Enjoy reading, My Pearls 🕊️🤍

Taehyung's eyelids swung open, pulled from a deep but short sleep. Reluctantly, he rose to a sitting position, rubbing his sleepy eyes. He looked around with blurry eyes at the temple, which was plunged into darkness and poignant silence. The chill inside its walls penetrated him to the marrow of his bones, covering his naked body with goosebumps. He reached for the white cloth lying at his feet and pulled at it, intending to cover his chilled shoulders with it, but it didn't budge. The young man shifted his gaze to the side and saw that what was holding the cloth in place was the muscular, naked body of a sleeping Spartan.

The man was asleep on his stomach with his head facing Pearl, who was laying on his strong shoulder. A soft dream-induced smile was on his lips, and his long black hair fell over his closed eyes. He looked so peaceful that Taehyung didn't have the heart to snatch him from the land to which Morpheus had taken him. He decided to let him sleep some more and go out in front of the temple to get some fresh air, but before he did, he crouched down beside him and, reaching out his hand toward him, brushed his hair away from his face, tucking it behind his ear. He sighed dreamily, admiring the beauty of his warrior, and leaned in to place a tender kiss on his lips. The warmth he felt on his trembling lips flooded his pounding heart, warming his chilled muscles.

He moved his hand to Jeongguk's back and, pressing his fingertips into each of the smallest hollows, began to explore their texture. He made his way down to the firm buttocks and clamped his hand on one of them, massaging it for a moment, before reaching for the fabric that had been battered between his legs and covering his body. He kissed his temple, then, with a heavy sigh, rose, taking in his hands the cloth on which he had been lying earlier. He threw it over his shoulders, where the strings of pearls adorning his torso still hung. He covered himself with it tightly and moved toward the temple's exit, leaving its walls a moment later.

Outside, dawn was painting the sky with pink and orange highlights, waiting for the sun to appear on the horizon. It was crisp, and the smell of rain left over from the night's storm was still in the air. A gentle breeze, sent by Zephyr, blew away Taehyung's curly hair, reminding him of the approaching tide. However, the young man still stood at the top of the stairs leading to the temple of the goddess of love. He gazed at the sun, which was tentatively awakening from sleep, illuminating his beautiful features. He closed his eyes from the pleasure the rays were giving him by stroking his cheeks, and breathed deeply. For the first time, he didn't have to run toward the eastern side of the wall to jump over it and head to Corinth, so that he could look at the object of his sighs, if only for a moment. He had him at his fingertips, in their sweet nest, wrapped in a white cloth that still smelled of their heated bodies.

At the memory of their intimacy, the young man's cheeks were covered with a hot blush, his heart began to beat rapidly, and the pit of his stomach tightened with excitement.

He wanted to look into the dark eyes of the Spartan whose strong hands would clamp down on his full hips. He wanted to hear the words of adoration as the warrior's soft lips glided over his skin. He wanted to feel Jeongguk's hard penis push through the tight walls of his interior to take him once again to the gates of paradise. He wanted to linger in his arms and give himself to him until the end of the world, loving him above all else.

His desires were quickly dispelled by the words Iphigenia had spoken a few hours ago, which were now rumbling in his head, sending a sharp pain through his temples. He was about to be handed over to the clutches of that beleaguered ruler of Corinth, to whom the high priestess had promised his body to fulfill the king's whims. He wanted to escape the fate awaiting him at all costs, and for a moment he was glad that he had dared to ask for help from a Spartan who stood by his side, eager to give him salvation. However, that fond hope fled as quickly as it appeared, for he realized that by doing so he was exposing the warrior to the wrath of the king, who might pronounce a death sentence on him, and after spending the night with him, all he really wanted was for his beloved to be safe. If it meant that he would have to be as far away from him as possible, losing his longed-for love and happiness, he was willing to make that sacrifice.

He made his decision when the words assuring his love escaped from the warrior's lips...

"Pearl, why are you awake already?"

Jeongguk's warm voice snapped Taehyung out of his thoughts swirling like storm clouds, providing a bit of light. He took a deep breath, trying to hide the sadness overwhelming him, and lifting the corners of his mouth up, turned toward him. The sight of the Spartan momentarily took his breath away, stopping his heart.

He stood nonchalantly, leaning against a column. His long black hair framed a handsome face, which hosted a playful smile. His naked torso proudly displayed his exercised muscles, and the silky soft fabric hanging low on his narrow hips showed his underbelly, covered with dark hairs, where traces of their fulfillment were still visible, covering only the warrior's manhood.

"Oh," he moaned, greedily moving his gaze over Jeongguk's body and stopping it at his muscular thighs. He couldn't resist touching them, so after a moment, he moved closer to him and placed his hands on them, pulling them out from under the fabric he was wrapped in. "I couldn't sleep, and I didn't want to shatter your peaceful sleep, Ares' warrior," he wheezed directly into his lips, looking deeply into his eyes.

"You should shatter it so that I don't have to wake up in a cold bed without my beloved Pearl right next to me," he muttered, taking Taehyung's face in his hands, and began to stroke his cheeks with his thumbs. "I missed you," he added after a moment and kissed his ruby lips.

Taehyung returned the kiss, moving his hands up the Spartan's thighs, eventually encircling his waist with his arms and clinging to him with his naked body, which was no longer covered by the fabric hanging at the bend of his elbows. He parted his lips and felt the warrior's tongue slide inside to entwine with that of his. They kissed slowly, enjoying their closeness.

"I love you," the warrior whispered, breaking the kiss when they ran out of air, and letting go of Pearl's face, he slid his hands under the white fabric, finding his shapely ass.

"I love you too," Taehyung replied, burying his nose in the hollow of his neck to draw the scent of his body into his lungs. "You don't even realize how much."

He wanted to remember everything about his Spartan to make it easier for him to get over the parting. He wanted to become his Pearl once more and for him to be his man this last time. He kissed the skin on his neck, then slipped out of his arms. He adjusted the white cloth, covering his body again, and grabbed the warrior's hand.

"Where are you dragging me?" He asked, surprised by Taehyung's sudden move. "Don't you think we should talk first? Prepare an escape plan?"

"First we should wash up, so I'm taking you to the bathhouse," he replied, sending him a cocky smile. "We have time for a short bath while the priestesses are still asleep, and then we'll take care of the rest. I promise."

"Oh, yeah?" he asked, and when he heard the young man's affirmative purr, he intertwined their fingers together and quickened his step. After a moment, however, he stopped, completely unsure of where he should go, and his confused expression elicited a thunderous laugh from Taehyung.

"You are charming, warrior of Ares," he said as he mastered a fit of joy, to which the Spartan only snorted, puffing out his lips.

