Poseidon shoved me backwards as he drew his sword. Ethros came forth without my calling and I pointed him at Poseidon. "You hurt him and I will kill you!" I spit. Po looked taken aback as he glared at Ares. "You will stay out of this one brother." I said. "He will not speak to you that way." He said. "I earned every word Po. You need not defend me this time." I said. "You really think you can defend her against the God of War?" Ares chuckled. I felt the air as Po moved around me to get to Ares. I was faster though and my blade met his as I shoved Ares back. I kicked Po away from us and watched as he climbed to his feet. "I do not wish to fight you brother but you will not hurt him." I said.
Po glared at me and I felt his anger pour through our connection. "He burned you twice, tried to take you in the worst ways, and yet you still protect him." he spit. "I protect only me. You know that any mark you lay upon him shall also be laid upon me." I said. I could not believe that my bother would face me so. "Athena, you will remove yourself." Ares commanded. The mating instinct commanded that I submit and give my mate what he wanted but I could not risk the life of my brother. Or of every other god on Olympus. We would all perish if I gave into Ares' demands.
"Poseidon please. I do not wish to fight brother." I pleaded. "You will come away. You wont stay here." He said. "Yes. I will come." I said. He never moved to sheath his sword so neither did I. "You must put Ethrak away." I said. He frowned and I knew why. He did not want to be disarmed while Ares was still in such close vicinity. "You know they are twins but you also know that Ethros is stronger. He will not obey until his brother is away." I said. Our blades were twins. Gifts from Ares as a signal that he knew our relationship was something more than brother and sister.
Although I am not a child of Kronos, like that of Zues, Hades and Poseidon, I have enough respect and power that they call me sister. I am the only one allowed this respect and because of that, my feelings for Po ran deeper than I liked to admit. "I will put him away when you are at my side." He said. I sighed as I took a step forward only to be grabbed and held where I was. "She does not bend to your will. She bends to mine." Ares said. I watched as both Po's sword and mine caught fire with the force of his anger and I tried to pull it from him through our connection. Thunder rolled and rain poured harder. I knew then that any chance I had of calming my brother would have to come at a price. Either way, I would end up hurt.