I know it's been forever since I updated this story, and I really do apologize!
I'm so thankful for all of those who commented wanting me to continue, and I promised I would revive this and start to update more frequently to save you guys by updating! So this is back, hopefully to stay for those who enjoy it, and please let me know everything by reviewing so I know if this story should still continue after this chapter.
Also I have to give props to my lovely FateMagician, who did beta for this story and helped me get it ready for you guys. She's been awesome in dealing with me and my long periods of not talking with crying of my work. So really, thanks for that!
Anyways here is the next chapter, and I hope you all enjoy :)
I was no stranger to debilitating illness. I'd been ill enough before to end up in a hospital, where I consequently annoyed my mother and the nurses out of sheer boredom. I did not sit still well which is why I would be sent home as early as possible so that I could recover with only my mother to annoy. It was a part of me I understood. Living on a farm there was always responsibilities and duties to attend to. Relaxing was rare and far between and you became accustomed to the fast pace of life needed to run a successful business.
But for some reason I was content to rest and relax, which was probably the best for the people around me.
Days had passed since my friends arrived from war and now I could sit and eat on my own. True to their word the Ares crew had dropped by daily to see my progress and visit. Even Nathaniel and Giles dropped by once to check on my progress.
It was nice to see how much caring people actually lived on Olympus.
I knew intellectually that there was pettiness (as seen by my Tartarus stint), jealousy, anger, and rage, but somehow I had found a cocoon of bliss in the insanity of the gods domain. Perhaps that is why I wasn't going stir crazy over the forced relaxation. That, and I couldn't even move well enough to become bored with my current predicament.
Even so, the oddest visit was not even from my friends, nor my enemies. It was someone in between. I did not expect him to come to me in the slightest; he and I had barely exchanged any words or seen one another. So when Odysseus came into my room I was pleasantly surprised, though with a little amount of trepidation. He was as diplomatic as when I first met him, bowing slightly as he entered.
"Eveleen."
"Odysseus!" Bruadar, who hadn't left my side unless he had to, immediately lifted me into a sitting position. I allowed him to do so since it would tire me out to do it myself. After setting me into a sitting position he smiled at me once and opened a portal.
"I will not be far, beauty." A threat to Odysseus? An assurance to me? I was unsure as he left into the dark green swirl of the portal. Putting that into the back of my mind I decided to simply trust the man in front of me. I had seen him in battle. He fought for Ares, he saved Achilles. I trusted him for that.
"I apologize for not meeting you sooner, I merely thought to give you time to recuperate." He came into the room as I turned my attention back to him. His feet stopped about halfway in, giving enough space to not seem a threat, nor far away to give offense. He was nothing less than efficient.
"Thank you for your consideration. I didn't expect to be down and out for this long. I'd say you could sit, but I don't have any chairs for you. I'm sorry." It didn't make me feel less comfortable with him standing. I wished to have him relax and to make a good impression.
"There is no problem, Eveleen. It is comfortable for me to stand as well."
"Very well. What can I do for you, Odysseus?"
"I wished to make your acquaintance, Eveleen. You have earned the sash of Ares and gained a gift of a bow from Artemis. It is time we indeed meet."
"Do you know Artemis?" He smiled once, finally breaking that diplomatic demeanor. I relaxed slightly, as I wasn't used to posh elegance nor the diplomatic relations that came with high society. I was used to smiles and laughter. This was something I was familiar with, not the stone face of propriety from before.
"Indeed." The smile faded into a ghost of a smile and I tightened again. Unused to interacting with these types of situations I fidgeted.
"Will you sit, Odysseus? You don't have to treat me like we have not met before. I want you to feel comfortable with me, like Achilles and Grace do." He watched me with the vague expression like he did the first time we met. I could see him thinking, acknowledging, and judging. But I kept my gaze level with him as he did so, allowing to see that there was no ulterior motive.
"You are peculiar, mortal. That is what draws people to you." Even as he said the words he waved a hand and a chair appeared behind him. He sat properly but even so it felt like a completely different interaction than before.
"Thank you for that, Odysseus. I'm not used to this yet. Maybe it's too much mortal in me still."
"It is not a bad thing, Eveleen. No need to apologize."
And now we were back into awkward territory again. Awkward. Now what do I do? I all but strong-armed him into this chair and now I'm losing control once again. What did I want to ask him? I'd already forgotten.
