His hand trembling, Aricles retrieved his helm and headed back to camp, leaving the others to fight without him. But with every step he took, he hated himself more.
I can't do this anymore.
But what choice did he have? Either way, he'd be shamed. At least this way, he was the only one who suffered. Bathymaas was protected. So long as the bloody backlash didn't spray onto her, he could manage to deal with it.
He clenched his sword in his angry fist, wanting to cut off Apollo's head. If he took up his xiphos again in war, Apollo would tell everyone that he'd slept with Bathymaas. It wouldn't matter that they were married. Bathymaas was a virgin goddess whose impartiality must always be above reproach.
Her love for him would make all of her judgments suspect. And the gods would band together to punish her for it.
It would ruin her.
"Ari?"
He froze at the sound of Bathymaas's voice. "Yes, my goddess?"
"What's wrong?"
He shook his head, unable to tell her.
She placed a gentle hand to his arm between the mail of his shirt and his vambrace. "Tell me."
"I can't."
"I know something happened with you. Why won't you talk to me about it?"
Wanting only to pull her into his arms and hold her until the pain inside him stopped bleeding out his heart, Aricles stared at her. More than anything, he ached to tell her the truth about why he couldn't fight with the others. It'd never been in his nature to lie or withhold. But how could he? How would she look at him if she knew how badly he, her chosen warrior - her husband - had been overpowered and used by another man? The last thing he could bear was to see her look at him with the same disgust he felt for himself.
"I should leave and return home."
"Aricles..."
"Please, Bathymaas. I'm a distraction for the others. They no longer trust me or consider me one of them. It would be best for all."
Tears glistened in those golden eyes that had carved a permanent place in his heart. "It wouldn't be best for me."
He cupped her cheek in his hand as his emotions shredded him. "You deserve better, my goddess. I'm not worthy of you."
"How can you say that?"
"Because it's true."
A single tear fell down her flawless cheek. "Malphas is summoning me. I have to go."
Wiping the tear away with the back of his fingers, he nodded an instant before she faded away. Heartsick, Aricles returned to the tent the Eperon had been sharing as they fought the Greek gods in this latest war.
Yesterday's harsh defeat after he'd refused to fight hadn't set well with his friends or his brother. Not that he blamed them. He'd be angry at him, too.
I have no choice.
As much as he loved the others, he loved Bathymaas more. Let the rest of the world burn to the ground. She was the only thing that mattered to him.
For her alone, he would die.
Angry, hurt, and aching, he started packing his gear. I never desired any of this. All he'd ever wanted was to be a simple farmer. To have a quiet life far away from the horrors of battle.
To work hard in a field all day and hold his wife at night, and watch their children grow.
He kicked at the trunk that held his battle gear, hating it with every part of himself.
If not for Bathymaas, he'd be gone already. But he couldn't leave her. Especially not now.
Sick to his stomach, he sat down on his cot and hung his head in his hands.
Hours later, Aricles had just begun to pack up for the others when he heard a furious bellow. He turned as Haides came running into the tent to pound him to pieces. He kicked the larger man back. "What is wrong with you?"
"Hector's dead because of you, you bastard!"
Those words hit him like hammer. "What?"
"You heard me. You left us to die!"
Aricles knocked him back and ran from the tent to verify his claim. He didn't have to go far.
Covered in blood, Hector lay just outside, his features pale and his eyes glazed. The other members of the Eperon stood over his body.
Aricles fell to his knees by Hector's side. Grief and guilt tore him apart. And it wasn't helped as all of them turned to glare their mutual hatred and contempt at him.
Even Galen.
Tears filled his eyes and choked his throat. "Who killed him?"
Malphas sighed. "Apollo."
Aricles roared with the weight of his fury. He reached to touch Hector, but Phelix kicked him away.
"You're not worthy to touch a hero, coward!"
His vision turned dark and for a moment, Aricles almost attacked him. However, his anger wasn't for Phelix. It was for the bastard Apollo, and Aricles wasn't about to shed the blood of an innocent.
