Page 29 of The Coven of Ruin
“Perhaps,” he said, “but it’s taking its time, this death. It mostly just makes me tired.”
His words lingered, and her magic faltered as she contemplated them. It was like he was prepared to die. As if it was nothing to him. As if hewanteddeath. Not saying anything, she took another small step back. He marked the movement, his attention flicking from her feet to her face again.
“Afraid of me?” he asked. Watching her intently, he picked his sheathed blade up and rose to his full height.
“No.”
He took a step toward her, his chin tilted downward, assessing her.
Trista swallowed.
“You know who I am now.”
“Yes.” He knew she did.
“Say it.” A command. “I want to hear you say it, witch.”
She licked her lips, and his eyes tracked the movement. “You are the Cursebringer, the Witchbane. You murdered the Mothers. You are death, a weapon made into a god.”
“And you believe that? I’m the one who cursed you all? I’m the reason your crops die, your magic is weak, and there are so few witchlings? I’m the monster whispered about in every way but by name?”
She nodded once, taking another step back.
A step forward, and he closed the distance. “You don’t have to believe everything you’re told, you know?”
“Are you denying it?” she snapped.
Tilting his head, he didn’t respond. He went preternaturally still, observing her.
“And what, I should trust you?” She felt anger well inside her. “YouareThe God of War. All you know is bloodshed. The universe needs less of beings like you anyway,“ she spat out. Her magic pumped through her veins heatedly, ready for a fight, ready toavenge.
Smirking, he took another step forward. She steadied her magic, it radiating around her in a barely perceptible violet light as she pulled the dagger out of its sheath and held it in front of her. But then he was but a pace away from her, looking down at her.
He moved closer yet.Too close.“You’re right,” he said, “I am the God of Bloodshed. The God of War. Witchbane. Death god. I could kill you right here. I could have killed you a dozen times over already.”
Ares set his sword against the wall, and she realized that his movements and her steps back had cut her off from the exit. She had just gotten herself killed. There was hunger in his eyes and a promise of death in every small movement he made. She tightened the grasp on the knife. He leaned into it, causing the tip of it to barely press into his stomach. Resting his hand on the wall behind her, he caged her in.
“Hmm,” he hummed deep in his throat, the noise traveling through her core. “For someone so determined to make me the villain, you seem surprised that I would actually do something villainous.”
He was so close she could smell him. His scent—earthy and warm, spiced and musky—triggered her own flashing memories, bringing her back to The Arena.
Holding onto his tunic. Him gathering her close. “I’m going to kiss you, only briefly, and then I will take you from this place.” His mouth pressed to hers.
Her eyes dipped to his lips, her own parting with a gasp. She hadn’t remembered that moment before.
“Are you sure you’re not afraid of me?” It was a seductive rumble.
“I’m not afraid of you.” Her voice was too breathy.
”Ialmostbelieve you.“ His free hand fisted her hair at the nape of her neck, pulling back so she looked into his eyes again. They were firestorms of something unrecognizable to her.
“Go ahead, witch, kill me,” he challenged. He pressed into her blade, and she only had a split second to decide before it broke flesh.
Releasing the handle, it clattered to the stone, the noise too loud in the space. And then it was just them, sharing breath. Thinking of his lips on hers in The Arena, her own covered with his blood, heat bloomed in her cheeks. He leaned closer still, causing her eyes to widen. His mouth almost whispered against hers with how near he was.Almost.
“Where’s that fierce witch who bit me in The Arena?” His fist tightened in the tangle of her hair. It wasn’t painful, but it kept her gazing into those molten eyes. A breath, two.
His presence was an all-consuming force, filling all her senses. Then he released her.