"I do know Artemis. We hunt together when we have the time." My eyes flicked from the chair he procured to his smiling face. "She would like you to hunt as well, though it requires a certain level of skill." As he said that, I remembered the shot in between the bodies. The uncanny ability to use the inch of space in the free time it took for bodies to come apart. The aura of arrogance as the arrow hit the target.
"I saw you, you know." This brought his attention back to me with a curious gaze. "Ares showed me part of the battle with Odin." Though he might not have known the extent of my association with Ares never did his body twitch or his gaze waver at what I gave away. Both were carefully schooled and I couldn't read any expression of his other than the vague curiosity. What a dangerous man. "Achilles was fighting and someone was trying to hit his side. Suddenly an arrow came out of nowhere and stopped him. I saw you for a second before I lost you to the war. That shot was only open for a second."
"I remember," he said with a half smile. "He has a bad habit of not watching his left side when Ajax is around."
"How could you even see the shot?"
"Easily with the training I went through."
"Everyone's heard of you, you know. Even in my time. They say you are the greatest bowman of all time. You shot an impossible shot to save your family." Now the smile widened and for the first time I saw the man, Odysseus. Not the diplomat, nor the general, but the actual man.
"She never lets me forget that shot."
"You still see her?" The question was out before I realized that his wife was probably dead and I'd just rubbed salt in an open wound.
"I do." My panic stopped in mid attack and he chuckled at my stillness. "For all you know of Ares, they never told you how he persuades us to serve him?" I shook my head. "I know not what it is for others but for me he allowed my family to go to the Elysian fields to spend the rest of their days there. I am allowed to visit them as I see fit as long as I dedicate my life to the god I served."
"That's a sweet deal actually."
"You speak the truth. I get my family and the ability to fight and lead others. I have all the things I want in life. Ares saw to that."
"I'm glad it worked out for you. Losing your family for so long would seem the worst kind of torture."
"Others were not as lucky as me. Some families were not saved. Others condemned for the sins they bore were too great. I always remember how my luck can change and live each day as if it will." I nodded at his sage advice. "But enough of these things. That is not why I came to see you today."
"Then why did you? I mean, I wanted to meet you, but I'm sure that wasn't the real reason you stopped by."
"Correct. I wish to teach you about your bow." He waved his hand and the floating bow that stayed in the side of the room flew to me and gently descended to hover right in front of me. I lifted a hand and as my fingers neared, noise began to permeate the room around me. It was many notes in one: pure and ethereal.
"Do you hear that?" I asked Odysseus, my hand hovering in the air. He shook his head.
"The song it sings is for your ears alone. This bow is made from the great god Hephaestus and though it may not have sentience, it knows who its rightful owner is. The song you hear is the call it makes for your touch. This is how a bow should be for its master."
Indeed it did call to me and I listened. My fingers grasped the cool metal as a small jolt of electricity jumped through the contact of my fingers. For a brief moment the strands flashed before my eyes and I saw the bow for what it was. It was metal forged from the very heart of the earth itself, infused with Gaia's power. Even for such a brief flash I knew the warmth and I knew the brightness of the strands.
"Gaia helped with this," I murmured, laying the bow down across my lap as my strength dwindled.
"She did," Odysseus agreed. "While Hephaestus forged and shaped the metal she grew her own power into the very strength of the metal. This is a bow of the gods, forged for a personal attendant of status such as yourself."
"I think I still underestimate what it means to be an attendant." I stroked the bow with light strokes and marveled at the feel of the cool metal. "When I feel like I truly understand, I'm humbled further. She could have chosen anyone for these gifts and I'm chosen instead."
"You are an interesting mortal. And a wise one." I lifted my eyes from the bow to meet Odysseus's gaze. "Do not take things lightly. Mortality is a boon that is granted only once. For you to be part mortal and part god is even more precious. Most in Olympus take this for granted and use it to drink and wench the day away." Even though he didn't mention the blond by name, my lips turned upward as I thought of Achilles. "Treasure these gifts and you will go far, Eveleen."
"I do. Thank you Odysseus, and if you could thank Hephaestus and Artemis for me. I will thank Gaia myself and the others later when I'm able to get around." He inclined his head at me. "Will you teach me the bow? Not even to hunt."
"Then why do you want me to teach you, Eveleen?"
"I want to be worthy of a gift like this."
"A wise answer from a mortal. Your will be done, Eveleen. I will train you when possible, though I understand your god powers must come first. You still have not been able to help the god you serve. Other inconsequential matters should wait until you have proven your base worth."