The young man quickly kissed his beloved's lips and led him to one of the white buildings, above whose entrance was a carved figure of a woman holding a vase from which water was pouring out. It was to announce that there was a bathhouse within the walls of the building. He swung the door open and looked into the room. It was dark and empty inside, so he pushed open the wooden surface, confidently stepping inside. He approached the pool filled with cool water and, gazing at its calm surface, let the white cloth slide off his shoulders, revealing his naked body.

Jeongguk watched his actions, walking slowly toward him. He glided his gaze from his slender shoulders, over his narrow waist, stopping it at the accentuated dimples above his firm buttocks. He ran his tongue over his chapped lips, feeling excitement sprout between his thighs. He walked over to him and grabbed his full hips, thumbs pressing into those two sexy points. He pulled him close to him, snuggling into his back and dipping his nose into his curly hair, kissing the skin on his neck right next to his ear.

"I want you," he whispered and sucked on Pearl's tender skin, leaving a small red spot on it.

Taehyung bit his lower lip to keep from groaning. The desire to feel the Spartan in him was taking over his body, but he didn't want to rush, even though time like golden sand was sifting through his fingers. He grasped his right hand and began to trace a route with it, starting from his flat stomach, climbing slowly upward. When the warrior's fingers reached the height of his sternum, he squeezed his hand so that the pearls adorning his torso were enclosed in his fist, and jerked hard, ripping the ornament from his body. The white gems scattered under their feet and rolled directly into the pool, shattering its calm surface and disappearing into its depths.

"Be mine, warrior of Ares," he choked out. This last time, he added in his thoughts and closed his sapphire eyes, fearing that in a moment thick, salty tears would well up in them.

"I am yours every second of our earthly life, and I will return to you in every subsequent incarnation," he said.

The young man felt his knees bend under the weight of the spoken words. The Spartan's arms, which held him tightly, prevented him from falling, but did not keep his heart from shattering into a million tiny pieces. He stifled a sob that was forced to his lips and, taking a deep breath, turned toward Jeongguk. He looked into his ebony eyes and saw in them boundless love, exactly the same love he had for him.

"Taehyung? What..."

Jeongguk wanted to ask what was going on, because for a split second he saw pain in his beautiful sapphire eyes, but before he could utter a sentence, his lips were stopped by the young man's slender finger.

"Please, let's not think about it for this one more moment..." he murmured pleadingly and, embracing his neck with his arms, pressed his lips to his parted lips. He did not deepen the kiss, lingering in the warrior's embrace, enjoying his closeness and the warmth of his strong body. After a moment, he moved his lips just below the warrior's bottom lip and kissed the tiny mole located there. He then ran his tongue over the sharp line of his jaw, finally catching the lobe of his ear in his teeth. At the same time, his hands traveled down the Spartan's back, eventually reaching his slim hips, from which he tore the material wrapping them with a quick motion.

A gasp escaped Jeongguk's lips as Taehyung's slender fingers slid along his penis, and ruby lips sucked the skin on his neck. He grabbed him under the thighs and lifted him, and the young man's shapely thighs wrapped tightly around his hips. Crossing his gaze with him, he sent him a cocky smile and headed toward the pool entrance. He descended the steps, plunging their bodies up to their armpits in the pleasantly cool water, and pressed him against one of the walls.

"I love you," he whispered and, without waiting for his response, brought their lips together. He caught his lower lip in his teeth and pulled it gently toward him, eliciting a moan from Taehyung's throat. He took advantage of this, sliding his tongue inside his parted lips to entwine their tongues in a passionate dance. He kissed him hard and fast as if the world was going to fall apart at any moment. The young man wandered his hands over his muscled body, pushing his manhood against the Spartan's member, hardening with each thrust of his hips.

"Jeongguk," he gasped, pulling away from the warrior's lips, and clamped his hands on the warrior's shoulders. He looked into his eyes burning with desire and added: "Sit on the edge of the pool."

The Spartan swallowed his saliva hard, not commenting on Aphrodite's son's command. He moved away from him, letting his legs slide off his hips, and helped him to stand safely. He then switched their places and leaned his palms against the edge of the pool to pull himself up and sit on the cold floor.

Taehyung watched every little movement of the man with bated breath. How he combed his long black hair back with his fingers, revealing his handsome face. How he placed his hands behind his back to expose his muscular torso, where drops of water ran down, disappearing into the dark hairs on his lower abdomen. As he drove his intense gaze into him, he ran his tongue over his lower lip, then bit down on it. He twitched only when the warrior spread his muscular thighs, presenting his penis in all its glory, dripping with preejaculate, and provoking him to finally touch him. He didn't have to wait long, because the young man immediately grabbed him by the knees, spreading his legs even further so that he could stand freely between them.

"You're driving me crazy," he said directly into his mouth, looking deeply into his eyes and sliding his hands up his taut thighs. He didn't grace him with a kiss, however, lowering his head so that his warm breath wrapped around the skin on his neck and sucked hard on his throat, which moved restlessly as the warrior swallowed his saliva.

"Oh, Pearl," he groaned throatily, tilting his head back to give better access to the skin's craving caress.

"You don't even realize how many times my thoughts have fled in your direction since you appeared in Corinth," he began, pulling away from his grin, and glided his lips toward his collarbone, stamping his skin. "I used to sneak out of the temple just to look at a man who was, to me, more beautiful than Apollo, more valiant than Ares and more dangerous than Zeus. To dream that I could taste his lips for once, smell his skin, feel the touch of his hands," he said, lapping at his puckered nipple with his lips, and ran his tongue over it, still clasping his fingers tightly on his thighs.

Sighs escaped from Jeongguk's parted lips every time Pearl's mouth met his flesh, which was lit up like a furnace in Hephaestus' forge, and the words he spoke took his reason away, driving him crazy to Melinoe's delight. His muscular thighs began to tremble uncontrollably as Taehyung pulled away from his sucked nipple with a loud smack and began to draw marks on the sculpted muscles of his abdomen with his hot tongue. He wrapped his legs tightly around the young man's hips, pulling him closer to him, and pulled away one of the hands he was supporting himself with so he could intertwine it in his dark hair.

"Oh, Tae," he moaned, as that was all that the overpowering pleasure allowed him to do.

"Jeongguk, you are my god," he said, pulling away from the warrior's lower abdomen, and looked deeply into his wide ebony eyes. "You are the only god I wish to worship and adore for the rest of my miserable life," he added and grabbed him by the nape of the neck, drawing him in for a passionate kiss. With his other hand, he found his hard penis and tightened his fingers on it, making circles on its wet head with his thumb.

