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00:01I was born with a large chest. All the men in the forest covet my body. The fairies say, I
00:09am cursed, because my mother was a priestess of the Moon Temple, who died while giving birth to me, and
00:17until the end, she never revealed who my father was.
00:20The priestesses therefore see me as an ill omen, treat me as a slave, and have forbidden me from looking
00:28directly into the eyes of men.
00:30Fena, you think that body of yours is for seducing men? This is Artemis' sacred grove. Step out of line,
00:40and I'll feed you to the sea monster Scriper myself.
00:45I didn't know what stepping out of line meant. All I knew was the ache in my chest from the
00:51bindings they made me wear.
00:53In summer, the fabric rubbed my skin raw. In winter, the coat turned my fingers blue.
01:00But no matter how tight I wrapped, those two stubborn mouths pushed through, refusing to disappear.
01:06I cried into the spring more times than I could count, begging my mother to tell me why she gave
01:12me this body.
01:13The spring never answered. Only the wind rustling through the laurel leaves.
01:19Everything changed on spring evening.
01:24Everything changed on spring evening.
01:27Helios' chariot had just crossed the sky, painting the grog gold and rose.
01:33I was walking back from the stream, with a clay jug on my shoulder, water sloshing, when I heard sounds
01:40coming from the olive grove behind the temple.
01:42Muffled sounds.
01:44The kind you're not supposed to hear.
01:46I put down the jug and crept closer.
01:49Taya was on her knees.
01:51Her robe had slipped down to her waist, exposing the dry, wrinkled skin of her back.
01:56And standing in front of her was a man I'd never seen before.
02:00No, not a man.
02:02A god.
02:03He was shirtless, his body carved like a statue, every muscle holding enough force to level a city.
02:09Dark brown curls hung past his shoulders.
02:12His eyes were amber, burning like twin fires in the twilight.
02:16He had Taya by the chin, tilting her old face up to his.
02:20Tell me, who's the most beautiful niff in this grove?
02:28The moon goddess is handmaidens.
02:31No.
02:32He let her go, his gaze sweeping past her.
02:35Past the olive branches, past the floating dust moats, in the golden light, and landing straight on me.
02:43My blood turned cold.
02:45His eyes moved down my face, past my trembling lips, and stopped at my chest, pressed tight against the edge
02:53of the clay jug, rising and falling with every panicked breath.
02:57You.
02:59He walked toward me, and with every step, the leaves on the ground seemed to shrink back.
03:05What's your name?
03:08Vena.
03:10Vena.
03:10He wrote the name across his tongue, like he was tasting it.
03:14The corner of his mouth lifted.
03:16Are you afraid of me?
03:18I nodded, then shook my head.
03:22His scent was too much, iron and blood.
03:26The smell of a battlefield.
03:28It made my knees weak.
03:31I'm Eris, god of war.
03:35I knew who he was.
03:36Son of Zeus and Hera.
03:38Every nymph knew the stories.
03:41Once a god like him set his sights on you, there was no escape.
03:46My knees buckled.
03:48The clay jug sipped from my fingers.
03:51Iris reached out.
03:52His fingers hooked the strip of fabric binding my chest.
03:56Moving so slowly, I had all the time in the world to run.
03:59But I didn't.
04:01I couldn't.
04:03He pulled.
04:05The lean and tore like butterfly wings.
04:07My body, bound and concealed for 17 years, lay uncovered in the twilight.
04:14Exposed to his gaze.
04:16To the fading sunlight.
04:17And the evening breeze.
04:18I gasped.
04:21Tried to move back.
04:22But my feet wouldn't obey.
04:24His ember eyes filled with something I didn't understand.
04:27Something hungry and wild.
04:30Like a man who'd been walking through a desert for a thousand years.
04:33And finally found water.
04:35Taya, you were right.
04:38This body really is cursed.
04:42He paused.
04:44Bent his head.
04:45And brought his nose within the breath of my collarbone.
04:49Cursed by me.
04:50He inhaled.
04:52The warmth of his breath hit my skin.
04:55Setting off a ripple of goosebumps down my neck.
04:58My arms.
04:59My spine.
05:01You smell like...
05:03Spring.
05:05I shoved him.
05:06I don't know where the strength came from.
05:08But my palms hit his chest solid.
05:11I felt his heartbeat.
05:13Loud and fast.
05:14Just like a mortal man.
