After the god of war's cherished mortal pet discovers the humans imprisoned beneath his temple, she turns his possessive favor into a weapon. Her choices between obedience and rebellion could test the love he claims to offer and shake the divine realm in this Olympian dark romance.
On the night the god of war fastened my collar around my throat, the gods judged how perfectly I had been tamed.
"You're most beautiful when you lower your eyes."
The goddess of love smiled, and soft laughter rippled through the banquet hall. I sat at Ares's knee and smiled exactly as I had been taught.
His fingers traced the red jewel set into my collar. An old wound throbbed beneath the cold gold.
"My mortal is more than beautiful."
Ares raised his wine cup and looked down at me. Tenderness burned in his golden eyes, inseparable from possession.
"Tell me. Who is your master?"
"Ares."
I answered without hesitation. The gods smiled their approval, and his thumb brushed my lower lip as if rewarding me.
After the feast, Ares wrapped an arm around my waist and led me through the corridors of the red temple. I matched his stride until I heard the faint sound of breathing beyond a half-open bronze door.
At the bottom of the stairs, there were bars.
Humans stood behind them, collar marks circling their throats. No silk. No jewels. Even their names had been taken. The woman at the front touched the scar on her neck, then pointed to my collar.
The bars did not separate their prison from mine. They were only the part no one had bothered to gild.
The moment I stopped, Ares's hand closed around the back of my neck. His hard chest pressed against my back, and his mouth lowered to my ear.
"I thought I taught you not to look below."
The collar tightened with searing heat, but I did not look away.
After a moment, he gave a low laugh. He sounded more intrigued than angry.
"Very well. Tonight, I will not punish you for anything you say."
His fingertips slipped beneath the collar and pressed against my pulse.
"You have spent years convincing the gods that you belong to me," he said. "Now look at me and tell me which of us was being tamed."