"The only god is you, my dearest Pearl," the warrior replied, pulling away from his beloved's ruby lips and rested his head against his forehead. "The truest god of love and passion, so I beg you to let me experience pleasure in your arms," he asked, placing a kiss on his lips again.

Taehyung's lips curved in a feisty smile, and his sapphire eyes lit up. He moved his hand from the warrior's neck to his sternum and gently pushed him back so that he lay on the floor, supporting himself on his elbows. He moved his fingers down the man's torso, feeling the smooth skin and hard, sculpted muscles under his fingertips, finally tightening them on his right hip. He leaned over the Spartan's manhood, over which he moved his left hand lazily, and raised his gaze. Jeongguk was already looking at him, piercing him with an intense gaze of ebony eyes from under a curtain of long lashes. His breathing was heavy, and his chest was rising at a rapid pace propelled by his racing heart. The young man stuck out his tongue and moistened his chapped lips with it, leaving a layer of saliva on them, and then, looking into the warrior's eyes, flicked his tongue along the entire length of his member.

"Oh my god!" Jeongguk growled, closing his eyes in pleasure, and clenched his fists, driving his nails into the inside of his palms.

Taehyung licked the preejaculate off his swollen head, then slid it into his mouth, sucking hard on it. He moved his hand from his manhood to his testicles and began gently kneading them. He watched the Spartan's sharp jaw move with each moan he let out from his throat, then clamp down hard. He wanted to give him pleasure this time with his mouth alone, so he slowly lowered his head, devouring his length millimeter by millimeter and swirling his tongue around it.

Jeongguk gasped, raising himself to sit down as his glans hit the back of the young man's throat, whose nose ran over his tense lower abdomen. He tangled both hands in his dark curls and, losing himself in his innocent sapphire eyes, pushed his hips out, sinking into the warm interior of his mouth again.

"Oh, Taehyung, you're so wonderful, I can't take it anymore," he moaned as the young man moved his hands to his ass, digging his long fingers firmly into his skin, and began to move his head up and down, caressing his manhood with his tongue.

The erotic image before his eyes, the confession of complete devotion that still sounded in his ears, and the sensually moving ruby lips that gave him true pleasure in the blink of an eye took Jeongguk straight to Elysium, and the name of his beloved, shouted in ecstasy, reached Olympus itself.

Taehyung closed his eyes, feeling the warrior's warm cum flood his entire throat. He swallowed the contents of his mouth, letting his penis slide out of his mouth.

"Oh, you really taste better than ambrosia," he spoke in a slightly hoarse voice, licking his swollen bottom lip with satisfaction. He reached out his hand to use his thumb to collect the cum that dribbled down his chin, but before he could do so, the warrior pulled him close and, licking his semen off his chin, brought their lips together.

"Jeongguk, I want you," he moaned directly into the man's mouth, indulging in every swoon of his lips. After the fellatio he made, he was so sensitive and thirsty for the warrior's touch that he began shamelessly rubbing his dick against his muscular thigh.

"So impatient," the warrior purred, pulling him by his hair, in which his fingers were still entwined, and deepened the kiss, inviting himself into his mouth with his hot tongue.

The young man returned the warrior's every kiss, wandering his hands over his muscular back until his lungs began to demand oxygen and an alarming sound reached his ears. He pulled away from his tempting mouth with a loud smack, shifting his gaze toward the bathhouse entrance, and froze, bawling his eyes out in panic. The door opened with a loud creak, and one of Aphrodite's priestesses appeared on its threshold with a sackful of white delicate fabrics, which fortunately covered the view painted before her eyes.

"Hold your breath," he whispered to Jeongguk, with whom he crossed his gaze for a split second, and pulled him firmly by the hips, falling under the surface of the water, which by their sudden movement stepped out from the edges of the pool, flooding the floor.

"Is there anyone here?" the frightened girl asked, looking around the dark room, and hearing no answer, she cautiously moved deeper into the bathhouse. After a moment, a scream left her lips as a figure emerged from the water right in front of her.

"Forgive me, I didn't mean to scare you," Taehyung spoke up, pushing back the wet strands of hair from his face that obscured his vision.

"Oh, it's you, son of Aphrodite," the girl said timidly, bowing her head to the demigod and, unable to contain her curiosity, asked: "What are you doing here at such an early hour?"

Taehyung took a deep breath, trying to come up with some plausible excuse and prevent the blonde-haired priestess standing a few meters away from him from noticing the Spartan, because then in a flash Iphigenia would have found out about their sit-down, unleashing a real war. But he couldn't focus, feeling the warrior's hands glide down his thighs, reaching his firm buttocks, which he parted to run his fingers over his entrance, throbbing with desire.

"Ah," he moaned uncontrollably and walked to the edge of the pool, clamping his hands on it, thereby pressing Jeongguk, who was hidden underwater, against the wall to let him know that this was not the best time to play with fire.

"Pearl? Is something wrong?" the woman asked anxiously, looking closely at the young man.

"It's nothing much. I'm stressed about today," he answered truthfully, although he didn't mean what the priestess was probably thinking about at the moment. "I couldn't sleep from these emotions, and now I feel a little nauseous."

"It's your big day, son of Aphrodite, so it's normal to feel this way," the girl began cheerfully, heading toward the stone blocks to reach a small room where they kept clean togas. "I'll carry these things and help you get properly groomed."

As soon as she disappeared into it, Taehyung bounced off the edge, moving away from the nimble fingers that teased his entrance relentlessly, and Jeongguk immediately surfaced. He brushed his long hair back and sent his beloved a defiant smile, approaching him. He caught him in his arms and began placing kisses on his neck.

"Oh, Jeongguk, we need to get out of here as soon as possible," he sighed, but still tilted his head so that the warrior could cling more firmly with his lips to his wet skin. "She'll be back here soon, and she'll catch us."

"I don't care much if she catches us or not, but you are the most important thing to me, so let's go," he said, brushing his ruby lips, then grabbed his hand and carefully helped him out of the big tub.

He picked up the cloths thrown on the floor and handed one to Taehyung and wrapped the other around his hips. The young man smiled at the gesture and, running his slender fingers over his warrior's muscular thighs, covered his assets. They then headed toward the bathhouse exit. Jeongguk opened the door and let his beloved pass through to be the first to head back to the temple.

When Taehyung stepped out into the courtyard, his caramel-colored skin began to glow in the sunlight that reflected off the tiny drops of water running down it. He moved gracefully, his curly hair subtly bouncing with each successive step. A wide smile graced his ruby lips, accompanied by a sweet melody wafting from them.

Jeongguk walked right behind him the whole way and gazed adoringly with ebony eyes at his shapely figure, and a thought dawned in his mind describing his beauty.

The son of Aphrodite was as graceful as the truest nymph.

