Page 20 of A Crown of Hopes and Sorrows

“He’s holding you to the arrangement you made. A year, Apollo. He wants you to ascend by spring.”

My heart ached. My ascension would mean losing Hyacinth, Temi, and everything that mattered to me. But I forced the words to form. “Tell him I will.”

Ares huffed a laugh, with no humor. “He won’t accept your word for it.”

“He’s asked for a vow?”

Ares nodded.

“Wait.” I stepped in closer to him, gripping his arm, and his muscles tensed. “He’s asked me to vow to you?”

“Yes. But you know that’s as good as a promise to him. If you break it, you’ll be committed in service to me and essentially him through me.”

I swallowed and rubbed my thumb over my palm. “All right. I’ll vow it.”

Ares’ veil slipped for a moment, his body glimmering silver. “You will for all intents become Zeus’ slave if you don’t keep your word or die if you break the vow.”

“That won’t happen,” I said. “Because I don’t intend to break it. I will ascend by spring.”

My muscles trembled as I spoke. Everything in me wanted to fight it, but my ascension hovered over me like Fate herself breathing down my neck. And making this vow was the only way to guarantee I kept Zeus from looking too carefully at Niria. If he saw us offering him dedications and knew I planned to ascend, it would buy Hyacinth and his kingdom more time. I had promised Cyn when I returned to help him and his country. I had to do it. For his sake.

Ares remained quiet for several heartbeats. “Very well.” He pulled a blade out and sliced his arm, his blood leaking out golden and shimmering. He handed the knife to me, and I made a similar cut and then pressed my arm against his, the crimson of my blood glowing against his light.

His magic stung through me, like arrows slicing, and I gritted my teeth. When the ache of it receded, Ares withdrew his arm and pulled cloth bandages out of his bag, handing one to me. I wrapped my forearm. “When will I see you again?”

“If you do before your ascension, it will be because war is coming.” He knotted his bandage. “So, hope that you don’t.”

“I miss you,” I said.

He shook his head. “Life no longer allows that for us. Use the time you have wisely.” He clapped his arm over my shoulder, and I gripped his fingers.

A moment later, he disappeared, and the maroon stars streaked the heavens.

I ambled back into the camp, rubbing my hand over the bandage.

I’d known this was coming.

I’d known this was what would happen.

But I’d spent my entire life avoiding it, and my mind had apparently gotten into the habit because, now that it felt like a reality, my soul seemed to sink into my feet.

Hyacinth looked back over his shoulder and jumped up, his robe ruffling with the motion. He met me and bowed his head towards me. “What’s wrong?” His gaze shifted to the bandage, and he gasped. “What happened?”

Tears bit at my eyes. “Can I not talk about it right now?”

“You don’t have to,” he whispered and pressed a kiss to my cheek.

“Could we...” I scanned the empty world around us, the dark outline of trees shuddering in a breeze in the distance. I licked my lips. “Could we stay together tonight? We’re nowhere near a city. Just our party is here. No one outside will see.”

“Of course.” His brow furrowed. “Are you sure something isn’t wrong?”

“It’s nothing to worry about for now,” I said, gripping his hand.

I couldn’t bring myself to share with him. Not yet.

But I needed to be with him.

Already time ripped away from us, fate snagging Hyacinth from my fingers before I could properly grip him.