Page 86 of Reverence

Ares knew. He knew about my father and he withheld it from me.

Just when I finally offered him a semblance of trust.

I shook my head, struggling to comprehend what I was looking at.

My hands trembled. A knot formed in my throat.

Then I heard footsteps.

They grew louder with every passing second.

I felt his presence behind me before he even spoke.

“What’s—” He stopped and the footsteps came to an abrupt halt.

“Amala.” His voice was gentle. Too gentle.

I blinked rapidly before slowly turning around to face him.

“I should’ve listened to my intuition.” His expression changed. “I trusted you.”

“Listen to me—”

“No.” I cut him off.

His hands curled into fists at his sides, his jaw ticking as he restrained whatever he wanted to say.

“How long have you known about this?” Silence. I took a step toward him. “Answer my question.”

His throat bobbed as he swallowed and it seemed like there was regret lingering in his eyes.

“Let me explain.”

“Answer the fucking question.” My voice was calm and on the inside I was anything but.

Inside, my mind was racing a hundred miles per hour.

My throat constricted, making it difficult to breathe.

“A few hours,” he finally admitted. “I’ve known for a few hours.” I stared at him in disbelief.

“Yet you didn’t tell me when I walked into your house earlier.” His silence was answer enough.

“Instead, you’ve been fucking sweet-talking me.” I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “Am I a joke to you, Ares?”

“It’s not like that.” He stepped forward and I immediately stepped back.

Then something flickered across his face. Hurt maybe.

“I wanted to tell you.”

“Come any closer and you’ll leave your house in a body bag.”

My heart hammered harder and a bead of sweat slid down my neck.

Despite the resentment consuming me, I knew I wouldn’t kill him.

I couldn’t.