“I hate them because they follow a god that has wronged me in more ways than there are stars in the fucking sky.”
I frowned, opening my mouth to respond, when I was interrupted by a deep, bone-chilling voice.
“Shemhazai has a very long, arduous history with the god of creation and his angels.”
I glanced up to find another god had come to join us.
The demon—Shemhazai—stiffened slightly as this new being reached out a large hand toward me in introduction.
This god was much larger than the demon, with broad shoulders and hair the color of roasted chestnuts. His dark eyes shone with a look I had come to expect from men of all kinds when they laid eyes on members of the fairer sex, and I immediately disliked him.
“Ares. I thought you were sitting today’s games out,” Shemhazai said dryly, his tone letting me know that the god’s presence annoyed him.
“You know I never miss a chance to enjoy the spoils of our agreement,” Ares replied, never taking his eyes off mine. He was still standing before me, with his hand outstretched, waiting for me to take it.
I slipped my fingers into his hand, and he drew my knuckles to his lips, leaving a disgustingly soft kiss on my flesh, causing me to shudder.
Quickly, I tried to pull away, uninterested in how this god looked at me like I was something to eat instead of a being of equal power.
Shemhazai watched our interaction carefully, and his green eyes narrowed at the way Ares tightened his grip on my hand, forcing me to keep my hand against his lips.
“Unless you would like a snake for a tongue, I suggest letting me go.” I smirked at the god, and his eyes flashed first with surprise and then anger.
He wasn’t used to being defied.
Too fucking bad.
I was Hecate. Mother of Witches. I bowed to no man.
Ares continued to hesitate, his grip tightening further. Shemhazai let out a bored sigh and lazily nudged Ares in the hip with his foot, pressing him away from me.
“Leave her alone, Ares. Watch the show.”
Ares glared at the demon, a muscle pulsing in his jaw, but he finally let me go and nodded.
“I’ll find you after…” he trailed off, clearly waiting for my name.
“Hecate. Perhaps you’ve heard of me?” I smiled sweetly at him, letting him see the threat on my face.
Do not fuck with me. I am not some human toy for you to rape.
However, his gaze only darkened in challenge, as if mynowere merely an invitation for him to pursue me further.
Anger bubbled in my chest at theaudacity,but to my relief, he left me with Shemhazai and took the empty seat on the other side of Diocletian, who was cheering loudly at the violent show unraveling before us.
I watched with disgust as human blood and gore mixed with the rain and sand of the arena. Organs and viscera spilled in heavy explosions against the harsh steel of blades and the ivory teeth of several exotic beasts that had been unleashed for the entertainment of human men.
“You have caught his attention,” Shemhazai drawled next to me. He was watching the massacre before us, though I knew he was referring to the god of war.
“Nothing I can’t handle.” I shrugged.
He glanced at me, his green eyes flashing.
“You sure about that?”
I gave him a small, cocksure smile.
“I eat men like him for breakfast.”