I nodded at his words and understood his reasoning. If it was true that Gaia had woven her power into the bow, that would mean I would have to use my own power to wield the bow to its fullest potential. This would mean more mastery to control, more facets of my power to unlock. This would have to wait until I could master the basics. Nothing started well without a solid foundation to work out of.
"But you mortal, you are special. A fate string that is a shade different from the others, made with something that will surprise all of us, I believe." My eyes widened at the praise I did not expect from Odysseus. "Even if two weeks you have done what most have not, save a few, and none of them come with a name that is not known to thousands. A no one such as yourself gaining power so quickly. You shape your own fate, Eveleen."
"Thank you, Odysseus," I murmured quietly. "That means a lot."
"I speak nothing but the truth. It is true you were attacked, most likely for the odd attachment Ares has for you. But also because too quickly you become a common name in Olympus. Whispers gather in dark corners and give homage to the one who gained power so quickly. Attention is being given to you and some do not like for attention to go to a mere attendant."
"You're warning me," I realized as he spoke. A small smile broke across his face.
"You might learn perception in time as well. You serve the same god as I, and I would warn any who wore the sash of Ares and you are such a person, even if you attend another god. Do not stop striving to be who you were meant just for the sake of safety, Eveleen. I expect much from you."
He stood in a graceful movement and the chair underneath him disappeared as if it had never been. He made no movement as he did the magic and it was so flawless that I blinked ferociously.
"Thank you for stopping by, Odysseus. You didn't have to, but you did." He inclined his head at me in acceptance of my words. "One day, let's be acquaintances, you and I. Maybe friends if we can manage it."
"Perhaps one day, Eveleen." He bowed with his arm across his chest, as a butler would do, and stood again. "For now, I wanted to explain the bow and extend my invitation to be your teacher. Think well and when you gain your strength, we will have our first lesson."
"Thank you again. Be well."
"As should you."
With that he walked out of the room, leaving me with the bow across my lap and thoughts dancing in my mind. I didn't know how that meeting would go but it seemed that it had gone all right. I felt more comfortable by the end of our time together. Perhaps he was perceptive enough to mold his diplomatic demeanor to make me feel more comfortable. I wouldn't put it past him or his acute perception.
"Beauty." Beside me the swirling green heralded the entrance of Bruadar.
"What do you think, Bru?" I know he read my mind to monitor myself with the unknown person. Bru wasn't the type to trust easy, especially not after the time with Tartarus.
He was quiet as he thought and eventually settled on a shrug. "I don't particularly care for those who school themselves for rules of the court. But he did not strike me as wanting to harm you either."
"I didn't think so. It seemed he was helping me."
"You would do well to heed that warning. Aphrodite does not look favorably on those who take attention from her."
"I'm not worried about her yet, Bru. She can't risk striking me so close to the last time. There will a period of wait before she tries again."
"She is capricious. You cannot underestimate a woman such as her. Trust me, I have more experience in jealous females than you." His tone was aggrieved and I laughed long and hard.
"God Bru, I needed that."
"You must be on your guard, beauty. In sleep or in bed with me." An exaggerated roll of my eyes greeted the flirt and Bruadar came over to sit on the bed with me. "I swore to protect you, beauty, and I mean that. You are special and even I cannot see what your fate has in store."
"I don't want to be special, Bru. I just want to be me. Eveleen."
"And that is why you will always be my beauty," he replied easily as he ruffled my hair.
Two days later I could finally walk small distances. Bruadar was of course by my side, holding me as I attempted the small trips back and forth to build up my body again. Even though the distances I could walk were getting longer and longer, I was still being treated as invalid. I wanted to rage and declare myself healed, but I would hear the echoes of the ungodly wails around me. I would feel the blood dripping onto my skin. And I would shudder in fear of how truly close I had come.
It was only after I had come from my long walk to the baths that I entered my room and realized I wasn't alone. Except this time it was someone who I had wanted to see and so desperately missed.
"Eveleen." Her voice was almost magic to my ears and a soothing balm to my still healing soul.
"Kerys."
She flew into my arms and I hugged her as lightly as I could. I had missed her so, my sister of the Fae. There was so much we had missed out on, so much things that I did not have her for, but now she was here. I needed her with me more so than I would anyone else.
"I missed you," I finally managed to say as tears threatened to fall.
"Not as much as I did," she replied easily, lifting from my arms and standing on my shoulder as she always did.
