The Key to the Oleander

Chapter Twenty One - Ace

Waking up beside her every morning is my motivation to get out of bed every day, and today isn't any different.

I brush her hair out of her face and I can't help but admire her. She looks as beautiful as always.

I slowly rise out of bed, trying not to wake her. I let go of the breath I didn't know I was holding once I am out of bed.

I walk to the bathroom, close the door and begin to get undressed. I turn the shower on and hop in. I close my eyes, relaxed at the feeling of the water running down my body.

About twenty minutes later when I'm about to get out, I hear the door open. I peek out of the curtain a minute later to see Athena's bare naked body and she's already facing me.

My eyes trail down her body from her shiny hair, to her emerald green eyes, her breasts, down her waist and curves, and down to her feet.

"Good morning, love." I take her hand she holds out and hold it as she walks into the shower.

"Morning wood?" She teases. I roll my eyes, smiling.

I watch as she washes her hair and get lost in the thought of how lucky I am to have her. Her body isn't on my mind right now, only Athena is. Athena's laughter, Athena's smile, Athena's talents, Athena's eyes, Athena's personality.

"What?" Her voice breaks me out of my thoughts.

"Nothing." I shake my head.

We both get ready and head to the Faction. We both planned on training all day so we cleared our schedule.

"Lydia won't even look in your direction." I lean next to her ear, she smiles.

"I don't like people thinking they can have what's mine." She whispers back, and she sounds hot as shit saying it too.

I hear her laugh as she walks past me straight to the shooting range.

"You should propose to her." I turn around and see Theo leaning against the wall next to the door.

"We're already engaged." I tell him, confused. He shakes his head with disappointment.

"Girls think differently. You need to propose to her properly." He steps towards me.

"Okay, I guess I will." I nod. He smiles with satisfaction before walking past me.

"Sir, we have obtained new information that is urgent for you to know. I recommend calling a meeting." One of my most trusted soldiers, Romeo, shares. I nod and follow him into the cafeteria.

I head to the stage and press the button with the word, 'MEETING' on it. It sends an automatic alert to every soldier's mandatory watch.

People pour into the room, the tables fill up quickly, some needing to stand in the back because there are no spots left.

Romeo hands me a paper, I give him a quick thank you before he walks off the stage and into the crowd.

The room is silent for a moment as I read. My eyes widen as I reach the last sentence.

"I have just received a letter from Slater." I begin, looking up. No one says a word, but their faces say enough. They're worried.

"It looks as if he is moving the war date much sooner than we expected." I sigh before continuing, "He'll meet us on the battlefield October nineteenth at five o'clock." Gasps and panic spread throughout the room.

"But we are ready!" I raise my voice, quieting theirs. "We are more than ready, you have trained your whole life for something like this to happen!" A few "Yeah!" and "Woo!" are heard.

"We can do this!" I slam my hand down on the podium. Cheers fill the room, making me relax. I can't have them scared or panicked. Especially not now.

"This meeting is dismissed. Train your hardest!" They're confident, and I can't tell if I'm raising their confidence too much or are we really ready?