OK YOU GUYS...SO, SINCE YOU'VE GOT ME WRITING AGAIN, LET'S UPDATE THIS CAPTIVATING FIC AS WELL. THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF MY FAVOURITES :)

For once, when it came to this type of intimate interaction, the War God's body tensed, not with the barely restrained desire to insanely ravage her body- like it usually happened at the contact with her silky skin- but with something slightly different…Apart from the ever so natural fire that was still burning in his eyes, a virulent mixture of basic disgust and contempt claimed its rightful place on his divine features, the instant her fingers found once again their way back to his cock.

With a cold, trenchant gesture, he immediately pushed her hand away, completely ignoring that visible discomfort and confusion that rushed to seize the azure mirror of her stunning eyes.

"What's wrong?" she hastily inquired- literally doing a superhuman effort to stand-given her condition- .

" Nothing. Just not in the mood " he bluntly retorted, turning around and heading for a wooden chest, at the opposite end of the room.

Even stoned as she was-her frustrated spirit almost as numb as her limp body- the Warrior Princess could tell that something was definitely not right. Though she was obviously unable to detect any meaningful information on his facial expression- her vision still blurry while the entire room kept spinning as if she had been tied on the back of a horse, on a forever rotating carousel- she could clearly sense those bizarre vibes of his murky aura.

His godly presence had always been impossible to miss- that's for sure- but at that precise moment, she could distinctly make out an unnatural heaviness, some sort of dense, physically crushing darkness that she had never felt before during their interactions….It was making her particularly edgy and the fact that she could hardly keep her eyes open didn't really help her much.

Nonetheless, while she was still chewing on his previous line, the War God had already returned by her side, carrying a thick woolen blanket that he casually threw over her barely animated body.

This time, before he got the chance to turn around and leave again, with probably the last ounce of energy she still had left inside her, she grabbed his wrist, getting his undivided attention for a few, priceless seconds- enough for her to mentally adress the question, the moment she realised her lips would have only done a terrible job in expressing what she wanted to say.

" Are you upset with me or something ?" her faint, troubled voice soon found its echoes inside Ares' tenebrous mind.

Much to her shock, he didn't reply though- not right away that is- his first reaction being to actually free himself from her grasp, unwilling to make eye contact.

" Get some sleep. We'll talk once the effect of the drugs wears off. It should only take a couple of hours …" he finally answered, adamantly refusing to use their connection for it- as he would have normally done ….Another bloody red flag for Xena….

Needless to say, his behaviour left her utterly flabbergasted- more like deeply wounded, one might say. Why was he even mad at her for? – Now that was a question for the ages- For crying out loud, it wasn't like she had asked for Nabucco to drug her!

And yet, the moment she inhaled - her brain stubbornly struggling to order some of the words that had been plaguing her mind ever since she had felt his change in attitude and that she was getting ready to voice somehow- the God's caustic line obliterated her any intention.

" I said get some sleep . We'll talk about it later. And do not make me repeat it" he snapped, on a harsh, accusing tone that for a brief moment, actually managed to give her the chills.

Before she knew it, his presence had already faded from the room, without a warning , without any spectacular light show, sparks or any other type of special effects…..No drama what so ever….Totally unlike him.

She just couldn't believe it. Why on earth was he sooooo mad ?! She uselessly racked her brain in search for an answer for what seemed to go on forever-but her logic was a mess and her temples were throbbing with pain. Despite the fact that it was not to her liking, barely conscious as she was, she finally gave up and allowed her head to rest on one of the fluffy, ever so comfortable pillows on the bed …..

" Just for a few seconds…." she silently promised herself , desperate to make that continuous whirling in her head stop already. It was driving her crazy!

Within a blink, she was fast asleep of course, her restless mind already drifting back to the Queen's palace, adamant about getting some things straight with that little wench…

XXX

A few decently thick walls were separating his Chosen's chamber from his throne room but even from that accursed place, he could still feel her aura as if he had never moved from her side.

Gulping yet another goblet of that well made, sweet red wine he had materialzed just second earlier, the War God kept pacing back and forth across the impressively long hall. He was furious! Sooooo unspeakably furious, he would have definitely killed her had he stayed there a minute longer.

What had brought him on the very brink of losing control though,was something as inexplicable as that unbearable pressure crushing his brain against his rigid skull. He couldn't really put his finger on it, but it must have had something to do with the insecurity he felt those past hours when it came to their relationship….

He could literally see her slipping through his fingers and that scared the shit out of him, making him defensive and restless and definitely even more deranged than he already was. …And then, there was also the... the nerve she had to invite Nabucco to keep her company on stage, thus naively offering the King the chance to act upon his malevolent intentions….To that, one could also safely add Amytis' lame tricks to get him back….And let's not forget the sight of his precious Princess, so wonton , so deliriously wet and ready to fuck someone else- now that had definitely managed to make the blood boil like molten lava in his veins….Not to mention his own foolishness to believe that she could actually take care of herself properly – and of course, that impossible to deny awareness that somehow, he had stupidly allowed for this mortal woman to turn - overnight- into what was more than obvious now, his weakness.

She might have been his Chosen and all, but he was only supposed to screw the life out of her, use her unmatchable talent on the battlefield to get some more power up on Olympus, and make the best of what she was ready to offer. Drooling over her like a lovesick teenager each and every time she looked him in the eyes, was definitely not in his favour and clearly, had not been part of the plan.

"What the fuck is wrong with my head ?" he just had to ask himself out loud, barely restraining the need to go back inside that room and choke her with his bare hands…