"Beauty," I turned back to Bruadar. "I will leave you to your reunion. But even with Kerys back, I am still required to watch over you with what had happened." A smile blossomed onto my face and I felt so much love toward Bru that I could have actually kissed him and meant it. The clever man was saying that he would remain here to watch over me. By the knowing smirk on his face, he knew that I had caught his meaning and he waved a flippant hand to open the portal behind him.
"I will call you if I need a champion, Bruadar of the Fae."
"See that you do, my goddess."
I choked and my face began to color as Kerys laughed from my shoulder. "I am not a goddess."
"You are to me, my beauty," he replied with a flirtatious wink. He stepped through the portal quicker than I gave him credit for and left me to the mercy of the small Fae on my shoulder.
"It is good to know things haven't changed that much." Kerys replied.
"That is true," I said lowly with a smile on my face. Even if I was embarrassed by the attention, he wouldn't be Bruadar without it. "Even so it feels like everything has changed. I wish I could have had you here."
"I know. I'm sorry negotiations took so long, Eveleen." She grabbed my attention with that statement and I walked over and sat on my bed. Knowing exactly what I wanted she flew in front of me with a smile as she took in my profile.
"What happened with that? What were the terms?"
"It was mostly posturing," Kerys replied with a wave. "Some bonds being reforged, some renewed, some broken. Each pantheon does interact with the other and it was time for the Fae and Greek to meet regardless. They did speak of you." That got my attention.
"What, really?"
"Only briefly. There will be another meeting to come when you are feeling better." Kerys stopped and tapped a finger on her chin as she thought. "A few other discussions about other pantheons. An Egyptian attendant bearing a child of a pharaoh, a dispenser of the Norns gone missing…" As she tapped to think, I tilted my head in confusion. The only dispenser I knew was one that popped out Pez candy, and I was pretty sure that the Norns did not worship said sugary treat.
"A…dispenser?" I made a vague motion with my hand about the candy and Kerys rolled her eyes.
"Whatever you're thinking of is not it. What I am referring to is a Dispenser of Fate, belonging to the Norse Pantheon. Seems one of their own has gone missing after Ares returned from the war. No accusations have been made but they spoke about that incident as well." I opened my mouth to ask questions but Kerys was already on top of it. "Don't even ask; it's a long story. They help fate and that is all you're getting."
"I don't think Ares would do anything like that," I replied. He fought with honor, with bloodlust. Memories of battle Ares surfaced and I quickly shut that door before I could react to it.
"No, he wouldn't. That is why no accusations have been filed against him or his army. The dispenser disappeared from Odin's hall, not the battle itself." I nodded.
"What else happened?"
"Nothing else that you would need to know or understand. Now, I heard from the meeting that you were drawn into Tartarus. Tell me of what happened."
And so I spoke. I recounted the dream and shuddered at the violently visual memory. I spoke of the visceral blood and gore, of the anguished cries of a soul being ripped apart. I recounted my actions and thoughts and the salvation at Morpheus's hands. I showed her the medallion and explained why it had been crafted and why I wore it even now. As I finished my tale I could see the sparkling of her magic, which signaled she was livid at the situation.
"Where was Bruadar?"
"Somewhere where he could not tread. It was a dream where he didn't know how to get to. He could not hear me call to him. Whoever threw me into the hole made sure I could not contact the outside world. They had prepared for me to die.
"Do you know who would do such a thing?" I opened my mouth to speak but Kerys just waved her hand. "Gaia protects her chambers and I feel no magic around us. Please speak."
"We believe it to be Aphrodite." Kerys' wings fluttered angrily as she struggled to control herself.
"Why would she attack you?" And that was the most loaded question I had heard for quite a long time. I couldn't help the embarrassment as I began to blush guiltily. "You didn't," she stated as she tried to dismiss the sneaking suspicions. "What did you do?"
"I mean, technically it's what he did-"
"What. Did. You. Do?" Each word angrily enunciated. I was in for it.
"Well," I began, nervously playing with the ends of my hair. "I might have kissed him when we were training, and he's kinda been dreamwalking with me…"
"Explain. Now!"
"There's not much to explain!" I tried to defend myself even as I saw her eye begin to angrily twitch. "I don't even know how it happened, it just did!"
"There is everything to explain. Start from the beginning."
And so I did. I caught up my Fae friend on everything, leaving no detail to her imagination. It was almost cathartic in a sense as I spilled out each bit of information to a disbelieving Kerys. With each new tidbit of information she began to sigh and shake her head. By the end she was pinching her nose as if she had a headache, which I actually didn't doubt at this point. It was a lot to take in.
