Eighteen Times She Chose the Mortal

My wife, Cassia, is Olympus's new, unrivaled goddess of war.

Today is a milestone. Her one-thousandth victory in the arena. A feast in her honor.

It’s also the seventeenth time she’s promised me we’d finally complete our Soul-Binding.

But right now? She’s shielding him. Lycus. The mortal servant she claims saved her at the foot of Mount Olympus.

“Give the healing nectar to Lycus. The raw power of Olympus is crushing him.”

I froze beside her seat, my knuckles white as I gripped the back of her chair.

Three hours ago, in the arena, I took a blast of fatal poison for her. A venomous spray from a beast of Tartarus.

My divine power is almost gone. Black, toxic blood is crawling up my throat.

I need that nectar to live.

But Cassia didn’t even look at me.

She snatched the golden flask. Without a second thought, she poured it into the mortal’s mouth.

“Lady Cassia…” Lycus murmured, leaning against her. He glanced at me, all wide-eyed innocence. “Lord Aresion is hurt, too. It’s such a waste to give the nectar to me…”

“Don’t argue. Drink it.” Cassia’s voice was gentle as she used her power to soothe him. “He is an immortal. A little poison won't kill him. You’re just a mortal. This pressure will crush your organs.”

It won’t kill me. She’s right.

I swallowed the black blood rising in my throat.

It’s fine. I told myself.

Once the feast ends, we’ll go to the eternal flame. We’ll complete the binding. The resonance of our souls will burn away the poison.

The feast finally ended.

I fought off the dizziness and followed Cassia, ready to step onto her celestial chariot.

The next second, a hand pressed against my chest.

Cassia blocked the door, looking down at me.

“What are you doing?”

“Going to the eternal flame. For the binding. Did you forget?” My voice was a raw whisper.

“Oh, that. Today’s not a good day. Some other time.” She looked guilty, but she cut me off anyway.

She glanced back at Lycus in the chariot. “The night wind is too cold. His mortal body can’t take the chill of Olympus. I have to get him back to his chambers. Now.”

My blood turned to ice.

For a mortal. Because of a chill in the air.

On her seventeenth promised day, she was going to leave me here again. Wounded. On the temple steps. For everyone to see.

“You’re leaving me here? For him?” The poison was already creeping up my neck.

“Aresion, are you done?” Her voice rose, eyes filled with disgust. “You are a god. Why are you fighting with a fragile mortal? What are you so jealous of?!”

Jealous.

That word. It used to make me see red. I’d scream. I’d demand to know why she was destroying my pride.

But now… looking at her face, furious at me for another man…

The sharp pain inside me just…vanished.

All that was left was a deep, bone-crushing exhaustion.

I took a step back. I forced a polite smile.

“Fine.” I looked at her, my voice calm. “The wind is strong. Be careful on your way.”

Cassia froze.

She clearly didn't expect me to give in. A flicker of panic crossed her eyes.

But she quickly put her mask of superiority back on. “Good. I’m glad you see reason. I’ll have Hephaestus forge you a new weapon to make up for this.”

Then, she turned and raised her hand.

A golden ward of the highest order shimmered into existence, wrapping Lycus in its protective glow.

The chariot shot into the sky.

I stood there. Alone.

I remembered eight years ago. I took a fatal curse from Thanatos himself for her. I was on the brink of death.

It was the middle of a blizzard, but she had cried, tearing open the roof of the chariot with her bare hands.

She let the hail cut her to ribbons, just so the open air could clear the stench of blood. Just so I could breathe.

And now? For another man, she left me here to die, bleeding black poison.

The holy light of the Olympian noon beat down on me, but all I felt was cold.

I reached into my coat. My fingers found the vow stone, carved with both our names. It was still dark and dull. We had never completed the binding.

I closed my eyes. I pushed it deep into my pocket.

I knew. It was time to let go of these eight years. All of it.