The warrior could no longer endure the desire consuming his insides, so he grabbed the young man's hand and, taking the last step, ran up the stairs leading to the temple. He rushed into its shadowy interior and pressed Taehyung against the first column located in the naos, pressing his hungry lips against his mouth.

Taehyung moaned in surprise and overwhelming excitement, parting his lips just enough for the Spartan's hot muscle to invade his mouth, capturing his tongue in a frantic dance. He tangled his hands in his long, black hair and pulled at them every time Jeongguk's penis rubbed against his manhood. He melted under the touch of his large, strong hands, which stroked his torso, going lower and lower, finally reaching his desired destination. The warrior pulled away from his mouth and, looking deeply into his sapphire eyes, pulled the superfluous material from his hips, then turned his back on him.

"You're so damn perfect, I'll never have enough of you," he growled in his ear, enveloping it with his hot breath, and clung his torso to the young man's back, rubbing his manhood against his round buttocks.

"I beg you, enter me, warrior of Ares," he gasped, pushing his ass toward him to feel him even better. "I need you so much..."

The Spartan smiled felicitously, having other plans for the moment, although he wanted nothing more than to sink his dick into Taehyung's hot interior. He wanted to take care of him properly, so he pushed his wild lusts aside and placed a gentle kiss on the back of his neck before beginning to trace a route along his spine with his tongue.

When the warrior reached the two sexy dimples located at the bottom of the young man's back, he dropped to his knees in front of him and caught his firm buttocks in his hands, spreading them firmly apart. To his eyes appeared a pink hole pulsing in anticipation, on which he promptly sucked. He grabbed his hips to push out more toward him, and thrust his tongue through the ring of his muscles.

"Jeongguk-ah!"

Taehyung's shout rang through the temple, and his fingernails dug into the smooth surface of the column to which his chest was pressed and ran over it, leaving oblong marks. He tried to hold himself in this position, but his legs softened with each thrust of the warrior's tongue. His penis flooded with the first juices, and he moaned shamelessly, pleasing the Spartan's ears with sounds of pleasure.

Suddenly, everything stopped, and he breathed a sigh of relief, because if Jeongguk had plunged his tongue into his insides just this once more, he would have come uncontrollably, decorating the column not only with nail marks, but also with his cum. He took a few deep breaths and turned around, crossing his gaze with the still kneeling warrior, whose ebony eyes emanated love and desire. He collapsed in front of him, throwing his arms over his shoulders, and pressed his lips into his swollen ones.

The Spartan put his arms around his waist, returning each stolen kiss and swooning with pleasure, feeling Taehyung's nails mark his skin with red welts. He was so damn aroused that every slightest gesture from the beautiful demigod robbed him of the rest of his reason. He couldn't wait any longer, he wanted to become one with him again at that moment, so he moved his right hand under his thighs and lifted himself off his knees with Pearl in his arms. He carried him directly to their nest, placing him in the very center of it, and stepped between his thighs, gliding his hands over them.

Taehyung smiled innocently at him and found the small flask left between the materials. He pulled the cork out of it and spilled the oil on his palm, and the intense lavender scent reached his nostrils. He secured the bottle, tossing it aside, and approached the warrior, who did not take his eyes off him. He bit his lower lip and took the Spartan's proudly standing cock in his hand to begin moving it up and down, moistening its entire length with oil.

"Oh, Taehyung," he groaned, placing his hands on the young man's flushed cheeks. "I was the one who was supposed to take care of my most beautiful Pearl."

"So do your duty, warrior of Ares," he muttered excitedly and kissed his lips, moving his hand over his member a few more times.

Jeongguk's eyes lit up with living fire. He pushed Taehyung to fall back onto the soft bed, then flipped him onto his stomach, lifting his hips up. He spread his legs wider, positioning himself behind him.

"Ah!" Taehyung cried out, feeling a hard slap on his right ass cheek, and tightened his fingers on the material, pushing his butt even further out toward the warrior.

Jeongguk spanked his other buttock and stroked the reddened areas where his fingerprints could be seen, then clamped one hand firmly on his hip, and with the other grabbed his hard dick and guided it to his sweet entrance, sliding inside at a truly sensory-depriving slow pace.

Taehyung arched his back, taking in the Spartan's manhood inch by inch, and moaned audibly as he pressed his ass against his lower abdomen. He let go of the material and, supporting himself on his hands, straightened his arms. At the same moment, Jeongguk grabbed him by the neck and, thrusting his thumb and forefinger into his jaw, tilted his head toward him, aggressively pressing into his ruby lips. The young man tore his hand away from the bed and wrapped his arm around the warrior's neck, entwining his slender fingers in his long hair.

"You are mine alone, son of Aphrodite," growled the warrior, pulling away from his mouth for a second and, withdrawing his hips slightly, thrust with all his might, sinking into his hot, tight interior.

"Ah, only yours, warrior of Ares!" he shouted as the head of his penis hit his prostate hard until his temple trembled.

Jeongguk brought their lips together again, still holding him firmly by the neck, and used his other hand to give him a firm spank, causing Taehyung's lips to part. He took advantage of this, slipping his tongue between them without hesitation and entwined it in a sensual dance with the one belonging to Pearl.

They kissed quickly, hard, even greedily. It was so wet that saliva ran down their chins, and so hot that their bodies were covered with a layer of sweat. The sound they created as they joined together reverberated off the walls of the building and returned to their ears with moans that escaped from their lips between kisses, composing a one-of-a-kind symphony.

"Taehyung? What's going on?" The Spartan asked, stopping his movements when he felt salty tears on his lips.

"Oh, Gguk, don't stop, I beg you, I need you so much," he whimpered, impaling himself on his cock.

He grabbed him by the thigh, throwing his leg over his hip, and with his other hand wrapped around his waist and complied with his request, entering him even deeper. He moved smoothly, each time hitting Taehyung's bundle of muscles, which gifted him with a melody of delight more beautiful than the choral singing heard at the Dionysia. The young man trembled in the warrior's arms, inevitably approaching his peak. He grabbed his ass, pressing his fingers into it, and began to pace his thrusts faster and faster.

"Kiss me," he choked out, trying to reach his lips, and when the Spartan clung to his lips, taking his thirsty-touched member in his hand, he came into it generously.

"Oh, Pearl," he groaned throatily, feeling Taehyung's muscles tighten all over him, and flooded his insides with his hot cum.

Jeongguk held his beloved in his arms, pressing his back against his muscular torso until his body stopped trembling after the orgasm he had experienced, and his heart calmed its rhythms to beat evenly with the one belonging to him. Only then did he gently slide out from inside him, wiped his hands on the material on which they were kneeling, and then helped him up from his knees. He then turned him toward himself and brushed away his sweat-damp, curly hair, revealing his beautiful sapphire eyes, in which he loved to lose himself.