"So you mean to say, the great god of war Ares kissed you." Emphatic nodding. "And you let him, and then not only did you let him, you kissed him later." Violent head nodding from me. "And now you were almost killed because of a jealous goddess?"An awkward shrug/nod. "And how were you supposed to protect her, Bruadar?"
"Why would I protect one that didn't need protection?" The portal was there after Kerys's challenge to his honor and Bruadar walked through with a smile. He immediately sat on the bed and gathered me into his lap. I was too used to this to even begin to form a protest. I knew what he was about; just another way to bait the poor fae in front of me. "Plus I already kissed her as well." He lifted a thumb to my chin and pulled down gently as if to kiss me again.
Angry sputtering stopped his sensual assault and he chuckled at the overwhelmed Kerys. It was often that he would like to spread his mischief and Bruadar was not one to squander such a unique opportunity.
"My beauty has been interesting since you have been gone. And I have been by her side, her devoted champion, serving her…every need." With a groan I buried my face in my hands, blocking Bruadar's thumb from touching my chin and concealing what I felt to be a fiery blush on my cheeks.
"If anyone is serving Eveleen's every need, it would obviously be me." An oh so familiar and sinful voice came from the doorway, and each of us turned to view the blonde that happened to make the most coincidental entrance of his life. Achilles sent the fairy in front of me a calculating stare but then slid his gaze back over to my form. "Why would you let another man hold you when I am more than willing to be the one who you lean on? Depend on?"
"No. Please. No." I blushed harder as Bruadar drew me closer.
"But she was already pledged to me, her champion."
The two of them were terrible. A devastating force of sexual nature. The world should have never let them meet.
"While I would love to see her blush even more, I'll have to stop this for now." This time Grace walked through the door, and also happened to glance at Kerys. Behind her I saw the scruffy mane of Ajax as he too walked in after Grace.
"Can't you leave my woman alone for a moment?" he asked as if aggrieved.
Meanwhile Kerys' looked as if she was going into heart palpitations. The combination of insinuation and flirts in my direction was causing her shock and what might have been horror. With her face pale she turned back to me.
"Are these your lovers?"
"No-"
"We are all vying for her hand," Achilles butted in with a sinful smile. "Each of us bestowed a kiss on those lovely lips. And what I wouldn't do to receive another kiss from her once more."
I could literally see the life draining out of Kerys. Although it was my sworn duty for harassment the poor Fae was in information overload. She clearly thought each of these people I had been with in the short amount of time she had been gone and although I could not dispute the information Achilles had deigned to share, I could at least practice damage control.
"Leave her be, Achilles," I reprimanded with a smile.
"My lovely Eveleen, how could I not let everyone know of my devotion to you?" With a curse my face flamed back to life. His low, husky chuckle was almost a throaty purr, and he turned back to the probably comatose Fae. "Who is this, Eveleen?"
"This is my friend Kerys. She is like my sister." A shared look between my three friends aroused my suspicions. "Did you know she was coming?"
"What would you do if something magic appeared in a room where someone was attacked?" Ajax questioned as the three of them marginally relaxed.
I thought for a moment then came to the same action they had acted on. I would have come to check on the disturbance of fluctuations to protect my friends. The three of them, each with their own personal form of smile, stood in my doorway as my friendly champions to protect me in what they thought could have been my time of need. I loved all of them, I truly did.
"I would have come to save you. Or in Achilles' case, probably come in with a blindfold." Achilles threw back his golden head and laughed as everyone else chuckled.
"Beauty you would not need a blindfold, because you would already be there." He stepped toward me. "Beneath me. Calling my name." Another step. "I would keep you so satisfied you could think of nothing but my touch." Step. "To only remember one word on those beautiful lips: my name." He arrived at my bedside and his smirk was downright sinful.
"But she is my beauty," Bruadar interjected. "If anyone was to show her the true pleasures of man, it would be me. I am her champion."
"There could be more than one champion," Achilles replied silkily.
The chuckle behind me gave me pause. These two were about to up the ante. Quickly I tried to bolt but the arms on my waist already had guess my next move and anchored me in the lap of the sexual web they wove around me. Achilles leaned into my personal space and placed his hands on my stomach and back, effectively trapping me between the two men. I froze even as my embarrassment reached new levels I never thought humanly possible.
"Together, my beautiful Eveleen, we could show you the pleasure of the opposite sex," he whispered in my ear, his lips brushing against the outer lobe as he spoke.
