’?” He snickered.

I’d yet to take the garbage out, and the added trash made it overflow. Using my foot, I forced it down.

“Look, I thought you could use a friendly face to talk to that wasn’t a meddling goddess or someone you’re screwing.” He held his arms out to his sides.

“Talk about what?”

“Oh, come on, Harm.” He spun on his heel and sat on an armrest of the couch. “The way I see it, it’s only a matter of time before I’m your big bro-in-law, so here’s me starting things off on a good foot.”

I crossed my arms in a huff. “You’re acting differently.”

“How am I supposed to be acting?”

“Like a party-hardy frat boy?” I raised my brows.

He pressed a hand over his stomach like he experienced acid reflux. “Partying twenty-four seven? Sounds exhausting.” Shifting his weight, he crossed his scuffed boots at the ankle. “Don’t get me wrong, I am a party-hardy frat boy, but I can be serious when needed.”

Biting back a smile, I moved into the living room to stand across from him. “And how long do I have before said seriousness starts to drive you crazy?”

A snarky grin pulled at his lips. “Fifteen minutes tops, so you better start yappin’.”

“Why is this such a difficult decision?”

“To become a goddess? Are you kidding? I’m not going to pretend like I have any idea what it feels like to go from mortal to immortal, but even that sounds insane.”

Groaning, I dropped to the floor and sat with my legs crossed. “Not helping.”

“Alright.” He squatted in front of me, steepling his deeply tanned fingers. “What’s stopping you?”

I pinched my eyes shut, mulling it over. “I’m not entirely sure if I’m ready to give up being a mortal.”

“Is it really all that great?”

I shot him a one-eyed glare.

He lifted his palms. “Sorry. Man, you’re a spitfire.” His fist playfully nudged my shoulder. “If that’s what you’re worried about, then it’s simple.”

“Simple? Seriously?”

“Uh, yeah.” He snorted. “I thought you were going to say being tied to that brooding oaf for eternity.”

Ares and me—together. Forever. The thought should’ve frightened me or at least made me nervous. Instead, an excitement bubbled in my stomach.

“He’s so much more than what’s on the surface, Dino.”

“I know. I’m joking around. I give the guy a hard time, but that one night we got drunk on ambrosia wine—” His eyes widened, and his cheeks puffed out. “Let’s just say we both said a lot of things.”

I’d have to pry that story out of Ares at some point.

“You say it’s simple. What do I do?”

“Your life hasn’t been normal since the day you met Ares. Do things you’d normally do. Alone. See how you feel.” He quirked a thin brow and bounced in his still squatted position.

“You think it’d help?”

He shrugged. “I’m no god of wisdom, but I have been around for a damn long time.”

“Thanks.”

“None of that. What is family for, hm?”

Family. I hadn’t given it much thought, but with Ares, with all of this, I’d also be gaining what I never had. Albeit a fucked-up family, but I’d have one.

“You good?” He cocked his head to one side.

Staring at my hands, following the lines and grooves, I nodded. “I will be.”

He clapped once. “Perfect.” Rising to his feet, he snapped his fingers. “By the way, don’t be surprised if you get more annoying visitors. And not near as cool as me.”

Like a beached manatee, I rolled onto my side and stood up, groaning. “Why is everyone so concerned with me?”

“You’ve got to understand something, Harm. Being a war god isn’t a small task. Cripes, I don’t envy any of them. Give me partying and wine all day long. Way less responsibility.”

I frowned.

He slipped a hand over my shoulder. “But I know you could do it. You have to believe that yourself too.”

“Zeus doesn’t seem to think so. He sent Athena to—”

“Fuck Zeus. If you want the job, take it. Don’t let any of the other assholes in this family tell you otherwise.”

Pride swelled in my chest.

“Are we uh—supposed to hug now or something?” Dino squinted.

“I’m not much of a hugger.”

His eyes formed slits as he gave a lop-sided grin. “Well, now we have to.” He pulled me in, wrapping his burly arms around me and patting my back several times.

I grunted and slapped him between the shoulder blades once.

He pulled away and, after squeezing my shoulder, backed up. “I’m sure I’ll be seeing you real soon.” With a wink, he disappeared in a swirl of fog and ivy.

Normal. He said to do something normal. What would I be doing today if I’d never met Ares?

I winced, hating to even think about it.

The gym? Too many people. The movies? Please. When was the last time I’d been to one?

My neon orange running shoes called to me from a nearby corner. I could use a nice long run. It was an everyday activity and also a way to clear my head. Perfect.

With every pound of the asphalt against my feet, I’d nick another thought—another concern. Exercise was a given part of my life. Surely, a Greek god didn’t need it. Yet, these gods also didn’t need to walk amongst us. They provided power to mortals while blending in with them, and we were none the wiser.

As I passed people on the path winding through a forest preserve, irritation shot down my spine. Annoyance over a kid licking an ice cream cone and getting it nearly everywhere else but, in his mouth, a posh couple running in tandem with their AirPods protruding from their ears, an older man sitting on a bench people watching.

All so ordinary, so mundane, so…mortal. I stopped. Who was I trying to kid? I’d gotten a taste of what life I could have with a person—a partner that got me. So why was it so hard to shove my mortal life away?

I let out a tormented snarl, scaring a cyclist as he passed. My mind spun, and I clutched my head as people walking their dogs, more cyclists, and a woman with a stroller whisked past. I quickly lost control of my breathing, and the ground wouldn’t stop moving.

“Harmony,” Ares’s deep voice spoke, soft as suede.

I opened my eyes, and no sooner had our gazes met, the world slowed. “Ares?”

He pulled me against him, swaddling his arms around me and burying his face against my nape.

“How did you know I needed you? I didn’t even know I did.”

“I think you know the answer to that question,” he whispered.

A fated bond.

Pushing back, I searched his face. “Did you talk to Eris?”

“There wasn’t a whole lot of talking. She won’t be bothering you again, gatáki.” Those dark eyes gave a hint of a red flash.

I missed him. In only a matter of days, I missed his company, his scent, his passion.

A man fiddling with his smartwatch as he ran bumped into me. Being already so on edge, I glared at his back, fuming inside. He didn’t even apologize. I took one step forward, and Ares caught me by the elbow.

“Let’s get out of here, hm?” His cheek twitched.

The relaxation started at my shoulders and eased its way down until it reached my toes. He pulled me to him again and ported us away.

Instead of appearing in my apartment with the God of War in my arms, I stood in a darkened cave. Red smoke floated over the moist ground, and a faint shrill cackle bounced off the stone walls, chilling me to the bone.

Not this again.