Galen spat on the ground by his side. "Go on and leave us, Aricles. It's what you're best at."
Then, as a single unit, they turned their backs to him to let him know that their brotherhood was severed. None of them wanted anything more to do with him.
Not even his own twin.
"Baathymaas?"
She paused at the unfamiliar voice. Turning, she was stunned to see the Greek goddess of war and wisdom, Athena, approaching her. Tall and dark-haired, the goddess was dressed in a bloodred peplos. "Athena? What are you doing here?"
"Something I shouldn't, but I despise treachery in all its forms."
Bathymaas frowned. "And what treachery do you speak of?"
She hesitated before she answered. "I overheard Apollo and his mother plotting... against you."
Foreboding choked her, but she knew better than to let Athena see it. "Me?"
Athena nodded. "Apollo is extorting one of your men... Aricles. My brother has some kind of leverage over him and he is forcing Aricles out of battle so that we can win."
Bracing herself for the worst, she made herself appear nonchalant. "What kind of leverage does he have?"
"No idea. But knowing my brother, I'm sure it's foul."
Bathymaas inclined her head to the goddess. "Thank you for letting me know. I won't forget your kindness."
Nodding, Athena left Bathymaas to her thoughts.
Bathymaas teleported instantly to the camp where she found her men attempting to tear Aricles apart. They had him bound naked on the ground while they took turns lashing, kicking, and stomping him.
While Caleb didn't participate in the abuse, he didn't stop them, either.
"What is this?" she demanded as she moved to protect Aricles from them.
They stood down immediately and backed away.
Her hands trembling, she cut the ropes that bound her husband. The pain in his eyes wrung her heart.
Aricles wiped the blood away from his lips. "It's just a mild disagreement, goddess."
She was aghast that he'd dare defend them after the cruelty she'd just witnessed. Enraged, she touched one of the horrid whip marks on his back. It was a full quarter inch deep and left his skin bleeding and ravaged. "If this is mild, I'd hate to see severe." She covered him with her cloak. Rising to her feet, she passed a chiding stare over all of them.
None of them appeared the least bit contrite. If anything, their eyes held a light that said they'd be back on him as soon as she was gone.
Bathymaas ground her teeth before she stepped away. "Aricles, walk with me."
Each of the men spat at him as he approached her.
Even his own brother.
And that broke her heart and ignited her fury.
Bathymaas scowled at them. "You are a team."
"Were," Haides snarled. "Now we're two men down. None of us want Aricles with us after this."
She saw the unity inside their hearts and it sickened her. "Galenus? Are you in agreement?"
He glared at his brother before he nodded.
Aching for Aricles, she led him away from the camp while the others started the preparations for Hector's funeral. She felt for his loss and bled over the needless sacrifice. Hector had been a good man.
But right now, her thoughts were preoccupied with her husband.
She sighed heavily. "Tell me what Apollo is using to keep you from fighting."
"Bathia - "
She stopped and turned to face him. "I want the truth, Ari. Tell me."
Anguish darkened his eyes as he glanced back to the Eperon. "He knows about us, and if he finds out that I've told you, he'll kill you."
She scoffed at the ludicrous threat. "He doesn't have those powers."
"But he has the power to tell the other gods that you're no longer virgin."
"So what if he does?"
His blue eyes singed her. "You will be shamed."
"There are worst things in this world."
He shook his head. "I can't allow that to happen to you because of me. I can't."
"And I can't allow you to be called a coward by your brother and friends for protecting me. How can you ask that of me, your wife?"
"Bathia, please."
She glanced down at his ravaged body and shook her head. "I won't allow this. I won't."
Before he could stop her or she could reconsider, she took his hand and returned them to where the others were preparing Hector's body.
Aricles started away, but she grabbed his arm and pulled him back to her. When he opened his mouth to protest, she gave him the hottest kiss of his life.