"We would exist for you, and only you," Bruadar spoke into my other ear, copying Achilles's action. Tingles danced over my skin, shivered down my spine.
"Your pleasure would be the only thing to matter."
"We would be your willing servants, only existing to make you cry out in ecstasy."
I felt both of their mouths begin to move to my cheeks. They both brushed against my face slowly. Achingly. Tempting me of things I would have never normally entertained.
"You are a temptress, my lovely Eveleen."
"My beauty I dream of you. Aching. Wanting. Needing our touch."
"I want you to call out to us. Know our touch as easily as you can remember our name."
Both met the corners of my mouth and kissed the edges at the same time.
"Beauty."
"Eveleen."
They both spoke at once and my mind literally could not handle it. I could only feel the press of the lips against the corners of my own, and the warm touch of their hands on my body. I could feel the heat from the two men around me and just felt a small tremble through my whole body. I could feel nothing but the touch of their flesh to mine, of the heat evoked by their sensual actions. They had followed through on that particular boast spectacularly.
"She is going to pass out if you two don't stop," Grace stated, breaking the spell they cast.
At the look on my face both men chuckled and Achilles backed away, walking back to his companions. Only then could I breathe again.
"Oh, Eveleen, I could have a lifetime with you and never be bored."
"Shut up, Achilles."
"I know you would be the longest I've ever spent with a mortal woman," Bruadar chimed in with his usual Cheshire grin.
"Shut up, Bruadar."
"Both of you leave my woman alone. If anyone will be the one to teach her pleasure, it will be me."
"Shut up, Ajax." Laughter rang out from the mean in the room, each of them enjoying this play.
"You're all wrong. If anyone will teach her what it means to truly lose yourself to a touch, it will be me. Women obviously know what feels better than men do," Grace stated as she stepped forward. She tossed her lovely mane of hair to the side as she always did and sent a taunting look to the men.
"Well, that's true," I agreed. "Okay." Shock passed through the features of all the males; had I really just okayed someone to spend the night romantically with me? In front of them?
Grace walked over to presumably give me a kiss and finally the poor Fae couldn't take anymore.
"ENOUGH." The rest of us smiled at the aggrieved tone and I finally took pity on poor Kerys.
"Kerys, these are my friends. They play with me and make me feel welcome. This is Grace, Achilles, and Ajax." I gestured at each. "They are not my lovers." I ignored the 'yet' that came from the males in the room. "But my close friends. I trust them with my life." I turned back to my friends. "I told you this was Kerys, but she is my closest friend. We spent twenty years of my life together. She knows me better than most people and she's been with me through everything."
"Where has she been recently?" Grace asked as she eyed the little Fae.
"I am able to show my sight to my king and queen. Because of my ability we had to negotiate terms. I have been in meetings between the two pantheons to determine if I could continue my relationship and Eveleen's loyalties. Only recently was this decided."
"What did they decide?" I asked Kerys.
"I am allowed to use my sight with you. I will not be able to stay by your side in a battle or war room. I will be allowed to stay with you here and go visit Oberon when the need arises. Most of the actual details were discussed by the king and queen without me there, so I am unsure of the actual specifics of how."
"I'm glad. I have so much to tell you."
"You know what you should tell her," Achilles began as he waved a hand, procuring a chair for the three attendants of Ares. They sat with a grin, ready to stay for the long retelling of…whatever he was going to speak up. "You should tell her about the time that you were going to whip my ass."
"Ohmygodpleasestop," tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop it, and Achilles laughed at my distress.
Of course Kerys looked as if she was going to have an aneurism at this point and Achilles was happy to continue the story. Each detail shocking the poor Fae worse than the last.
And as the detailing began to take its time into the night I only laid my head on Bruadar's shoulder and allowed the words to fall around me, not really listening to what was being said, only what I saw. My friends smiling around me, giving me this home I never thought I was missing. The safety of Bru's arms, the watchfulness of Ares's attendants, even the freak-out of the poor Fae being caught up on my shenanigans.
Even Ares, who I had not spoken to in more than a week.
I had so much since I came to Olympus. These friends, these crazy experiences, the feelings and emotions as I learned and matured.
In this moment my allegiance was to this moment. I would fight to keep this. I would not lose to Aphrodite. I wanted to live, to continue to experience with my friends. I did not want to give any of this up for any reason.
So I would fight.
I would live.
I would train, fight, and conquer.
My name is Eveleen, and I was going to fight until my last breath.