"Taehyung..." he began uncertainly, taking the slender ones in his strong hands, and brought them to his lips, placing a butterfly kiss on each of them. "You are everything I need in my life, therefore, please let me reverse your fate. Run away with me and I will protect you."

"Do you promise?" Taehyung barely choked out, and tears shone in his eyes again.

"I promise you, son of Aphrodite, that I will defend you as long as in my breast beats a heart that will forever belong only to you," he said, sealing the vow with a kiss, after which he knelt before the young man on one knee, giving him due respect, and taking one of the soft materials in his hand, wiped his body.

"We will escape, but let me enjoy you for a while longer," Taehyung said, sitting down on his knees. He kissed the warrior's lips, embracing his neck, and pulled him, landing right in the middle of their sweet nest.

"After all, we'll still have plenty of time to ourselves, Pearl," the warrior replied amused, looking down at his only love lying beneath him.

Taehyung answered nothing to this, just wrapped his legs around the Spartan's hips and twisted them, swapping places. He sat on top of him with his arms around him, admiring the beauty of his warrior from above. His ebony eyes that sparkled with a million stars and raspberry lips that hosted a warm smile. His long black hair, broad shoulders, sculpted torso, narrow waist and those damn sexy, muscular thighs. He calculated in his mind, wishing he could remember his gorgeous image forever, so he could return to it with memories every time his eyelids covered his sapphire eyes.

"I love you, warrior of Ares," he confessed and began to lean over him, gliding his fingertips over his muscular belly, but before he could reach his parted lips to place a kiss on them, an exasperated female voice rang out in the temple.

"How could you give yourself to the henchman of this self-absorbed asshole!"

Taehyung froze, looking in horror into the eyes of Jeongguk, who, without thinking, rose to sit down to cover his naked body with his own. He snuggled into him confidently, burying his face in his hair, not wanting to see his worst fears just become reality. He knew full well that the high priestess could catch them at any moment, and he still played with Chronos, stealing the inevitable passing of time. However, he pulled away from the warm torso of the Spartan, leaning out so that he had a view of the heart of the temple, as soon as he realized that Iphigenia was not the owner of the venom-dripping voice, and he had no faint idea who had graced them with her presence.

And, oh gods, what he saw made him speechless with shock.

His heart stopped for a fraction of a second to start pounding dangerously against his ribs, his mouth gaped open in shock, and his fingers dug firmly into the warrior's shoulders. Concerned by his reaction, Jeongguk pulled him close again, wanting him to feel safe by his side, and only then did he turn toward the center of the temple, noticing the figure emanating light.

She was an exquisitely beautiful woman clad in a white toga with a train that stretched along the ground, interwoven with threads in shades of pink that brought to mind pink marble. Her bright hair, adorned with sparkling diamonds, flowed in waves down her shapely figure, ending at the height of her full hips. Her lips, despite the grimace of displeasure she was hosting on them, were perfectly chiseled, full and rosy, but what caught the eye the most were her large sapphire eyes exactly the same as those belonging to her Pearl.

"Aphrodite," they choked out at the same moment, not having the slightest doubt that the goddess of love in her own person was appearing in the temple. They moved away from each other, getting up on their feet, and hurriedly began to search for their discarded garments in order to cover their naked bodies as quickly as possible from the woman's stern gaze.

"I asked you, my dear Pearl, how could you bring under my roof a warrior of this fucking bastard, who with his arrogance beats Narcissus himself?" she spoke up again when clothes appeared on the bodies of both men. Her voice was filled with sweetness, although her eyebrows were still angrily furrowed.

Before Taehyung even had time to think about what he could answer the goddess, who was almost piercing his soul with her gaze, the silence was cut by another voice, this time male and low, even harsh.

"Oh, why so much bitterness, Aphrodite? You are angry with them, and yet you let them finish, sweetheart."

The eyes of all three turned to the postured man who stood nonchalantly leaning against one of the columns, to the right of the statue of the goddess, providing him with cover and a safe distance from the real one. His lips curved in a feisty grin, and mischievous sparks leapt in his brown eyes. He was dressed in a maroon himation, which fell from his left shoulder to his muscular chest, and his hips were encircled by a golden belt to which was strapped the sword he never parted with.

"And the Spartan you're so mad about, or perhaps even better insanely jealous of, you even let him come twice," he added, snorting in amusement, and winked at the aforementioned man, who blushed up to his ears.

Taehyung also turned all red, but not from embarrassment but from anger that was slowly creeping under his skin. He grabbed the hand of his beloved, who immediately intertwined their fingers together, giving him encouragement, and with a confident step they approached the goddess who was considered his mother. He crossed the gazes of their identical sapphire eyes and gulped through clenched teeth, giving vent to his negative emotions.

"How dare you come down here and disturb the only happy moment in my life, Aphrodite?"

"Mind your words, my child," she replied softly, even though she did not like the tone of the young man's voice. She overcame the space separating them and reached out her delicate hand to stroke his cheek. "I just don't want him to hurt you the way the god he serves hurt me."

"You don't want him to hurt me? The man who gave me his heart? Who made me feel worth something for a brief moment? Who wants to protect me from all the evil in this world? Taking away my happiness just because Ares was not faithful to you?" Taehyung's voice grew louder with each question, and his eyes grew darker with each passing second, heralding the coming storm.

"I don't want you to suffer," she merely whispered, and her words poured a spell of bitterness over Taehyung, who spurned her hand, pulling away from her.

"Since you don't want me to suffer, where were you when your high priestess servant started abusing me! Where were you when she hit me in the face, cutting my lip! Where were you when she locked me in the adyton, even though she knew I was afraid of the dark!" he shouted, disregarding the fact that his interlocutor was a goddess to whom respect was due. "And most importantly, where the hell were you when she sold me to the King of Corinth to make me his whore!"

A tomb-like silence fell in the temple. Ares stared at the young man with fires in his eyes and a satisfied smile lurking at the corners of his mouth. Jeongguk tensed all his muscles, ready to attack, but all he did was clench his fingers tighter on his beloved's slender hand. And Taehyung stood proudly straight, waiting for Aphrodite's answer, who remained silent as if under a spell, looking almost like her own statue.

"So many times I fell to my knees, begging you to help me, but you did not deign to give even the slightest sign that you heard me, so now get out of here and leave us alone!" he growled, pointing with his free hand to the temple exit, and Ares clapped his hands, greatly gratified.

"Who would have thought that your Pearl would be the one to rub your nose in it," he chuckled mischievously, pushing away from the column, and moved slowly towards his former lover.

