The Heart of War (38 page)

Permission? She wanted permission. He didn’t see why not. “Whatever you want. However you want. I am yours, tonight and every night.” Off on the horizon, mingled with the last of the sun’s rays, a bright flash of pink lightning lit up the sky. Aphrodite was watching and she was pissed. When Alena took him inside the lightning flashed again. The little Fey had been right; let her watch, let all of them watch and be jealous of what they saw. Little by little, inch by gloriously torturous inch, Alena took the full length of him inside. When their hips touched and she bent forward to kiss him, that pink lightning turned to frenzy streaking across the coming night in long angry tendrils.

4

“Pay up,” Poseidon demanded.

“The bet’s not over yet,” Aphrodite countered in disbelief. How could that mousy little
virgin
do that? How could she take all of the God of War and coo with delight rather than scream in agony? Even the Goddess of Love had difficulty the first few times she lay with the God of War, but not the Fey. Aphrodite’s Ichor neared its boiling point.

“It is for some of us. The remainder is between you and Hera,” The King of the Seas corrected with his hand held out for his winnings.

“Stop the lightning, we all know you’re angry, but you’re ruining the view,” Zeus said as he pushed his purse into the middle of the table, having lost the bet. He leaned forward to take in the screen without a care for his losing.

5

If anyone had told Alena three days ago that she would take all of this inside of her and love it, she would have told them they were insane. No woman could take all of that and writhe in ecstasy, but she would have been so wrong. Now she sat up on him, high in the saddle, pumping herself up and down with the aid of her hands planted on his inviting washboard abs. Every time she slid down on the hot hard pole, she became wetter; the muscles around it suckled and grew tighter as her own climax came closer to fruition. “I love you,” Alena sighed as she ground down on him.

6

Everyone in the Great Council Chamber fell silent and leaned forward to hear the reply from the God of War.

7

“And I you. I love you.” Ares reached up and wrapped her in his arms, pulling her down to him so that her head rested on his chest and he could feel every inch of her gliding along his skin. “I want to stay here with you, just like this, forever.”

Hot angry streaks of pink lightning flashed closer to the island and this time a strong wind accompanied the strikes, making the waves crash loudly against the rocks at the shore. They heard him, they all knew now. Let them know. Nothing was going to get in his way now.

8

At her seat at the table, Aphrodite let out a roar of jealousy so deep and so loud it would have sent the most ferocious of beasts scrambling for cover.

On the beach, the lovemaking continued and it was hot and full of the deep passion only Love can bring. It held no hint of fear or pain.

“I’ll take the crown now,” Hera said with triumph. She always knew Ares had a heart and now they knew it, too. “And your gold.”

9

One arm wrapped around her back keeping Alena pressed close to him and the other planted firmly on her hip helping it along as it gyrated and pumped on him. Around his hard shaft, those suckling walls grew firm and tense as Alena’s breath hitched in her throat and she let out heavy coos and sighs. “Yes,” Ares encouraged in a whisper, “please, give it to me.”

Her hands locked around his neck as she used the strength in her arms to aid those wonderfully gyrating hips to give her the leverage she sought. Now those fingers turned into talons as her nails sunk into the nape of his neck and her teeth clamped down just over his left nipple.

“So beautiful,” the God of War whispered, holding her close through the climax that washed over both of them and swept them away from the world for a while.

When it was over and both of them were satisfied—for the time being—Alena lay still on top of him with Ares still inside of her and covered his warm taut frame with kisses.

10

On Olympus, the Gods gazed down at the happy Lovers, some with wonder, some with pride, and some with disgust that Ares could find happiness.

Poseidon stood up before Hera could demand payment from Aphrodite again. On the beach so did Ares; he put the little Fey behind him and strained his ears towards the sea.

“Not yet,” Zeus said thoughtfully. “Let’s see if the Old Boy is still up to the task. Go on Ares; show us what you can do.” He turned to Poseidon. “Fifty you say? Just to be fair, why don’t you give him a little assistance?”

