Divine Revelations

POV: Alexandra

All eyes were fixed on Ares, waiting for him to reveal the solution he so confidently hinted at. His smirk widened, but there was an edge to it. “You have that stupid healing heart thing, right?” he said, his tone dismissive.

Apollo let out an exasperated grunt, crossing his arms tightly over his chest. “None of her abilities are stupid, Ares. They are gifts—abilities bestowed upon her by me and Aphrodite. You don’t get to trivialize that.”

The tension between the two gods was palpable, a clash of power and pride. Ares shot Apollo a glare, his face hardening. “It could have been me,” he spat, bitterness threading his voice.

His words struck me like a sudden gust of icy wind. I blinked, trying to grasp what he had just said. My heartbeat quickened as I turned toward him, my eyes narrowing with a mixture of confusion and curiosity. “What do you mean, ‘it could have been you’?”

Ares froze, his bravado slipping in an instant. His usually unshakable, imposing figure seemed to shrink slightly. His face drained of its usual fiery confidence, leaving behind a paleness I had never seen before—a god caught off guard, perhaps for the first time in his immortal life.

For a fleeting moment, Ares, the god of war, looked vulnerable.

The silence that followed was deafening. Even Apollo’s fiery glare softened as he realized the gravity of Ares' slip. Whatever this was, it was deeper than any petty rivalry between them.

I stepped forward, my voice quieter but edged with the firmness of command. “Ares... what did you mean by that? Spit it the hell out.” My eyes bore into him, challenging the god of war to respond, but his mouth remained tightly shut, his jaw clenched as if holding back more than just words.

The silence stretched on, thick with the weight of whatever truth he was hiding. My patience snapped. I turned sharply toward Apollo, my frustration bubbling over. “If he won’t tell me, then you need to.”

Apollo’s usual radiant demeanor had dimmed. His eyes shifted toward Ares, conflicted, as if this wasn’t just some petty squabble but something far more significant. He sighed heavily, running a hand through his sun-streaked hair before finally meeting my gaze.

Apollo sighed, running his hands through his hair as if the weight of the truth had finally become too much to hold in. His usual glow seemed to dim slightly. “The truth is, my girl... Ares was supposed to be your soul father. But Aphrodite—well, she refused to mate with him to create your soul. She’s... not exactly his biggest fan.” He let out a small, bitter chuckle. “So, Almighty asked me to step in.”

His words hung in the air like a revelation that suddenly shifted everything. I blinked, processing what that meant—the connection between Ares and me that could have been.

I quipped, the humor masking the sudden churn of emotions in my chest, “And I’m sure Aphrodite had absolutely nothing to do with the decision of who to mate with...”

Apollo smirked, but there was a hint of tension behind his smile. “Let’s just say she had a very... passionate opinion about the matter.” He glanced at Ares, who stood rigid, his back still turned to us. “She didn’t think Ares would make the best soul father for someone meant to heal, to love. She thought it would—taint—what you were meant to become.”

Ares finally spun around, his face tight with frustration. “Taint? That’s what she called it?” His voice rumbled, low and dangerous. “I wasn’t going to ‘taint’ anything. I would have made her stronger, to keep her safe for her trials. And maybe then—maybe she wouldn’t need all this ‘healing heart’ nonsense to survive what’s coming.”

His words struck deep, and for a moment, the weight of the past—the decisions made without my knowledge—felt heavy in the room.

Apollo’s expression softened. “It wasn’t about power, Ares. It was about balance. Solamor was destined to bring something the world needed—compassion, understanding, healing - a savior.”

Ares scoffed, shaking his head, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—regret, maybe? Pain, even? “She could’ve been more,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

I stood there, caught between the two gods, the truth of my origins shifting the ground beneath me. For the first time, I understood how much more had gone into shaping who I was supposed to become than I ever realized.

Garrett cleared his throat, his deep voice cutting through the tension. “Moving swiftly on…” he said, his attempt to steer the conversation back on track clear. I shot him a grateful smile, thankful that he was trying to shift the mood to something less aggravating and more productive.

I nodded, looking back at Ares. “So, continue, Ares. Let us know how I can reveal this fortress, please.”

Ares' expression softened as he met my gaze, his usual hardness replaced with something akin to affection. “Of course, little one. I’m sorry for getting... distracted. Your little ability might come in handy after all.”

Before I could respond, Apollo chimed in, his tone smug. “She would’ve had it anyway, Ares. That’s an Aphrodite ability.”

Ares shot him a sharp look, his patience clearly thinning. “Shut it, golden boy, before I challenge you to a duel.”

I rolled my eyes, cutting through their bickering with an exasperated sigh. “Hey, god babies, can we focus?”

Ares grunted but continued, “It’s simple, really. You just need to find the fortress, put your hands on it, and activate that... ability of yours. The veil will fall once you channel it.”

Apollo stood up, the chair beneath him groaning in relief as if it were grateful to be free from supporting a god’s weight. He smiled down at me, radiating his usual warmth. “That’s where I come in, my girl. I’ll light the way. I will shine a beam of light on the exact spot where the castle is hidden when you’re ready. All you need to do is say, ‘Papa, I’m ready,’ and I’ll do it.”

I raised an eyebrow, incredulous. “Really? Papa?”

Apollo smirked, mischief dancing in his eyes. “Yep. Or I won’t do it.”

Ares groaned loudly, his frustration clear. “How fucking childish.”

Apollo whipped around, his eyes narrowing dangerously at Ares. “So, you want that duel or what? Don’t tell me how to interact with my soul child!” His voice echoed, heavy with divine authority.

