CHAPTER 89: TWO BODIES TO CARRY

"Come on, make it faster, Vien."

Ares’s voice carried across the training ground, loud enough to echo off the stone walls.

I pushed my legs harder, my feet pounding against the packed dirt as I ran through yet another drill.

My chest burned, my arms pumped, sweat stung my eyes, but still, I pushed.

I wished I could give him the speed he demanded. Three weeks of training had made my body stronger, more durable than it had ever been, yet by Ares’s standards, I knew it still wasn’t enough. He was a warrior, after all.

But he never made me feel like a failure. Every time I improved, even a little, he acknowledged it with a grin or a word of encouragement.

And somehow, in those moments, I didn’t feel like his student... I felt like I had a brother.

It was a strange thought. My parents had always wanted a son, but after I was born, my mother hadn’t been able to bear another child. I grew up an only child. My father was disappointed, I think, but he never blamed her, never argued with her about it. At least, not where I could hear.

And now, with Ares cheering me on, that missing piece of family almost seemed filled.

By the time training ended, I was drenched, my muscles aching in protest. Ares tossed me a grin as we stepped out of the grounds.

And there, leaning against the wall, was Raye, waiting for us.

"What’s that grin all about?" Ares’s cheer vanished instantly, his eyes narrowing at the mischievous curve of her lips. For all his intimidating size, he looked almost wary. "Don’t tell me you’re planning another prank. Last time wasn’t funny, Raye."

Curiosity sparked in me. "Oh? What did she do?"

Before answering, Raye stepped forward and handed me a towel, her expression sweetly innocent.

"She ruined my date," Ares grumbled, his scowl deepening. "Tricked me into eating something that made my face puff up like a balloon and turned my skin so pale. I was miserable the whole night."

The image was too much, I burst into laughter, nearly doubling over. "You did that?" I asked Raye, wiping my face with the towel.

She looped her arm through mine and shrugged, unrepentant.

"He offended Jeron the last time we went to the House of Ambrosia together. Consider it payback. Besides..." She shot Ares a teasing look. "He hates that more women like Jeron over him."

"That’s a lie!" Ares barked, pointing at her like she’d accused him of murder. "I’ve got plenty of admirers. Jeron only looks like he stepped out of some painted portrait. Half those women are fooled by his shiny blonde hair and smug smile."

"Shiny hair?" Raye snorted, clearly delighted. "You’re just jealous because Jeron doesn’t have to flex his muscles and act like a buffoon to get attention."

"I don’t flex to get attention!" Ares’s ears turned red, and he jabbed a finger at me for support. "Vivien—tell her I don’t."

I lifted both hands in surrender, biting back another laugh. "I’m not getting in the middle of this."

Raye grinned victoriously.

Ares groaned and dragged a hand through his hair.

Before he could sulk further, Raye clapped her hands together. "Anyway, enough about Jeron’s better hair. You," she pointed a finger at Ares, "are coming shopping with us."

"Shopping again?" My eyes widened. "But—"

"No buts." Raye cut me off smoothly. "The street party is in just a few days. We need masks, decorations, and whatnots. Ares will carry things. That’s what he’s built for."

Ares groaned. "I’m not your slave."

Raye glared at him, already tugging me along.

I opened my mouth to protest again. "But—"

"You’re tired?" Raye tilted her head at me knowingly, then slipped a hand into her pocket. With a smile, she pulled out a small vial filled with a faintly glowing liquid. "I thought of that already. Keigan made this for you. It will energize your body and soothe the soreness."

She pressed it into my hand.

I blinked down at it. Keigan was one of the few healers in the Undercity, known for his rare concoctions and the fact that he worked closely with Rion’s council.

"I made him make it sweet," she added, her smile softening. "Because I know you don’t like bitterness."

I stared at her, caught off guard by the gesture.

And just like that, any protest I might have had melted away. How could anyone say no to Raye when she looked at you like that—with those wide, doe-like eyes and that sweet smile that could topple packs?

I sighed, slipping the vial into my pocket. "Fine. Shopping it is."

* * *

Hours later...

"What happened?"

Diaval’s frown was deep when he pushed open the door to the private room in the House of Ambrosia.

The sight that met him was almost comical if it hadn’t been so ridiculous: Ares and Raye splayed on low couches, limbs tangled, faces flushed, and snoring in two very different keys. A dozen empty bottles were scattered across the low table and floor like casualties of a tiny, drunken war.

Raye and Ares argued about going back to the House of Ambrosia after what had happened to me weeks before. Ares insisted it was better to find another drinking place, but I said what happened didn’t bother me anymore, and I’d learned how to be cautious.

In the end, we agreed to go to House of Ambrosia because it was more convenient. Raye talked to the owner about the incident, and promised a private room where we could be just the three of us and had even ordered nothing but fruit drinks for me, even tasting each one before she let me take a sip.

Apparently that plan had held only for the first couple of hours.

Because I was the only one who stuck to fruit drinks, I was the only sober person left in that room.

"These two are really good at giving me headaches," Diaval muttered.

Just when I thought he came alone, I heard Rion’s voice slid from the doorway.

"Did you have fun?" He leaned in the frame, one shoulder against the wood, watching me.

I smirked, unable to help the surge of amusement. "I had fun listening to their drunk banter."

Rion picked Raye up over his shoulder as if she were no heavier than a sack of grain. Diaval hauled Ares into his shoulder as well with not much effort.

The two carried their fallen friends the way men carry burdens they find mildly annoying but necessary.

"Why don’t you just transport us back to the castle with your shadows so you don’t have to carry them on the road?" I asked, remembering how Rion had transported us the last time with his shadows.

Rion’s mouth twitched. "I can’t transport with my shadows when there are too many people."

Is it a new ability? I wondered.

Back at the castle the walk felt short and oddly sober after the chaos in the House of Ambrosia.

Once inside, I went straight to my room. The training, shopping, drinking, had left me feeling a little sweaty.

The water in the tub was hot enough to steam, and I sank into it with a little sound of relief, letting the heat work into my muscles.

Ares and Raye had been a terrible duo tonight. Somehow they managed to drain me despite their merriment.

Clean and smelling faintly of lavender, I wrapped myself in a robe and combed through my damp hair.

Come meet me in the study room.

I went still.

He did it again, didn’t he? Did he just speak in my mind?