"No one asked you for your opinion," she replied, giving him a thunderous look.

"I see that your voice has returned so, by courtesy, answer Taehyung, who was courageous and brave enough to throw your mistakes right in your face. And one would like to say: my blood," he said, standing at the other side of the young man, as if to convey to him that he would be on his side in this fight.

"Taehyung, my child, the gods cannot interfere in people's lives..." she turned to the young man, completely ignoring Ares' taunt.

"Oh, really? Then what are you doing here, oh great Aphrodite?" he asked, because he could not comprehend that she interfered when he was happy, and when real harm was done to him, she had no intention of showing up at all. "And finally end with this child, because I am not your son!"

"But Taehyung..."

"Enough!" he interrupted her statement, making her squirm her shoulders and tighten her lips into a narrow line. "There is no but. We both know very well that you are not my mother."

"Is that true?" Jeongguk, who was listening to their conversation, asked. He didn't want to interfere or interrupt, but it bothered him so much whether Taehyung really wasn't a demigod, because, although he had been assured of this, his intuition told him otherwise.

He could not be a mere mortal.

The young man, hearing his warrior's voice, stopped staring at the goddess and shifted his gaze to him. When their gazes met, his face took on a gentle expression, his body relaxed, and a pleasant warmth flooded his heart.

"I love you no matter what," Jeongguk assured him, noticing the uncertainty in the eyes of his only love, and drew him to kiss his ruby lips.

At the same time, Ares approached Aphrodite and leaned into her ear to whisper.

"I understand your jealousy and grief, because even a blind man would see that my warrior truly loves your Pearl, but you have no right to take it away from them just because I couldn't give it to you."

The goddess of love responded nothing to the confession of the god of war. For a moment, she watched as Jeongguk gently embraced Taehyung at the waist, who, holding his face in his hands, returned his kisses, heedless of their presence. It was as if they were somewhere far away, in a world of their own. However, she knew that Ares was absolutely right, but she wasn't going to admit it out loud, tickling his already high ego. She decided, however, to dispel any doubts about the blood flowing in Pearl's veins. She grunted to get the attention of the immersed in pleasure men and smiled sincerely for the first time, seeing the embarrassment on their blushing faces as they pulled away from each other.

"Oh, forgive me, dear Aphrodite," the abashed Spartan spoke up, giving a deep bow to the goddess. "Ares," he added, crossing his eyes with the man, who only winked at him, smiling half-heartedly.

"Do you want to know, warrior, what secret is hidden in the Pearl, about which there is a legend in Corinth?" She asked, although she knew well the answer to the question asked.

"I want to know the truth about my beloved," he replied, once again bowing to her before finding with his ebony eyes the sapphire ones he was in love with.

"Let me begin, Aphrodite," Taehyung asked, taking his gaze away from the warrior for a moment to look at the goddess, who nodded with a slight smile. Acceptance could be seen in her eyes, which made all the anger accumulated over the years fly away from him like a pigeon released into the wild. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "It was a warm summer evening. The sun had set, giving way to the moon, and millions of stars spread across the cloudless sky. Nothing heralded that a violent storm might come," he began his story, returning his thoughts to the day it all began. "I was sitting on the stern of the ship, staring into the horizon, rubbing my eyes every now and then with the willow of my hand. My eyelids grew heavier with each passing second, but before Morpheus snatched me into his embrace, I heard a warm, melodious voice: Here you are Taehyung, my little Pearl. I didn't have to open my eyes to know exactly who the woman who spoke so sweetly to me was, nevertheless I lifted my eyelids and looked at her. She squatted down beside me, pushing my curls away from my face, and smiled broadly, showing a row of white teeth. I thought then that she was pretty. She had dark brown, curly shoulder-length hair and beautiful large eyes the color of liquid honey that were so expressive against her milky skin. She had a small mole on the tip of her nose, and her lips were full and ruby. Now I know that I am deceptively similar to her, the only difference being my sapphire eyes..."

He paused for a moment to take a breath and clenched his hands on the chiton material to control his trembling hands. Jeongguk put his arm around him and led him to the nearest bench so he could sit on it. Aphrodite moved restlessly, wanting to approach Pearl as soon as possible to see if he was alright, but Ares grabbed her forearm, shaking his head to keep her from doing so. Eventually she stayed in her seat, letting the god of war soothingly stroke her back, and waited for Taehyung to continue his story.

"Tae, are you all right?" the Spartan asked with concern in his voice. He sat down right next to him and covered the one of his with his large hand. Taehyung let go of the chiton and intertwined their fingers.

"She reached out her hands to me and took me in her arms as soon as I rose to snuggle into her body. I laid my head on her shoulder and inhaled the soothing scent of her body, mixed with a hint of lavender, while she rocked me in her arms, quietly singing."

Come Hypnos and send sleep upon my, little Pearl,

Come Morpheus and embrace my, pretty boy,

Take him to dreamland so that he may grow in happiness and health.

Sleep now my little one and dream a beautiful dream, And as soon as you rise, I will weave you a gift from the greatest goodness of Athens and the ships at Corinth,

That you may be worshiped in the east and west, and Olympus may proudly welcome you to its royal doorstep, he sang a lullaby engraved in his heart and memory, and a lone tear ran down his cheek. Jeongguk reached out his hand and rubbed the salty drop with his thumb, then took him into his arms so he could calm his raging emotions.

Tears stood in Aphrodite's eyes and her throat tightened painfully. This time Ares did not stop her as she moved with a confident step toward Pearl and fell to her knees before him, taking his hands in those of hers and looking deeply into his sapphire eyes, the same as her own. She wanted to give him the courage to let him finish his story.

"The last thing I remember," he began uncertainly, returning the goddess' embrace. "There is a raging storm that rocked our ship dangerously. I was awakened by the desperate voice of my mother, who pressed me to her chest, begging Poseidon to save me, because I am the son of..." he broke off, and his eyes opened wide as the last piece of the puzzle popped into place, and his father's name resounded in his head.

"You remembered," Aphrodite said, smiling gently. "You were right from the beginning that I am not your mother, but you are still my Pearl, because..."

"You are my son."

At these words, Jeongguk parted his lips in surprise, shifting his gaze to Ares, on whose face even more astonishment was painted. He furrowed his eyebrows, not understanding the whole situation, as he was sure that the confession had come from the mouth of the god of war. So he looked at Aphrodite, hoping for some explanation, and she only nodded, indicating where he should look to find out the whole truth. So he followed his eyes to the indicated place and froze, because what he saw was beyond his wildest expectations.