“Gladly,” Poseidon returned. Large reefs surrounded Ares’ island and the Druids had been stupid enough to wait until dark to launch their attack. At night, the reefs were invisible. Poseidon conjured up several large waves.

In the sea below them the boats, which had been sped onward by Cernunnos’ magick until they reached the tip of Sicily, began to rock before they were tossed about on the sudden breaking waves. Cernunnos stopped helping them just a few hundred miles away from the island because he was afraid his presence would tip Ares’ hand or those of the other Olympians. Now the boats, each no longer than fifty feet, were helpless against the Ocean’s wrath. The waves rolled and crested, tossing the boats high into the air only to have them land in the water and crash against the rocks. Some of them splintered apart on the first hit, leaving the Druids to drown immediately. Others took a few hits before they were no longer seaworthy and began to sink.

11

“What is it?” Alena asked, grabbing up her dress and holding it against her. Ares heard the engines long before she did, but now the waves were crashing against the shore with so much force they were lapping a good ten feet higher than before. Off in the distance she thought she heard screaming.

“Your friends have arrived.” Ares, now fully dressed in his best battle regalia, grabbed Alena’s hand; they disappeared from the beach and reappeared at the top of the mountain that held his cave. In the last of the fading light and pink lightning, they saw boats tossed about on the rocks and men thrown from them into the churning waters. Poseidon had decided to lend a hand and that was good, but it left Ares to wonder how many of them would make it to shore and how long the battle would last. How much time he had to prepare for it. Who, if any of his Family, would come to aid him. Knowing them, they would just sit up there watching.

To Alena it was a horrible sight and the sounds of the Druids as they screamed and begged Cernunnos to spare their lives while they drowned was chilling. “I told you he would know,” she said with her mouth agape. “If we made love he would know, he would find me. I can’t believe he sent so many men after me.”

Ares looked down at her. “Were this the Old Days, I would have sent my entire army after you.”

Before Alena could say anything more, they disappeared from the top of the mountain and reappeared at the mouth of the cave where his guards were gathered. “Get all your equipment.” He threw a set of keys to one of them. “Reassemble the rifles and the rest, leave the handguns. Load them all. It’s time to earn your pay.”

Chapter Seventeen

Love Is A Battlefield

1

Everyone was rushing around her. The remaining men were putting on flak jackets as they armed themselves with automatic weapons, hand grenades, and blades of every type.  “What do you want me to do?”

Ares had been concentrating on forming a strategy when Alena spoke and surprised him. She was brave and skilled but she was not going out there. “Stay here and guard the women.”

Twice today, Alena thought she had seen Ares ready for battle but now realized that was just the tip of the iceberg. He had armed himself to talk with Apollo and when they went to Olympus, but now he was covered in mechanisms of death. While Ares was able to forego the flak jacket, the vest he had worn to Olympus suddenly seemed made of a solid piece of leather. The front flap was no longer wide open showing that taut chest to the world but securely closed from waist to the high collar around his neck. Once that long flap had been open but now that it was secure, his throat and heart were safe behind the thick black leather and sharp metal studs menacing the eye of the viewer.  Forearm to shoulder those strong arms were bare except for the fearsome gauntlets harboring their own sharp studs in the form of howling wolves.  Heavy rings on each of his long fingers gave an added touch for doing damage in hand-to-hand combat.  Running cross-wise over each shoulder were ribbons of ammunition that went with the automatic weapons, one for each hand. Two handguns and several hand grenades were in his heavy belt next to his nearly ever-present sword.   Daggers in his boots and one up each gauntlet on springs, she saw him put the contraptions into the gauntlets.  If someone got close, he could just release the spring and the dagger would shoot forth from the gauntlet with a great deal of force.

 Ares looked alive; he looked as though every switch in his head was in the ON position. His face was rushing with color as his jaw set tight and his eyes were alight with flame. 