05:16I staggered back.
05:18Stumbling over shards of the broken jug.
05:21Blood welled from my foot.
05:22But I didn't feel it.
05:25Don't touch me!
05:27I screamed.
05:29Ares didn't follow.
05:30He stood there.
05:32Watching me flee.
05:33Watching my hair whip in the wind.
05:35Watching my bare shoulders disappear into the trees.
05:40Then he bent down and picked up the torn strip of linen.
05:43Still warm from my skin.
05:45He lifted it to his nose.
05:49Thinner.
05:50The sound followed me through the olive grove.
05:52Through the laurel trees.
05:54Through the dying light.
05:55It sank into my bones.
05:57That night.
05:58That night.
06:31Thinner.
06:49I was so cold and swollen.
06:58she didn't finish she didn't need to a god who couldn't perform lucky you better a broken god
07:08than a beast at least you won't have to bear children she patted my cheek besides they say
07:18men who can't do it in bed make up for it in other ways i don't want to marry him
07:23don't want
07:24who do you think you are a bastard with no father eris wants you that's more than you deserve
07:33if it weren't for that body of yours that slut's body a war god wouldn't even look at you i
07:39cried
07:39again that night i dreamed eris's hands moved up my legs and everywhere he touched my skin caught fire
07:50his lips pressed against my stomach and i heard his voice low and shaking
07:56i woke soaked in sweat my hair was plastered to my face my neck the blanket had slid to the
08:10floor
08:10between my legs a heat i'd never felt before spreading through me like spring flats breaking
08:16through ice i bit my lap until i tasted blood shame shook me down to my bones outside the moon
08:26hung cold in the sky the next day a messenger came to the grove not arith that athena she wore
08:33golden
08:33armor and owl's crest on her helmet her eyes were sharp and gray the color of winter seas
08:40her presence alone made you want to bow you're athena
08:47yes aries sent me to get you he's wounded recovering on olympius he wants to marry you
08:55i i don't athena was quiet for a moment in that silence something flickered across her face
09:01a crack in the divine perfection something almost soft do you know why aries chose you
09:09because you're the only niff in this grove who wasn't afraid of him you pushed him no one has
09:17ever pushed the god of war i stared at her well you're also very beautiful but that's not the
09:24point she held out her hand in her palm lay a silver ring plain and unandorned glowing faintly
09:30in the morning light put this on hefexis made it it'll hide your form make you less noticeable
09:36i slid the ring onto my finger it tightened to fit cold spread up from my knuckles washing over my
09:43whole body when i looked down my curve seemed softer blurred at the edges like looking through
09:48frosted glass come on olympus is waiting i followed her out of the grove
09:56serve him well thena don't forget you're nothing but a bastard no one's daughter no one's anything
10:04i didn't look back the golden chariot to the clouds thought then olympus rose up ahead of us
10:11higher than any mountain in the world white marble columns caught the sunlight and drew it back
10:17dazzling i never thought i'd see this place a nobody named a bastard girl
10:22eris's temple stood on the eastern slope facing the sunrise i'm not going in eris doesn't like me
10:29if he gets angry run if you can't outrun him shout i nodded and walked toward the bronze doors
10:37they were carved with battle scenes chariots spears full and soldiers when i pushed they swung open on
10:45their own inside the air was dim and heavy thick with the smell of medicine and blood at the end
10:53of a long corridor i found his room
10:55eris lay propped against the headboard his white robe did nothing to hide the lines of muscle across his chest
11:02but his face was too pale
11:05you came i stood in the doorway
11:08thina gave you that she's kind annoying but kind i didn't answer come here i still didn't move
11:18i don't bite not right now anyway i walked to the edge of the bed he tilted his head back
11:24watching me his ember eyes held my reflection
11:29small scared wrapped in thick wool
11:32you're afraid of me
11:35yes
11:36why
11:38because of what they say
11:39he was quiet for a moment then his hands shut out and closed around my wrist
11:43his fingers were hot like iron pulled from a forge
11:46i flinched but he didn't tighten his grip he just held my hand turning it over in his
11:53looking at the lines on my palm
11:54your hands are cold
11:56like mine
11:57i didn't know how to answer
11:59he let go
12:00one finger at a time
12:01like he didn't want to
