I staggered back.
I was not evil.
If I indeed had such bloodlust in me, I’d forever bury it in the forgotten bottom of the abyss to protect myself and the others. I’d chain that fucking bloodthirsty bitch-beast down and never let her surface.
To do so, I’d have to repress the hellfire and never let the demon part of my heritage see the light. Then an understanding sank into my consciousness—Ares was no different than Lucifer.
And my godly part was equally bloodthirsty as my demon part.
My eyes returned to the war god, who waded through the blood that flowed like a river. Brilliant sunlight glinted off his metal armor and made the blood glisten.
My gaze pierced his essence.
He knew no good or evil. War was all he cared for.
From the ancient time when the first universe was formed, and since he’d been born, he’d been at war.
He’d destroyed countless worlds from other universes before he came to Earth.
Unlike the demigods, who were faithful to their mission and carried the burden of protecting Earth, the war god didn’t care for humanity or any living being.
His nature was to destroy. In destruction, he found glory.
This time when he returned to Earth, he posed as a superhero, the savior of the earthlings, the protector and ruler of his half of Earth, basking in the mortals’ worship. Yet unknown to all, he was the cause of the Great Merge. He’d helped Lucifer break the seal and bring Hell to the other half of the planet so he could go to war with the devil.
He’d hidden that deeply from the demigods. I needed to tell them about the dirty deal between the god and the devil.
Ares’s fiery eyes snapped to me, and a force slammed into my chest, tossing me out of his head, his memories, and his vision.
“Cookie.”
“Lamb.”
“Rosebud.”
“Buttercup.”
The demigods shouted my name as I swayed, two trails of blood flowing out of my nose, but my wobbly orb of crimson light still held above my friends and the other students.
“Withdraw your Glory, Ares!” Héctor bellowed.
“Drop it, father!” Axel shouted. “Keep hurting my mate, you’ll make an enemy out of me.”
The heavenly light receded, and air returned to the room.
A few students collapsed, but they would live.
My gaze found Nat, Yelena, and Marie, and a ragged, relieved breath left my lips. They nodded at me in gratitude, awe, and fear, knowing that I’d shielded them from the war god’s slaughter, but their tense body language showed that they feared the merciless god would pull another stunt.
My heart clenched in anger and guilt. If it weren’t for me, they wouldn’t have been in this situation in the first place.
Marie pulled out her walkie talkie radio from her belt and called for healers for the students.
Ares smirked at the fuming demigods and me as if nothing had happened and he’d just returned from strolling through the park.
“Marigold isn’t your mate since I don’t approve,” the god said, maddened obsession burning through his eyes. “She isn’t mated to any of you. And I’ve just found a worthy partner. This boring century has finally shown some sparks.” He winked at me. “See you around, my fierce lioness.”
He vanished before the demigods had a chance to rush and attack him. In his wake, a battle song vibrating in the air.