Chapter 27

Akia POV

My breathing quickens, and my body begins to tremble. Some of it is the mate bond, being this close to all of my mates at the same time. The rest of it is unease. It isn’t that I’m scared of Ares, though I’m worried about what he will say about the fact that he couldn’t reach me all night. It’s more of an unease because I don’t know what to say. He kept this part of him and his name a secret for a reason. How do I approach the topic to find out what that reason is?

Thankfully, I don’t have to have that answer yet, because my other mates rescue me. “Not right now, Ares.” Apollo’s hand tightens on mine. “We were just discussing something heavy, and I think she can use a break before starting another heavy conversation.”

“I’m sure that she’ll be fine. I need a moment to talk to my mate.” There’s tension in his voice, and it’s spilling into