I now understood Shemhazai’s warning. This god drew his power from rage and violence. It was in direct contrast with my own magic, which was softer.
I was powerful, of course, but I was made up of what the universe chose to gift me. I did nottake.
I was a creature of community and unity. My power was stronger in numbers, and with a coven of my daughters, I could reach invincible levels of energy. However, at this moment, I had no coven. I was alone, and a flicker of doubt rocked through my core at the hunger in this god’s eyes.
Ares took without remorse, and I knew in my heart that if he chose to, he could very likely overpower me.
“I don’t particularly care if you’re interested or not, gorgeous,” he said with the arrogance of someone who didn’t take no for an answer.
“If I want you, I will have you. It has been centuries since I laid eyes on a creature that’s made me this hard.” He stepped closer, and lightning flashed overhead. “If I want to bounce you off my cock, I will. Maybe I’ll make you my bride and fuck your beautiful pussy for eternity.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, calling the rain around me into silvery, razor-sharp ribbons of water.
“Somehow, I feel like an eternity of fucking you would be long and pleasureless. Could the last woman you fucked evenfeelthat cock you can’t seem to stop talking about?”
His face went red with rage, and I watched in satisfaction as his fists clenched at his sides.
“Oh… you’llfeelit, Hecate. Though, I’ll make sure there’s no pleasure in it.”
I tamped down the fear that was welling in me as he advanced. His energy was growing hotter and wilder by the second. It was already smothering me as he came closer.
I knew I should run. I wasn’t equipped to take him, not on my own. But my pride held me firm. I wouldn’t run. Not from him. Not from any man.
“I have no doubt about that. You’ve probably never brought a woman to orgasm in your life,” I spat, and he sneered.
“You’re about to find out.”
And then, he was coming for me.
I whipped my water snakes at him in a desperate attempt to fend him off, but he was like a chariot drawn by bulls. My magic didn’t even cut flesh as he tore through my defenses, and I braced myself for impact, only to gasp as the shadows around us suddenly sprang to life.
Suddenly, the Colosseum was filled with a colony of angry, smokey cats with burning red eyes.
One of them launched itself directly at Ares’ face, clawing at his eyes and causing him to let out a strangled roar of frustration.
He stumbled back from me as the shadow cats advanced on him, their yowls and hisses reverberating through the empty Colosseum with a ferocity that shouldn’t have been as frightening as it was.
I glanced behind me to find Shemhazai leaning against the Porta Libitinensis, hands in the pockets of his sleek black cloak and an amused smirk on his face.
“Predictable, as always. How mundane.” He sighed as Ares tore Shemhazai’s hellcat off his face and tossed it away.
“Stay out of this, Shemhazai!” he snarled. “You and I have a deal. If you cross me, I will consider the deal null and void.”
Shemhazai shrugged, examining his fingernails as if inspecting them for cleanliness.
“Yeah, but it’s been—what? A thousand years, Ares? I’m getting bored. Contrary to what you clearly think of yourself, you’re not exactly aneliteconversationalist. I won’t mourn the loss of yourquick wit.” His green eyes flashed as he glanced back up at the god of war, the evil smirk on his face broadening.
“I’m starting to think fucking with you will be more fun than working with you. Besides, things have been going so well for Rome; it might be fun to mix things up.”
Hesaid it like the idea of watching the destruction of Rome—the largest empire the world had ever seen—would be the equivalent of an enjoyable picnic on a sunny afternoon.
“If you do this, there’s no coming back, Shemhazai. You donotwant to make an enemy out of me,” Ares threatened.
“Oh, but I think that Iverymuch do. Maybe as an enemy, you’ll actually be interesting.” The demon smiled as more and more shadows morphed and changed into cats. The cats had started out as small, domesticated creatures, but as Shemhazai’s amusement grew, so did the shadow creatures. They swelled and churned, turning larger and larger by the minute, their hisses and meows turning to demonic growls and snarls.
Ares eyed the shadow cats, and I moved to stand next to Shemhazai, taking the time to gather more of my own power. Between the two of us, I now stood more of a chance against the god of war, and he recognized he was outnumbered.
“This isn’t over,” Ares snarled at me, and I snorted.
