The Warrior God (The Ares Trials #1) - Eliza Raine Page 0,69
problem with my magic, take it up with Ares.” At some point I was going to have to talk to the jackass God of War, just to establish what I was and wasn’t supposed to tell people. Since Eris had reacted with so much interest when I told her that Ares had called me the Goddess of War, I now felt reluctant to share the information.
To be honest, I felt reluctant to share any information at all with Pain. He freaked me out, and that wasn’t that easy to do.
“You’re made of the same power we are,” he said, his voice low. More discomfort coiled in my belly. He was right. I shared Ares’ power, and Ares said he had created the Lords of War. We did share something.
“If that’s true, then I’m glad you got the kinky pain fetish, and I just got quick feet and a solid punch,” I said. His smile widened.
“We are very, very interested in you, Bella.”
“Look buddy, I’ve had plenty enough interest from crazy deities for one evening. I’m going home, I’ve got a fight to prepare for.” I said the words with over-bluffed confidence. The truth was, I had no freaking idea at all how to get back to the caravanserai. I’d only ever been flashed to the fighting pit, and I couldn’t even see the city over the top of the high seats ringing us.
But I did want to leave. My simmering temper had reached its limit of dealing with self-important pricks, and the tension in avoiding Ares was beginning to feel suffocating.
If I had to find my own way back, I would.
“I need to rest also. We will leave now.” Ares’ deep voice made my stomach lurch, and I didn’t know if that was because he’d startled me or for a different reason entirely.
“You know that only myself or one of the twelve Olympians can flash a being into my city,” Pain said with a smile. He gestured at Ares. “Please, go ahead.” Ares didn’t move, and it was too dark for me to see his eyes clearly behind his helmet, but I was willing to bet they were furious. Pain knew he wasn’t strong enough to do it. I wasn’t strong enough for him to use my power to do something only an Olympian could do.
“Flash us back to the caravanserai,” Ares ground out.
“As you wish, mighty one,” said Pain, his voice sly and cold. “I look forward to tomorrow.” He gave me one last lingering look, then with a flash we were outside the grand little tower in the center of Erimos.
“Why didn’t you go and ask one of the other gods to flash us back?” I asked immediately. “Why give Pain the satisfaction?”
“Because the more black marks he adds to his list, the more I can punish him when I am divine again,” Ares hissed. I raised my eyebrows, but said nothing. “Did you eat?” he asked me abruptly. His question surprised me enough into answering.
“Yeah, that barbecue stuff they were passing around.”
“Good. Then I shall retire.”
“Right. Good,” I said. Why did he care if I’d eaten? He started to walk up the steps to the tower, and I followed after him. “Look, Pain knows I share your power. I don’t know what I’m supposed to tell people.”
Ares’ steps seemed to slow a second, then resumed faster.
“Tell them what you wish.”
“What I wish? I don’t know anything about my power, you won’t tell me!”
“I told you that you are the Goddess of War. That is all you need to know.” He started up the stairs, and I hurried after him.
“But Eris and Persephone both said there is no Goddess of War.”
“Your existence says otherwise.”
“Will you stop stamping off and look at me! This is important!”
He did stop, glaring at me through the eye slits in his helmet. “It is not remotely important. Until I regain my own power, I can access a shadow of it via you. That is all that is important.”
“Did you make me, like the Lords?” I demanded, ignoring the twisting feeling in my gut that his dismissal was causing.
“No,” he snapped, then flinched, as though he hadn’t meant to answer. “Enough.” He turned, resuming his stomp up the stairs even faster.
“You’re an asshole,” I said, but he didn’t stop. “You bring me here, turn my life upside down, use me for my power, and are selfish and callous enough to tell me my own history is unimportant.”