12:02you'll sleep there tonight i can't do much anyway
12:09i'll have clothes brought for you you can take the west room tomorrow
12:11more light
12:13all right
12:14a servant came to take me to the baths
12:18when i looked back at the doorway
12:20aries had closed his eyes again
12:23his face was blank
12:25expressionless
12:26like a statue that had been shattered
12:29and glued back together
12:30that night i lay on the couch
12:33listening to his breathing
12:34and couldn't sleep
12:35moonlight crept through the windows
12:37and spread across his face
12:39asleep
12:40he didn't look like the god of war
12:42he just looked like a wounded boy
12:44no older than the men
12:46i'd glimpsed at the edges of the grove
12:48i turned to face the wall
12:49pressing my face into the pillow
12:51then my head
12:52a thought kept circling back
12:54when he had held my wrist that first night
12:56his thumb had traced the lines of my palm
12:58light
12:58almost not there
12:59but it had been there
13:01i didn't know when i fell asleep
13:03half dreaming
13:03something warm touched the back of my neck
13:06i rolled over and opened my eyes into amber
13:09aries stood beside the couch
13:12his hair fell forward
13:14brushing my cheek
13:15moonlight painted his silhouette
13:17the broad shoulders
13:18the straight nose
13:19the long line of his jaw
13:21i tried to speak
13:22but no sound came
13:23he didn't say anything either
13:25he just looked at me
13:26his hand rose
13:27hovering over my face
13:29his fingers trembling
13:30he didn't touch me
13:31sleep
13:32i watched him go
13:33my heart slamming against my ribs
13:35that night
13:36i dreamed i stood on a battlefield
13:38that night
13:39i dreamed i stood on a battlefield
13:41the sky rad as blood
13:43the ground cracking beneath my feet
13:45aries came riding out to the clouds
13:47in a golden chariot
13:48he held out his hand
13:49i didn't run
13:50he pulled me up
13:51onto the chariot
13:52wrapped his arms around me
13:54pulled me back against his chest
13:56his heartbeat
13:57was a drum against my spine
13:59do you know why
14:00i chose you
14:03because you pushed me away
14:05everyone wants something from me
14:07power protection
14:08my name
14:09everyone wants to use me
14:10but you
14:12you were the one who didn't want me
14:15so i want you
14:16i woke gasping
14:18drenched in sweat
14:19outside
14:20the sun was up
14:21aries's bed was empty
14:23the servant who bought my water
14:25told me the war god
14:26had already gone to the training grounds
14:28even wounded
14:29he never missed a day
14:30in the bronze mirror
14:31i studied my reflection
14:33the ring still worked
14:34i thought
14:35but the edges of my shape
14:36were starting to come through again
14:38my breasts pushed against the wall
14:40my waist curved in
14:41i wrapped the bondings tighter
14:43one turn
14:44two
14:44three
14:45until i could barely breathe
14:47aries came back at midday
14:49i was in the kitchen
14:50standing over a bronze cauldron
14:52stirring the herbal broth
14:54i'd learned to make
14:55from my mother's notes
14:57what's that
14:59medicine
15:00for your leg
15:01he came up behind me
15:02close enough that i could feel
15:04the heat coming off him
15:05you know how to do this
15:06i learned
15:07my mother knew healing
15:09he didn't ask anything else
15:11he picked up the cup
15:12and drank
15:15how is it
15:16terrible
15:17i watched him drink
15:18and for a moment
15:20i thought maybe the god of war
15:22wasn't as frightening as they said
15:23i was wrong about that
15:25that evening
15:26i was in my room
15:27unpacking the clothes
15:28athena had sent
15:29when i heard footsteps in the hall
15:31heavy and uneven
15:32like an animal dragging
15:33a wounded leg
15:34i opened the door
15:36eris was braced against the wall
15:38his face slick with sweat
15:39his right leg trembled
15:41blood was seeping through his bandages
15:42running down his calf
15:44pooling on the marble floor
15:45what happened
15:48nothing
15:48old wound
15:49don't bother
15:50you're bleeding
15:53so
15:54rest
15:55the healer said
15:57rest
15:57i'm the god of war
15:59not a cripple
16:01he's a cripple
16:02like it was a knife
16:03twisting in his gut
16:04i didn't argue
16:05i half carried him
16:06back to his room
16:07his weight almost too much
16:08and laid him on the bed
16:09i found the healer's salve
16:10and unwrapped
16:11the blood-soaked bandages
16:12the wound
16:13was worse than i'd imagined
16:15a long
16:16twisted scar
16:17ran down the inside of his thigh
16:19where the trojan spear
16:20had gone through
16:21my fingers brushed the scar
16:22arrows went rigid
16:28does it hurt?