Standing in the entrance to the naos was a beautiful-looking young god with a storm of bright, curly hair. He was dressed in a white toga with golden ornaments reaching his knees. In his hand he held a bow, and behind his back one could see a quiver filled with glittering arrows. Looking at him, one could say he was a faithful copy of his mother, but his muscular physique, warm brown eyes in which fires lurked, and feisty smile were definitely inherited from his father.

"Taehyung," the Spartan muttered, shifting his gaze between the newly arrived god and his Gem. "You really are a demigod..."

"You felt it from the beginning, didn't you, warrior of Ares?" Aphrodite asked, interrupting his statement. "You felt that Taehyung could not be an ordinary mortal. You called him your one true god of love and passion. And you were not wrong, for he is the son of..."

"Eros, the god of the truest love and passion," he finished.

Taehyung didn't know what was going on. He felt dizzy, his head was buzzing, and his heart was pounding like crazy. He felt as if Morpheus had played quite a prank on him, sending him such an unrealistic dream. He pinched his hand to see if it was all just a figment of his imagination, and when he felt the pain, he moved his hand to the Spartan's thigh and squeezed it tightly. Jeongguk gasped in surprise and looked at the young man, who had turned white like a real sea pearl. He was alarmed by this and already wanted to ask how he felt, but then a shout of euphoria spread through the temple, shattering the silence that had fallen after the unexpected confession.

"So that means Taehyung is our grandson!"

"Surprise, father," Eros spoke up, approaching his parents. He patted Ares on the back, then helped the still crouching Aphrodite in front of Pearl and hugged her, kissing her on the cheek in greeting.

"Great! I said it was my blood! But wait a minute," he interrupted, angrily wrinkling his eyebrows and resting his hands on his hips, before shouting in anger. "Why didn't I know anything about it!"

"Oh, that's why, my dear," Aphrodite snorted, rolling her eyes. "All of Corinth would have found out because of you, and it had to remain a secret. No one was surprised that another of my children was treading the earth, and the news about the son of Eros could cause a real storm. Taehyung is the only demigod begotten by the god of truest love. And you know very well what that would entail..."

"What would that entail? Isn't the fact that I'm a demigod shocking enough? What else are you hiding? Tell the whole truth at last!" Taehyung demanded, pulling himself up abruptly from his seat and scaring Jeongguk in the process, who stood up right behind him and put his arms around his waist tightly to protect him from doing something stupid.

"Calm down, Pearl, I'll explain everything to you right away," Aphrodite spoke up, concerned about his violent reaction. She understood the emotions that were hitting him, because in one moment his life had changed by one hundred and eighty degrees.

"Let me, mother, explain everything to him," Eros asked, and when the goddess nodded her head in approval, he shifted his gaze to the lovers. He took a deep breath, smiling gently at them, and finally faced the secret he had so fiercely defended.

"When I met your mother, there was no indication that any affection could be born between us. That romance erupted suddenly, unexpectedly, and was full of pure desire. However, it ended very quickly, and Jinju disappeared," he confessed, looking uncertainly at his son, whose face turned even paler. "I didn't know what motivated her, and I did my best to find her, but with poor results. The girl vanished into thin air, and I decided that this affair would be my biggest secret."

"What happened next?" Jeongguk asked, when silence reigned for a long time, disturbed only by five mingled breaths.

"The truth came out. My wife, Psyche, is the goddess of human souls, and she found out about my betrayal as soon as Pearl's little soul was born under her mother's heart. She was so furious with me that she wanted to punish me for it. That's why she kept the news of the conception of my second but first human child to herself, and sent you a gift that could have become a real curse," he said, pointing his finger at Taehyung, whose heart once again broke into a frantic gallop. A cold sweat covered him, and tears shone in his eyes as he realized that Iphigenia wasn't the only one who hated him.

"What curse did this psychopath cast on my grandson?" an angry Ares growled, clenching his hands into fists.

At the word curse, Taehyung's knees bent, and if it weren't for the fact that the Spartan was still embracing him, he would probably have collapsed to the ground.

"Pearl, are you feeling well?" Aphrodite asked with concern, coming up to him, and captured his cheeks in her hands, watching him closely.

He, however, was unable to get a word out. Each new piece of information about his life overwhelmed him more and more, taking away his ability to breathe normally. He shook his head in denial, pulling the goddess' hands away from his face, and looked pleadingly at Jeongguk, who wordlessly seated him on the bench again.

"Eros, please finish your story," he spoke after a moment, when he finally dealt with the lump clenching his throat and squatted down next to Jeongguk, who took a seat at his right side, allowing a strong arm to surround him. Aphrodite sat on the other side, catching his hand, while Ares, with his arms folded, stood leaning against a column and arched an angry gaze at his son.

"This gift, or rather curse, that Psyche bestowed upon you was the lust from which you were born. Every person on earth through one look of yours was supposed to desire you, but none could love you."

"It sounds as if Psyche was not only taking revenge for your actions, but also repaying the sins of your mother. She couldn't love a mortal, so no mortal can love Tae. The circle is closing..." the god of war muttered, linking these two seemingly different stories together.

"You're right, father," Eros whispered, recalling the day his spouse announced to him what a heinous act she had committed, and his heart squeezed painfully through the same emotions that accompanied him then.

"Does this mean that Jeongguk's love is not real?" Taehyung asked timidly, fearing that hearing the answer would make his life lie in ruins like the most beautiful divine temples destroyed in wars.

"Of course it's true, Pearl. I love you more than life, and no curse can change that," the warrior replied, hugging his body even more tightly to himself and placing a tender kiss on his forehead.

"Your love is true, unbreakable and everlasting," Aphrodite interjected, squeezing Pearl's hand one last time to reassure him, then stood up and walked over to her son. She placed her hand on his shoulder and urged. "It's time, Eros."

"I remember exactly the day when Psyche shouted in my face that my baby had been born, and she proudly cast a charm on it. Unfortunately, she wouldn't tell me where he was, and I was terrified and couldn't allow harm to come to the little living creature because of me, so I asked my mother for help. She was delicate, but everyone who met the little sapphire-eyed Pearl wanted to get him so they could lock him in a golden cage and boast about their possession. We couldn't allow some mortal to keep you under lock and key like a trophy therefore, in accordance with Jinju and Aphrodite, we decided that you needed protection..."

"So you decided to bind him to my warrior?" Ares asked, looking expectantly at Eros, who immediately continued.

"I wanted to ensure his safety, and all I could do was to assign him a brave mortal who would face even the gods while defending him. Therefore, I asked my companion Ganymede to find a boy with a pure, valiant heart and unite him with Pearl with boundless love. He did so with great joy, uniting them not only with love, but, by coincidence, also with a curse. This came to light when the ship on which we sent Taehyung to Sparta crashed off the coast of Corinth, and the priestesses who had taken him in did not feel the desire taking over their senses in his presence. From then on, the Spartan was to be desired by women, and the Pearl by men."

