Kyra

Chapter Ten

The roses on Kyra's pillow spoke a thousand words. Each day she woke up to a new one. The thorns were always plucked, the petals always blooming. Ares was romancing her. Kyra didn't know what to do about it.

Was his interest anything but sexual? And what were his intentions? Exactly how was she important to him?

These were just a few of her endless questions. And with the answers so scarce, she was careful with which ones she chose to ask. Ares was stingy like that.

As her immortality crept ever closer, the space between her legs was getting increasingly familiar with her hands. She had too much pride to solicit the God for help again. After he'd put her to sleep last time, Kyra couldn't take any more embarrassment.

With a million and one things playing on her mind, Kyra didn't have time to be thinking about the painting she'd seen in Ares' castle. And yet she thought about it more than anything. The picture of that redheaded woman haunted her. Their resemblance was too similar. So similar Kyra toyed with the possibility of being her.

That's not possible, right?

Ares wouldn't have shown her evidence of her own future. Unless he didn't know that was what he was showing her.

Maybe if I could just find the artist...

But she couldn't do that without leaving this place and Ares would never allow that. Which left her right back at square one. No answers, a bajillion questions.

Too many things to think about, not enough time.

Kyra had to pick the questions off. She'd start with the easiest ones first.

With this reasoning, she headed out to training early, knowing Leda would already be setting up.

Kyra must've had a look about her face that said she meant trouble. Leda knew what she was after. She dreaded it immediately.

"Please Kyra, no more questions."

"It's just one question."

"Maybe, but your questions worry me." If Leda could wrinkle, Kyra would give her plenty. "You can't just ask normal things like the others. It always has to be deep and philosophical. You're constantly toeing the line of getting in trouble."

"I promise this will be the last question."

Leda sighed. She knew there'd be no escape. "You swear it?"

"I swear it."

"You'd better make this one count. I won't answer another after this."

Fair enough. Kyra only needed one answer.

"When you said about sex the other day—it was with men, right? Because there are no men in the compound, so when did you ever get the chance?"

A pang of jealousy hit her. Did Leda sleep with Ares? He didn't deny it when she said he'd slept with hundreds. Though hundreds was an exaggeration, even for him.

"It was with a man, yes."

Kyra swallowed, pressing, "Was it Ares?"

"No. It wasn't Ares. Not everyone sets their sights as dangerously high as yours."

"I never set my sights on Ares." None of this was intention. In fact, Ares wouldn't even know she existed had Leda and Erika not put her in his path. "And I haven't slept with him. In fact, I don't even remember mentioning him."

"You just—"

"Please, Leda."

Once more, the older woman sighed. "After missions, we get the chance to see the world. It's only ever for a few days but we meet people in that time. Mortal men, the odd demon."