Chapter 4

That night, Ares naturally stayed in Victoria's bedchamber.

Every time he returned from inspecting the war territories, he'd go at it all night long.

It was how he released his energy—whatever he couldn't kill enough of on the battlefield, he made up for in bed.

That night, I gave everything I had to match him.

Ares lost control several times, gripping my waist, laughing. "What's gotten into you tonight? Did you miss me?"

I said nothing. With great effort, I propped myself up and pressed a trembling kiss to the side of his face.

Near dawn, I came back to my senses and tried to push away, to leave.

His arms clamped down like iron, locking me against him. "What—still thinking about leaving the realm?"

My entire body went rigid.

Ares nuzzled the tip of his nose against my cheek, his voice lazy and unhurried. "Don't bother hiding it. I'm extremely sensitive to scent. You and Victoria pulling your little switch—I knew from the very first night."

"Besides—" He paused, bringing his breath close to the back of my neck. "Vic doesn't have a mole here."

My body turned to stone.

No wonder he'd grown more brazen each time, more reckless without limit—he'd known from the very beginning that the woman beneath him wasn't his wife.

I was silent for a moment. Then, carrying a hope I couldn't quite name, I spoke softly. "Then... when are you going to give me a proper status?"

"Proper status?" Ares laughed—as if he'd just heard the funniest joke. "You're Victoria's handmaiden. Only she gets to decide your status. If I said something, wouldn't that be an insult to her?"

"Tell you what—give me your name. I'll have someone send you some dresses and jewelry. Once Victoria's body recovers and she conceives, I'll promote you to my personal attendant."

I closed my eyes, bitterness flooding my chest.

Victoria had been right. In his eyes, I was nothing but a toy. Why would Ares go out of his way to publicize a scandal and invite trouble upon himself?

When I didn't respond, his tone hardened. "Just because I've bedded you for a few years, you think you're the lady of the house now? Personal attendant isn't enough? What else do you want?"

He'd always despised greedy women. There was open anger in his words now.

I knew perfectly well: with my birth, I didn't even qualify to be his mistress. And Ares would never turn against Victoria for my sake. Hermes valued this daughter, and had helped Ares in countless ways, openly and covertly. He would never create conflict with Victoria over a woman who meant nothing to him.

Finally, I spoke quietly. "My station is too low to hope for anything. I only wish you and Victoria a thousand years of happiness together."

I knew now. My way out—I'd have to find it myself.