Utter silence descended. Aricles felt the heat creep over his face as he realized they were the center of everyone's attention. Pulling back, he swept his gaze across five pairs of widened, shocked eyes.
Bathymaas turned to face them. Stepping back against his chest, she pulled his arm around her waist and held it there. "Aricles and I are married. The Greek god Apollo found out and he threatened to discredit and shame me before the other gods unless Aricles refused to fight. To protect my honor and name, he has allowed all of you to insult and attack him, and I will not stand for him to be hurt again. By anyone."
Aricles wouldn't have thought they could have been more shocked.
He was wrong. For several minutes no one moved or spoke.
They didn't even blink.
Not until Galen stepped forward and punched him. Hard. "You bastard! You married and didn't tell me?"
Bathymaas moved to blast him, but Aricles caught her hand before she could damage his brother.
"It's all right, my lady. That's his normal reaction."
Her eyes flashed red. "He needs to find another."
Galen shook his head. "How could you have not told me? I'm your brother! Your twin! When did you marry?"
"While you were all gone," she answered for him.
Malphas cursed as he glared at Aricles. "Have you any idea the shit storm you're about to unleash?"
A tic started in Aricles's cheek before he nodded. "It's why I backed down from the fighting." He glanced over to Hector's body as tears blinded him. "I didn't want anyone hurt. Least of all Bathymaas."
Malphas growled. "Now I want to punch you... But I understand." He rubbed his hand against the gold necklace that never left him. "The heart wants what it wants, and nothing will deny it. But damn..." He turned his glare to Bathymaas. "Damn."
Monokles scowled. "So what does this mean?"
Malphas gestured to Bathymaas. "The gods will attack her for this. Openly. Those who hate her will say that she can no longer perform her duties because she's been corrupted by the touch of a mortal. And they will be after Aricles with everything they have."
Phelix narrowed his eyes on Aricles. "I still don't trust him. He bowed out when we needed him most."
"To protect his wife," Haides reminded Phelix. "Right or wrong, I doubt there's a one of us who wouldn't do whatever he had to to keep his woman safe."
Monokles nodded. "He's right. There's nothing I wouldn't do to protect my wife and her honor."
Galen hugged Bathymaas and then his brother. "I hate you."
"I hate you, too."
Bathymaas scowled at Aricles who smiled at her then explained their contradictory words. "We don't mean it, my lady. Rather, it's our way of saying that we're still mad, but are willing to forgive."
"Mortals are so strange..."
Caleb nodded in agreement. "And we have a man to bury and mourn. Let us attend to that and then we'll deal with this next disaster."
Bathymaas teleported Aricles into his tent so that she could clean him up and dress him. "I can't believe you allowed them to do this to you."
He shrugged. "I would gladly suffer this and more to keep you safe."
And that was why she loved him so. Brushing his hair back from his eyes, she sighed. "Apollo will be coming for us."
Aricles swallowed hard as a wave of pain went through him. He started to tell her what Apollo had done to him, but the words froze on his tongue. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't bring himself to say out loud the horror of that day.
Please don't hate me, Bathia, when he tells you what he did to me.
But in his heart, he knew that she would never look at him the same way once she learned of it. And that made him every bit as sad as the loss of Hector.
It's all my fault.
He should have been strong enough to fight Apollo off.
And now...
Kissing her on the brow, he knew that he had to do something to stop Apollo. And what he intended was as stupid as it was brave.
January 23, 12,248 BC
Aricles frowned as he heard a fierce fight going on in Bathymaas's temple. Grabbing his hoplon and xiphos, he ran toward it as fast as he could to find Apollo blasting Bathymaas.
Without hesitation, he went for the god and attacked him with everything he had.
Apollo cursed as Aricles knocked him away from her. The Greek god blasted him, but Aricles didn't care. He ignored the pain and continued on, beating the god until Apollo was pressed against the wall.
Unprepared for Aricles's ferocity and skill, Apollo staggered back then fell to his knees. "Everyone is going to know about the two of you! Everyone!" Then the coward vanished.