16:29he didn't answer
16:30he was staring at me
16:31his amber eyes wild
16:33keep looking at me like that
16:34and i can't promise
16:35what i'll do
16:36thought my face went hot
16:38my hands stopped moving
16:40i'm just
16:41i'm putting on the salve
16:43i know
16:43just finish and get out
16:45i worked fast
16:47when i was done
16:48i practically ran out of the room
16:50behind the closed door
16:53i heard a dull thud
16:55his fist hitting the wall
16:57i leaned against the wood
16:58heart pounding
16:59and listened to him
17:00breathing on the other side
17:01days passed
17:03i made the medicine
17:04every morning
17:05changed his bandages
17:07twice a day
17:08read him the dispatches
17:10from the war councils
17:11some days he was angry
17:13some days he was silent
17:15when he was angry
17:17he threw things
17:18once he threw a cup
17:20so hard
17:21it shattered against the wall
17:23and a shard cut my cheek
17:25he saw the blood
17:26and where's still
17:27his whole body locking up
17:29then he closed his eyes
17:31and said
17:31leave
17:33i left
17:36when he was silent
17:38he sat by the window
17:40for hours
17:40watching the clouds
17:42sometimes he watched me
17:44his gaze was heavy
17:45but not threatening
17:46it was like he was trying
17:48to memorize the shape of my face
17:50the line of my brow
17:51the curve of my mouth
17:53like he was afraid
17:54he'd wake up one morning
17:56and forget
17:56we never touched
17:58no
17:59he made sure not to touch
18:01sometimes
18:02when i leaned down
18:03to hand him his cup
18:05i could feel his eyes
18:07on my chest
18:08my hands would shake
18:10and a drop of the dark liquid
18:12would fall on his skin
18:14he'd look at it
18:15for a long moment
18:16then wipe it with his thumb
18:18and bring it to his lips
18:21sweet
18:21he'd say
18:24sometimes when i passed him
18:26in the hallway
18:26his fingers would lift
18:28just barely
18:29like he was thinking
18:30about reaching for me
18:31but he never did
18:34one day
18:35hara came
18:37the queen of the gods
18:39swept into the temple
18:40with her whole ratinue
18:42wearing purple robes
18:44and a golden crown
18:45her presence
18:46like a weight in the air
18:48i hear you married a nymph
18:51she said
18:51looking me up and down
18:53this one
18:54eric grunted from his bed
18:56hara crossed to me
18:58lifted my chin
18:59with her cold fingers
19:01steady my face
19:02pretty enough
19:02with the figure
19:04her gaze dropped to my chest
19:06and her mouth tightened
19:07who was your mother
19:09the priestess of artemis
19:11which priestess
19:13and your father
19:14hara's smile was sharp
19:16i shook my head
19:17she turned back to aries
19:18a nobody nymph
19:19a bastard
19:21not a fitting wife
19:22for a god of olympias
19:24aries's voice went flat
19:25i marry who i want
19:27hara's face darkened
19:28but she didn't push
19:30she swept out
19:31pausing at the door
19:32to look back at me
19:33you know why your mother's body
19:35was like yours
19:36she said
19:37because she was a slut too
19:39she used that body
19:41to seduce someone
19:42she shouldn't have
19:42you're just what she left behind
19:44she left
19:45i stood in the empty hall
19:47cold to the bone
19:48aries pushed himself up
19:50come here
19:52come here
19:53i didn't move
19:54his voice softened
19:55then
19:56come here
19:57i walked to him
19:59he took my hand
20:00his thumb moving over my palm
20:02don't listen to her
20:04he said
20:05the way you're made
20:06it's not your fault
20:07my eyes burned
20:08annoyance edged his voice
20:10why are you crying
20:11but he didn't let go
20:12of my hand
20:12i said
20:13i don't know
20:16no one's ever
20:17no one's ever
20:18told me that before
20:20iris was quiet
20:21for a long time
20:22then he pulled me
20:23against him
20:24one arm went
20:25around my shoulders
20:26and the other hand
20:27patted my back
20:28clumsy and awkward
20:30like a man
20:31who'd never
20:31comforted anyone
20:32in three thousand years
20:34i won't hurt you
