Free Healed by Fire by Catherine Banks Page A

protect her claim to him.
    I wanted to touch her, inhale her scent,
bury my nose in her hair and listen to her heart beat. I wanted
much and was allowed nothing. It took all of my control not to
leave the tent and walk the one hundred yards to hers. She was so
close and still so far away.
    I’d just received information from a
credible source about the true reason of Matt’s treason, but had
not been able to discuss it with Ares yet. I stared at the letter
in my hands and wished Matt had thought higher of us and had
confided his problem in us. Ares and I could have helped him easily
and he never would have needed to betray us. Clearly he did not
think highly of our skills, which is why he had given in and played
the rat.
    “What is that?” Achilles asked softly from
the stool he was sitting on across the tent from me.
    I tossed the note to him and whispered,
“Information in regards to Matt’s treachery.”
    Achilles read the note and then looked at me
with his neutral face. “Did you tell Ares?”
    I shook my head. “There was not an
appropriate time to discuss it.”
    “I am sorry that you have not been allowed
to see her,” he said quietly as he watched me. “It was not Ares’ or
my decision, but the Dragon Council’s.”
    It bothered me that he could read me so
well, but then again he had been the first to notice that I
was in love with Artemis. “I know that,” I said as I exhaled and
ran a hand through my hair. “I just wish the Council wasn’t making
him go through all this bullshit.”
    “And that you could have gone with him
instead of being left behind,” finished Achilles.
    I laughed bitterly. “You know me well.”
    Achilles dipped his head slightly in
acknowledgment. “Yes, but I also know that I am feeling the same
way.”
    This was why I liked Achilles so much. He
was the heir to the Sidhe throne and yet he did not hold himself
above anyone. Since I could remember he had been kind to me and had
treated me with respect even despite Ares’ prior hatred of him. It
made matters much easier on me now that Ares had forgiven Achilles
and they had dissolved their issues. Although I do not think that
would have happened if it had not been for Artemis’ kidnapping and
our imprisonment together.
    We’d had many prison brawls, together and
against other prisoners, which had brought us closer together.
Human women could not understand how fighting brought men closer
together, but after a fight together, whether it be against each
other or against a common foe, your friendship developed and
strengthened. Victor and Ares’ relationship had strengthened, while
Achilles and Ares’ had developed anew.
    “I do not doubt Ares’ abilities, but I do
not like not being there to protect his back,” I admitted.
    “Do you doubt Victor?” Achilles asked.
    I smiled. “You know as well as I do that
Victor will protect Ares as best as he can, but he looks out for
himself first, something which I do not.”
    Achilles nodded his head. “I agree.”
    I looked towards the east, where I could
sense Artemis. “It’s so frustrating to know she is so near and yet
still out of reach.”
    Achilles sighed loudly. “You’re preaching to
the choir, brother.”
    Only he would obtain more kisses from her
and, given long enough, possibly even be allowed to mate with her.
I would never. I would only be allowed the bond of pack mates and
the bond of friendship. Something which I was grateful for, but I
craved so much more.
    The woman of my dreams was within reach and
yet so far gone that I knew she could not be mine, even if she did
regain her memories. I would forever be left wanting.
     
     
    ~~~
     
ARES
     

Chapter Eight
     
    Leaving her side again after such a short
and bitter sweet reunion was extremely difficult. If it were for
any other reason, I would have stayed, grabbed her in my arms and
never let go. She looked exactly the same, but without her memories
she wasn’t the same woman. I could tell that she had