Releasing his battle cry, Aricles still wanted the bastard's blood for attacking his wife. He dropped his weapons and ran to where she sat on the floor. Her left cheek was bruised and swollen. Her nose bloodied.
"Bathia?" he breathed, terrified for what Apollo had done to her.
Tears welled in her eyes as she laid her hand against his cheek. "My poor Ari."
Confused, he scowled at her words. "Did he rape you?"
"No. I attacked him."
Relief flooded him, until she spoke again.
"Why didn't you tell me he raped you, Ari?"
Unable to meet her gaze, Aricles withdrew from her. He didn't want to see disdain or hatred in her eyes. Or worse...
Disappointment.
He was the one who was supposed to protect her. But how could he when he lacked the strength to protect himself?
She closed the distance between them and placed her hand on his arm. "Ari, talk to me."
"What can I say, goddess?
Bathymaas ached at the anguish she heard in his voice. At the shame she saw in his eyes as he refused to look at her. "Sweetie... it wasn't your fault."
He finally met her gaze and the raw fury there scared her. "You think that makes it right? I'm a man, Bathia. A warrior."
"You're mortal and he's a god."
"And I'm supposed to keep you safe."
She shook her head. "He came at you from the shadows. It was a coward's attack because he knew he couldn't defeat you if he attacked you as a warrior."
"Still not helping."
Cupping his face in her hands, she forced him to look at her. "I love you, Ari, and I never meant for my love to hurt you."
"It doesn't hurt me, goddess, it strengthens me."
"No. It's made you vulnerable and for that, I'm so sorry."
He frowned at her words. "Why do you apologize to me?"
Bathymaas couldn't speak as her new emotions ravaged her. Guilt, horror, pain... She didn't like these feelings at all. But beneath all the ones that hurt was the fierce adoration she had for the strength and inner beauty of her husband. "I should have left you on your farm when you asked me to."
"Then I wouldn't have had you."
The love in his gaze brought tears to her eyes. "Ari - "
He stopped her words with a kiss. "I would brave anything for you, my lady."
"And I, you."
Finally, he drew her into his arms and held her close. "I'm sorry I embarrassed you."
She frowned at his words. "Embarrassed me how?"
"By not being the man you deserve."
Tears flowed down her cheeks. "Don't you ever say that! In all my life, I have never known a better, more noble man than you. God or mortal." She pulled his head down and held him close.
Aricles trembled at the sensation of her arms wrapped around him. In that moment, he hated Apollo with everything he had. No doubt the bastard was already spreading news of their relationship, far and wide.
I'm going to kill him...
Apollymi, goddess of destruction and creation, I humbly summon you. Please do your most earnest and humble servant the honor of appearing," Aricles whispered the words as he poured scented oil over the hot coals at the base of Apollymi's statue on Didimosia. He hadn't been to this temple since his grandfather had brought him here on a sacred pilgrimage when he was a boy.
Looking up at the statue, he was as struck by the goddess's beauty today as he'd been then. But it was the cruelty in her stone eyes that was still terrifying.
That cruelty that he was now imploring.
Unaware of his intentions, her priests were all in their corner, and he was alone in the main temple hall to make his blood offering to the most dangerous god in their pantheon.
At first, he thought she'd ignore him. But just as he was ready to leave, he felt the same stirring in the air that came anytime Bathymaas materialized before a mortal.
There in front of him stood a vision of feminine beauty. Almost as tall as he was, she had long wavy blond hair and swirling silver eyes. "You have some nerve, mortal. You swear allegiance to an Egyptian goddess I loathe, take up sword for her, and now you dare summon me? Really?"
He went down on one knee before her. "For that, I beg your indulgence, goddess. But I'm here because I've been told that you and I have something in common."
"And that is?"
"Hatred for the Greek god Apollo."
Her eyes flashed red. "I despise all things Greek."
"And that is why I offer up my soul and my sword to you."
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