20:36he sat into my hair
20:37i swear it
20:38i bared my face
20:39in his shoulder
20:40after that
20:41things shifted
20:42he stops avoiding me
20:44i stopped running
20:45from him
20:46in the evenings
20:47we sat on the temple
20:48steps together
20:49and watched the sunset
20:50he sat on the left
20:52i sat on the right
20:53in arms length
20:54between us
20:55he told me about
20:56the battles he'd fought
20:57i told him about
20:59the grove
20:59about teo's cruelty
21:00about singing the hymns
21:02off key
21:02and getting punished
21:03for it
21:04he scowled
21:05like a child
21:06do you know why
21:06i hate athena
21:07why
21:08because she's always right
21:10every time
21:11annoying
21:12no matter what
21:13the subject
21:14she always has
21:15to be right
21:15he watched me
21:17his eyes softened
21:18in the fading light
21:19you have a beautiful
21:20laugh
21:20i stopped laughing
21:22he looked away
21:23but not before
21:24i saw his ears
21:25go pink
21:26that night
21:27i dreamed of him
21:28again
21:28his mouth
21:30on my neck
21:30his hands
21:31on my skin
21:32i woke up shaking
21:34my thighs slick
21:35with heat
21:36and bit my lips
21:37so hard
21:37i tasted copper
21:39i'll set my door
21:40footsteps
21:42i looked up
21:43and saw the shadow
21:44of his back
21:45retreating down the hole
21:46the next morning
21:47when i went to the kitchen
21:49to make his medicine
21:50i found flowers
21:51on the work table
21:52white anemones
21:54their petals wet with dew
21:56tied together
21:57with a piece of rough twine
21:58no note
21:59that i recognized
22:00the red clay
22:01still clinging to the stems
22:03it came from the stream
22:05behind the mountain
22:06with his leg
22:07it would have taken him
22:08an hour
22:09to walk there
22:10an hour
22:11to pick the flowers
22:12an hour
22:13to walk back
22:14i put them
22:15in a clay pot
22:16on the windowsill
22:17when i went
22:19back to stirring
22:19the cauldron
22:20i couldn't stop smiling
22:22spring was just beginning
22:24and something between us
22:25had changed
22:26something that started
22:28the day he first saw me
22:29in the olive grove
22:30something that started
22:31when he tore away
22:32the bindings on my chest
22:34something that started
22:36in the dark
22:36when he stood over me
22:38with his hand hovering
22:39by my face
22:40and didn't touch me
22:41something that
22:42i finally understood
22:44had already changed everything
22:47eris's leg
22:48got better
22:49but he still
22:50didn't touch me
22:51i told myself
22:53it didn't matter
22:54i'd never wanted
22:56this marriage anyway
22:57what did it matter
22:58if he can
22:59that's what i told myself
23:01until the evening
23:02by this stream
23:03i was washing clothes
23:05kneeling on a flat rock
23:06i was bent forward
23:07and the color
23:08of my dress
23:09had slipped open
23:10without me noticing
23:11thinner
23:12eris's voice
23:13came from behind me
23:14rough as stone
23:16scraping stone
23:16i turned
23:17he was standing
23:18under a plain tree
23:19at the water's edge
23:20his amber eyes
23:21were fixed on my chest
23:22where the wet wool
23:24clung to the shape
23:24of my breasts
23:25i scrambled up
23:26he walked toward me
23:28every step was heavy
23:29deliberate
23:30i stepped back
23:31slipped on the
23:32moss-lick stone
23:33and fell toward the water
23:34his arms shot out
23:35and caught me
23:36i slammed into his chest
23:37my body flushed
23:39against his
23:39we both went still
23:40his heart was hammering
23:42his breath came fast
23:43his chest heaving
23:45aries
23:46he didn't let go
23:47his arms locked
23:49around my waist
23:50don't move
23:51he buried his face
23:52in my neck
23:53his nose pressing
23:54against my collarbone
23:56he inhaled
23:56the heat of his breath
23:58spread across my skin
23:59and i shivered
24:00do you know
24:00how long
24:01i've wanted this
24:02i couldn't think
24:04since the first time
24:06i saw you
24:06since you pushed me away
24:08his fingers dug into my waist
24:11almost too hard