Ares, never one to back down, shot back, his voice rising. “She was supposed to be my soul child before you stepped in, you shiny asshole!”

The tension between the two gods surged as they squared off, their powerful auras clashing in the air. Desperately, I lodged myself between them, pressing my hands against their massive chests in a futile attempt to push them apart. My strength was nothing compared to theirs, and as their bickering continued, I started to feel the crushing pressure of being caught between two forces far greater than myself.

Just as panic began to set in, I felt a strong hand grip my waist, pulling me back swiftly and securely. Garrett’s arms wrapped around me from behind, his steady presence grounding me. I turned to look up at him, my heart racing, but his eyes were fixed on the gods with a glare that could cut through stone.

“You almost crushed to death the very person you’re arguing over,” Garrett growled, his voice low and lethal. “I don’t give a damn who either of you are—if you harm my wife, you will pay.”

My breath caught in my throat. Garrett’s boldness sent a rush of fear through me. These were gods—capable of smiting anyone who dared defy them—and here he was, throwing down a challenge. My instincts kicked in, and without thinking, I turned in Garrett’s arms, hugging him tightly as if I could somehow shield him from the gods’ wrath.

For a moment, there was silence. Then, to my surprise, laughter erupted behind us—deep, booming, and genuine.

I glanced back cautiously, only to see both Apollo and Ares approaching, their earlier tension diffused into amusement. My grip on Garrett tightened as they drew near, but Apollo leaned down, his voice soft and reassuring as he whispered in my ear, “Worry not, my girl. Garrett is perfectly safe.”

Ares, standing tall and broad-shouldered, nodded in agreement, a grin spreading across his face. “I love the brass balls on your husband, little one. I’ve decided to bless him.” His eyes flickered with approval, and though his words were rough, I could hear the respect behind them.

Apollo’s gasp echoed through the room, sharp and surprised. “Really?” His golden eyes widened in disbelief as he turned to Ares, the earlier tension now replaced by something more curious.

I looked between them, confused. “What does that mean?” I asked, my gaze lingering on Apollo’s reaction.

Apollo turned toward me, his expression still a mix of surprise and caution. “It’s like... being a godfather,” he explained, his voice softening as he chose his words carefully. “Ares has chosen to bless Garrett. That means he’s willing to step in to protect and guide him, almost like a divine mentor. Garrett will be blessed with a limited amount of Ares’ abilities.”

I blinked, trying to process what that would mean for Garrett, for us. The idea of Garrett, already strong and resilient, wielding even a fraction of Ares’ power sent a shiver down my spine.

Apollo frowned slightly, crossing his arms as if weighing his next words. “I don’t know how I feel about that, though,” he admitted, his tone tinged with concern. “Ares’ blessing is... powerful, but it’s tied to war, to conflict. It’s not exactly peaceful.”

Ares, still grinning, folded his arms across his chest and glanced at Apollo. “Don’t get your toga in a twist, golden boy. It’s a gift. He’s earned it.”

Garrett, standing tall beside me, took it all in quietly. He glanced down at me, his eyes filled with both curiosity and reassurance. Despite the gravity of the situation, there was a strength in him that made me believe he could handle whatever this blessing entailed.

I reached for his hand, lacing my fingers through his. “So... Garrett has part of Ares’ abilities now?”

Ares’ grin widened, but he held up a hand, his tone becoming more serious. “Not quite yet,” he said. “There’s a ceremony I need to conduct first before Garrett gains any of my abilities. It’s not just a snap of the fingers.” His gaze shifted to Garrett, then lingered on Jack, his expression turning thoughtful. “I just hope this doesn’t interfere with his Lycan King abilities.”

Jack, standing tall and resolute, met Ares’ gaze without flinching. “Lycan abilities are very different from those of the God of War,” Jack responded, his voice calm but firm. “While we are a warring race, we don’t fight for the sake of conquest. We fight only when necessary, to protect our women and children.”

res studied Jack for a moment longer, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly as if weighing the truth of his words. After a pause, he nodded approvingly, a rare sign of respect in his otherwise prideful demeanor. “Fair enough,” he said, his voice low but laced with a hint of acknowledgment. “Your instincts are in the right place. You’ll gain the abilities once the ceremony is over, but—” he raised a finger, “like Solamor’s powers, they’ll manifest only when the time is right, when they are truly needed.”

Garrett listened quietly, his body tense, ready for what was to come. Ares shifted his gaze to him, his expression softening slightly as he continued, “I believe your first test—your first sign of these abilities—will come when you find Moonshadow.”

A ripple of energy seemed to pass through the room at the mention of Moonshadow, a reminder of the fortress we sought. It felt closer now, almost within reach. The weight of what was coming pressed against me, but I knew we were heading toward something vital. Something that would change everything.

Garrett, his expression steady, asked, “So what exactly is the ceremony?”

Ares’ grin widened with mischief, and without a word, he pulled out a gleaming, ancient dagger from his side. Before Garrett had time to react, Ares swiftly slashed across Garrett’s palm, the blade biting deep enough to draw blood. Garrett flinched but didn’t pull away. Then, just as quickly, Ares sliced his own hand, the blood flowing freely.

Without hesitation, Ares clasped their bloody palms together, the warmth of divine power surging through the room. His smirk deepened as the energy between them crackled, invisible yet undeniably present. The atmosphere seemed to hum with ancient magic, binding the two in an unspoken pact.

“And we’re done,” Ares said with a casual shrug, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. His voice carried a satisfied edge, though his eyes sparkled with something more profound—a connection had been made, a bond forged in blood.