Page 80 of The Cursed Chalice
I bow my head and smile. “Thank you. You look very dashing in black.”
A throat clears. “Shall we begin?”
Both Ares and I look at Hecate. “By the crossroad and doorway, I open the path. By the light of the moon. I sanctify this union.”
My heart is beating, and I am hearing little of what Hecate is saying. I pivot to face Ares, and he does the same. Maybe this was a mistake? Should I run now? Should I?
I feel a soft squeeze on my hand. I look up into the scared face of Ares. His blue eye roves over my face, and a small smile tugs at his lips.
Hecate is still talking, and I swear the flames in the bowls are all moving at the same time. Hecate comes around the stone table with a gold cord. She begins to bind our hands together.
“Speak your vows out into the night. Start with the words before the witness and the flame.”
Vows? I didn’t know we had to write vows. From the look on Ares’s face, neither did he.
Ares clears his throat. “Before the witness and the flame, I, Ares, promise to protect you from all things. To be loyal and true. I promise to be both your sword and shield, to be respectful. I promise to give you the best version of myself. I vow constancy in the sight of both gods and men until life unbinds us.”
I swallow because he sounds serious. This is no longer feels like just a thing for my protection. This feels real.
“Your turn, Soraya,” Hecate urges.
“Before the witness and the flame, I, Soraya, promise to be faithful, to be industrious, to be loyal and true. To be accepting even if I don’t understand. I vow to be respectful. I will strive tobring you great joy.” I pause, thinking about the words he said before. “I vow constancy in the sight of both gods and men until life unbinds us.
Hecate sprinkles water on our hands, and the droplets catch the moonlight, making them look silvery. She takes the seeds of the pomegranate and pushes them into my mouth and Ares’s.
“Like Persephone and Hades, may you be blessed with happiness and peace.”
I can feel the ceremony coming to an end.
“Wait,” I say. All eyes turn to me, and the place becomes silent.
“What is it, Little Flame?”
I bite my lip. “May I talk to Aric?”
Ares scowls. “Make it quick.”
Ares throws back his, and his moan is mighty. When his eyes meet mine again, I know from their soft stare and the relaxed stance, Aric is here. “Before the witness and the flame. I, Soraya, promise to be faithful, to be industrious, to be loyal and true. To be accepting even if I don’t understand. I vow to be respectful. I will strive to bring you great joy. I vow constancy in the sight of both gods and men until life unbinds us.”
Aric repeats the words that Ares said. His hold weakens as he inhales, and his shoulders curl in, allowing Ares back in control.
Hecate smiles and places her palm on ours. “Forget the past you leave behind, embrace the present you now choose, love the future that binds you together.”
For the first time, I hear the word “love” in this ceremony, and my heart does a leap of joy.
“What is bounded under the moon shall not be broken by God or man. This is my solemn vow.” Hecate’s hands feel hot, and I almost pull my hand away.
Hecate claps her hands and says, “Presenting Mr. and Mrs. Kallistratos.” She wiggles her eyebrows at Ares. “You may now kiss your wife.”
I glance up at Ares, shyly expecting a chaste kiss on my forehead. Instead, his hand slides down my side, slow and soft, until he finds the curve of my waist and pulls me closer. My breath stutters, and goosebumps race up my arms from his touch. He bends closer, and I tiptoe, bracing my hand on his chest. His eyes lock onto my lips, and my heart is beating fast, waiting for the kiss.
His mouth finally crashes onto mine. His kiss is hungry, demanding, like he was marking a part of me. I moan against him as his tongue teases my lips, urging me to open for him.
His hands slide down to my butt and grip me tighter, pressing so close that I can feel the heat rolling off his body. My nails dig into his chest, and I take delight in the low growling sound that he makes. I kiss him back harder. I feel desperate, like I want more of him. I need more of Ares.
Then I hear a throat clear. Ares pulls away first. I keep my eyes closed for a second and then open them.
Deimos’s eyes are the first I see. His smile is wide, and he wiggles his eyebrows. I gaze up at Ares. His stare feels hungry. Heat pools low in my body.