24:12three thousand years
24:13no one's ever dared
24:15to push me
24:15you were the first
24:17he pulled back
24:18just enough
24:19to look at me
24:20and this
24:22his gaze
24:23fell to my chest again
24:24that i tried to cover
24:25myself
24:26that he caught my wrist
24:28and pressed it against
24:29the tree trunk
24:30behind me
24:30don't
24:31let me see
24:32his fingers found the ties
24:34at my collar
24:35they were shaking
24:36can i
24:37i didn't answer
24:39but i didn't push him
24:40away either
24:40he pulled
24:41the wet wool
24:42slipped off my shoulders
24:43his breath stopped
24:45his eyes went dark
24:46with fire
24:48his fingers traced
24:49the line of my collarbone
24:51moving down
24:52aries
24:53he bent
24:54and pressed his lips
24:56to the curve
24:56where my neck
24:57met my shoulder
24:58light
24:59barely a kiss
25:00but my whole body
25:01arched into it
25:02he looked up at me
25:03for once
25:04there was nothing
25:05of the war god
25:06in his face
25:07just tenderness
25:08raw and open
25:09you're shaking
25:12so are you
25:13he smiled
25:15i'd never seen him
25:16smile like that
25:18i'm scared
25:20you
25:21that i'll hurt you
25:22that you'll cry
25:24that you'll push me
25:25away again
25:26i laughed
25:27he touched his forehead
25:28to mine
25:29can i kiss you
25:30i asked it
25:32by pressing my mouth
25:32to his
25:33for a second
25:34he was frozen
25:35then he came alive
25:36pushing me back
25:37against the tree
25:38kissing me like he'd
25:39been starving for it
25:40his tongue swiped
25:41into my mouth
25:42claiming everything
25:43i clung to his hair
25:44breathless
25:45he lifted me
25:46wrapping my legs
25:47around his waist
25:48and i felt it
25:49the part of him
25:50the healers said
25:51would never work again
25:52i went still
25:54he went still
25:55we broke apart
25:56breathing hard
25:57staring at each other
26:00the healer said
26:01his face
26:03cycled through
26:04confusion
26:04disbelief
26:06and then a fierce
26:07almost boyish delight
26:09i guess they were wrong
26:10his hand slid down
26:12to my hip
26:13pressing me closer
26:15eris
26:16what
26:17you don't want to
26:19he laughed
26:20and lifted me higher
26:21carrying me back
26:22toward the temple
26:24thought my spine
26:25hit the bronze doors
26:26with a boom
26:26that echoed
26:27across the valley
26:28the door
26:29leave it
26:30he pushed me
26:32against it
26:32and kissed me again
26:34harder this time
26:35his hand slid up
26:36my sides
26:36and found my chest
26:38through the thin
26:38wet cloth
26:39and my thoughts
26:40scattered
26:41i've wanted you
26:42since the moment
26:43i saw you
26:44his thumb
26:45brushed across
26:45the peak of my breast
26:47and the sound
26:48escaped my throat
26:49that i'd never
26:50heard myself
26:50make before
26:52more beautiful
26:53than i imagined
26:57he carried me
26:58to his bed
26:58laid me down
27:00and stood over me
27:01in the moonlight
27:03in olympus
27:04gods aren't
27:04supposed to love
27:07why
27:09because love
27:10is a weakness
27:11and the god
27:12of war
27:12can't be weak
27:13he lowered his head
27:15and pressed a kiss
27:16to my chest
27:18but you
27:21you're the one
27:22weakness
27:23i don't want
27:23to give up
27:24that night
27:25every flower
27:26on olympus
27:27bloomed out
27:27of season
27:28anemones
27:29crocuses
27:30hyacinths
27:31laurel
27:32doesn't hung
27:33thick in the air
27:34his mouth
27:36moved down
27:36my body
27:37his fingers
27:38laced with mine
27:39sweat
27:40beaded on his
27:41forehead
27:41does it hurt
27:45my nails
27:46bit into his
27:47back
27:47he stopped
27:48kissed the tears
27:50that had started
27:51at the corners
27:51of my eyes
27:53we can stop
27:55don't
27:56i pulled him
27:57back
27:57don't stop
27:58he looked at me
27:59with something like
28:00reverence in his eyes
28:01all right
28:02the moon slipped
28:04behind a cloud
28:05that night
28:06all of olympus
28:07heard the war god
28:08roar
28:09not with battle rage
28:11but something else
28:12something that