Alena felt her heart sink. She wanted to beg him not to go out there but how did one ask the God of War not to fight when his services were so highly in need? If she asked him to stay and not to fight, it would not do any good; all it would do is cause an argument. If there was one thing Ares did not need it was distraction. She didn’t want to lose him the way she lost her father; she would rather walk right up to Cernunnos and hand herself over than risk harm to Ares.  Yes, there were many Druids out there, but from what she saw a good deal of them would die before ever coming near shore. They were Mortal. All of them. Mortal. They were excellent warriors guarded by Cernunnos, but in the end they were Men and they bled, screamed and died in the same manner. She need not fear for Ares’ safety, not too much. He was the God of War and he was in his Element. As he had said earlier today, she had hired him to do a job and so now, she had to stand back and let him do it.

The God of War blinked and shook his head before he laid his fingers under her chin to tilt her head upward and laugh heartily. “I do love you,” he returned, still laughing, then his tone turned serious. “I will return to you soon. Don’t be afraid.”  She was trying very hard to stand there and be brave while she watched her man go off to war.  Her concern for him and his safety shone in everything about her, the harder she tried to hide, the more it shone.  This was one reason he avoided falling in love, Ares had seen too many men leave their beloved women behind.  Watched the women cry in their doorways, their arms outstretched for one last embrace, one last kiss. He heard the men scream out their women’s names or wonder about them softly as they died.  Ares never wanted to leave a wailing woman behind him. “It’ll all be over soon.” He kissed her forehead and went to make his way out of the cave.

Ares got about one step before Alena reached out for his forearm, grabbed hold just above the gauntlet, yanked him back so hard that Ares stumbled on his feet.  Turning around he watched as she climbed up on his throne to stand eye to eye with him. Taking him into a heated embrace, she planted her lips on his to kiss him long and deep.  She never wanted to stop feeling him pressed against her, although she could do without the heavy studs poking her in the chest.  She would rather have him naked and waiting before her.  When he got back that was exactly what she would have. Not wanting to stop but to go forward and run her hands wildly over him, Alena pulled her lips away and rested her forehead against his. “Just a little something to remind you what you’re fighting for.”

“As though I would ever forget.” Ares laid a small peck on her waiting lips. “Will there be more when I return?”

“So very much more.”

“Then I will return quickly and victoriously,” Ares promised and ran his hands through her silver hair. “Don’t worry about me, take care of the women.”  Another small kiss, one more embrace, and he was gone.

A few seconds later, Alena heard the massive boulder roll into place, blocking the entrance to the cave.

2

Outside two of the men were at the entrance of the cave—David and Daniel were waiting for him. Daniel was prone to looking at the world from a scientific aspect; like Onya, he questioned everything that came across his path. David was more of a shoot-now-and-ask-questions-later type of a guy. Each of them had their uses. “What have you got?” Ares asked gruffly.

David spoke first. They had sent the other four off to scout the corners of the island and as far as anyone could tell the attack was coming from the west side alone, although with the battered broken boats and drowning men he was certain live bodies—as well as dead ones—were apt to wash ashore anywhere. They had been able to come up with a rough head count of forty men still breathing, fifteen of which were in two boats still making their way to shore, somehow able to escape the crushing reefs. For the most part, they were trying to rescue the rest but they weren’t having much luck.

“Weapons?”

Daniel replied. “Unknown, but it looks like some of them have automatics.”

Cernunnos didn’t send them here armed only with guns, not if he hoped to win the battle. The Druids had something else with them. Whatever it was, Ares hoped Poseidon’s wave sank it to the bottom of the sea.  Chances were he wouldn’t get that lucky. “Get everyone to the west side of the island.”  Looking back at the entrance to be sure he’d sealed it to his satisfaction—the Druids would not get inside and lay their filthy hands on Alena or the other women, and Alena would not surprise him in battle. Ares teleported down to the beach where he’d just made love with her.  The very same beach where he wanted to make love to her for a thousand nights to come.