28:13sounded like a lion
28:14tamed
28:15purring at his
28:16mate's ear
28:17in the morning
28:19eris was already
28:20awake
28:21he lay propped
28:22against the headboard
28:23his fingers
28:24tangled in my hair
28:25morning
28:26he said
28:27smiling
28:28morning
28:29i buried my face
28:30in the blanket
28:31he pulled it back
28:32what are you hiding
28:33for
28:34you know why
28:36he laughed
28:36and hauled me
28:37up against his chest
28:39watch the sun
28:40rise with me
28:41every day
28:44why
28:45because i want
28:46to see the beginning
28:47of every day
28:47with you
28:48from now on
28:51everyone
28:52outside
28:53the first light
28:54broke over
28:55olympus
28:57all right
28:59deal
29:00i pressed my face
29:02to his chest
29:03listening to his heart
29:05deal
29:06where it spread
29:07through olympus
29:08eris wasn't broken
29:10the healers
29:11were idiots
29:11and the god of war
29:13was fiercer
29:14in bed
29:15than on the battlefield
29:16i was limping
29:18out of the bedroom
29:19when i ran
29:20into athena
29:21leaning against
29:22a pillar
29:22in the hallway
29:23looking amused
29:26i see
29:27glancing at the marks
29:29on my neck
29:30he's recovered
29:33my face
29:34went hot
29:34you knew
29:36you knew
29:37he wasn't
29:39you lied
29:40to me
29:41athena
29:42just smiled
29:43you did it
29:44on purpose
29:46i didn't
29:47lie
29:48the healers
29:49said it was
29:49unlikely
29:50i just didn't
29:51correct them
29:51why
29:52because
29:53i wanted
29:54to see him
29:55suffer
29:57you should
29:58have seen
29:58his face
29:59when he heard
29:59he couldn't
30:00well
30:02it was worth it
30:05i stared at her
30:06but if she hadn't lied
30:08i never would have stayed
30:10i would have run
30:11from aries
30:12on our wedding night
30:13and never learned
30:14that beneath
30:15all the violence
30:15there was a man
30:16who'd been alone
30:17for three thousand years
30:18a man who stood
30:20outside my door
30:21at midnight
30:21with his hands
30:23shaking over my face
30:24afraid to touch me
30:26a man who walked
30:27an hour
30:28to pick flowers
30:29with his wounded
30:30leg
30:31and left them
30:32on my work table
30:33without a word
30:36athena came
30:38yes
30:40what did she say
30:43that she lied to you
30:48she said you were fine
30:49all along
30:52his ears went pink
30:55do you still want to leave
30:57and for a moment
30:58he looked almost afraid
30:59i cupped his face
31:01in my hands
31:02stood on my toes
31:03and kissed him
31:04i'm not going anywhere
31:05he pressed his forehead
31:07to mine
31:07and every spring
31:10we watched the flowers
31:11bloom together
31:11all right
31:13outside
31:14the pomegranate flowers
31:15were opening
31:16red as flame
31:18the wind came up
31:20from the valley
31:20hearing the smell
31:22of anemones
31:23and laurel
31:24drifting through the columns
31:26and stirring out her
31:29Hera came one more time
31:31she looked me over
31:33and said i was too much
31:35too loud
31:36too shapely
31:37not fit to be the wife
31:40of an olympian
31:42Iris stepped in front of me
31:43she's fit enough for me
31:46Hera looked at him
31:47for a long time
31:49you've changed
31:51yes
31:52he glanced back at me
31:53and his eyes were soft
31:55because of her
31:57after she left
31:58i took his hand
32:01do you regret it
32:02marrying a nobody nymph
32:04a bastard
32:05he laughed
32:06and pulled me into his chest
32:08you're the best decision
32:09i ever made
32:10i pressed my face
32:12against his heart
32:13it beat steady and strong
32:15like war drums
32:16like spring thunder
32:17like the tide coming in
32:20and for the first time
32:21in my life
32:22i wasn't ashamed
32:24of my body anymore
32:25because this body
32:26this cursed
32:28impossible
32:29too much body
32:30it was the reason
32:32he saw me
32:32every spring
32:34the flowers bloom
32:35every night
32:37the moon rises
32:38over olympus
32:39and we will be here
32:41together
32:42to see it all
32:43from now on
32:45year out
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