"That explains a lot. Fucking harpies," Jeongguk muttered with a heavy sigh, although deep down he was glad that Taehyung didn't have to deal with Psyche's revenge himself. If he could, he would have taken the whole curse upon himself.

"You already know the rest of Pearl's story, and his further fate is in your hands," Aphrodite said, moving toward the temple exit, and the other gods followed her.

"Wait! After all, you are his family!" the warrior shouted, stopping them in mid-step. "Why don't you do anything to prevent the intentions of the high priestess? How can you just leave him now?" He asked angrily as three pairs of divine eyes fixed their gaze on his handsome face. He could not comprehend their frigid behavior.

"Because we can't interfere in people's lives," Aphrodite reminded him with sadness painted on her beautiful face.

"I can make a tiny exception, because our blood flows in you," Ares interjected, turning directly to Taehyung. "However, there is one condition. Are you ready to fulfill it?"

Taehyung wanted to ask what condition he meant, but before he could get even a short word out, an earnest assurance rolled from the Spartan's lips.

"I would do anything to protect my Pearl from all evil and ensure his safety, so tell me, Ares, what your condition is."

"You must face destiny and overcome adversity to reach the port safely, and then I will take you under my protection and no one will threaten your life and the love you have borne," he announced, and a beautiful smile blossomed on Taehyung's lips, full of the hope he had almost lost.

"I'll bring him there safe and sound," Jeongguk assured, extending his hand in front of him, which the god of war immediately squeezed, sealing their agreement.

"We are counting on you, warrior of Ares," Aphrodite and Eros chuckled in chorus, and the next moment all that was left of the gods' presence was gold dust, floating in the air.

"Jeongguk do you think we will succeed?" Taehyung asked, wrapping his arms around the warrior's waist.

"I've said it before, but I'll say it again, I'll do everything in my power to make you happy and safe, dearest," he promised, turning toward him, after which he grasped his face in his hands and pressed his lips to those of his, conveying with a kiss all the feelings he had for him.

"Let me say goodbye to my friend, and I'll run away with you to the end of the world," Taehyung whispered, pulling away from the warrior's addictive lips as his lungs ran out of air.

"Everything for you Pearl, so go, I'll wait here, and when you return, we'll face destiny together," he said and kissed his beloved's ruby lips one last time, then led him with his eyes to the temple exit, behind which he disappeared a moment later, leaving him alone. He stood still for a while longer, processing in his mind everything he had learned, before finding his equipment. He smoothed out his red toga to adorn his torso with golden armor, put protectors on his forearms and calves, and slipped a helmet with a red plume on his head.

He was ready for the final battle for his love.

🕊️🕊️🕊️

Arete paced around the small room, every now and then looking out the window that overlooked the courtyard, eager to see the young man she was expecting. Taehyung was supposed to show up at her place with the sunrise, and he still hadn't graced her with his presence. She should be reassured, after all, the warrior of Ares was with him, but each passing minute worried her more and more.

Intuition told her that something bad was going to happen.

When, through her nervousness, she knocked a beautifully decorated vase off the cabinet, shattering it into a fine poppy, she knew she could wait no longer. She had to find Pearl immediately and see with her own eyes that he was unharmed and safe.

She grabbed an emerald shawl that was hanging on one of the chairs standing by a small table and, throwing it over her shoulders, set off toward the exit of the oikos. She traversed the courtyard without greeting any of the priestesses she passed, wanting to find herself as quickly as possible in the temple of the goddess of love she served.

She emerged from around the corner, already having a view of the majestic building, and that's when she saw him. He was running down the lightning-damaged stairs, and a beautiful smile shone on his face. He was dressed in the same white chiton girded with a purple ribbon as last night, his feet were barefoot, as if he had left the temple in a hurry. She raised her hand to wave at him and call his name, but before she could do so out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Iphigenia heading in his direction. So she hid behind the building from behind which she had emerged moments earlier and, without betraying her presence, waited for what was about to happen.

The high priestess approached the young man and tugged him strongly on the shoulder, and terror was painted on his face, which he failed to hide.

"Where are you going, Pearl?" She asked, trying to sound overly nice, but she spat out the last word with venom, furrowing her eyebrows angrily.

"Oh, I was just going to Arete to help me with the last preparations before leaving for the royal palace," he lied, trying to control the trembling of his voice.

"You think I'm stupid!? That I don't know that you are hiding one of the Spartans in the temple!?" she shouted, driving her nails harder and harder into his shoulder and leaving red lines on his delicate skin, even though it was protected by the material of the chiton.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he replied, pulling his arm from her strong grasp, and took a step back.

"About the fact that the whole of Corinth is gossiping that the commander of the Spartan army has gone to Acrocorinth to spend the night with Aphrodite's Pearl," she said, looking closely at his face to catch the slightest change that would confirm that she had hit the nail on the head.

"And you believed it? It's ridiculous," he muttered, rolling his eyes.

"Oh, really? Then, how do you explain the red marks adorning your body?" she growled, pointing her finger at a piece of exposed skin just below his collarbone, then came closer and, tugging at the halves of the chiton, pulled the material apart, revealing his naked torso.

"I... Um..."

Taehyung immediately covered his caramel skin, trying to coax out an explanation, but simply couldn't. He felt fear begin to encompass his body, paralyzing his legs so that he couldn't move to get away from the agitated priestess. He knew that she was capable of the worst cruelty, so again he feared for his warrior's life.

"Unluckily for you, the priestess you met today in the bathhouse followed you to the temple worried about your sudden disappearance and saw everything," she threw in contempt, looking at the still silent young man. "Will you continue to deny?"

"I won't. I love the warrior of Ares, and I don't regret giving myself to him, because I finally felt free when he fucked me into unconsciousness," he said confidently, with nothing left to hide, and a feisty smile appeared on his lips.

"You dirty little slut!" Iphigenia yelled, and her hand cut through the air, landing on Pearl's cheek with a loud snap.

Staying hidden, Arete, who had been listening to their conversation, put her hand to her mouth in shock. She guessed that any cut on Taehyung's lip was the work of the high priestess, but seeing it with her own eyes brought her out of her thoughts, awakening a real rage inside her. She clenched her hands into fists as she heard Taehyung hiss in pain, and gritted her teeth as she saw him grab his red, burning cheek. Ready to attack in defense of her gem, she moved forward, but the words spoken by Iphigenia effectively stopped her in her tracks.

"I will kill him, and you will watch your beloved warrior take his last breath and leave this world forever."

Taehyung's eyes got cloudy, and a heavy boulder crushed his heart. He sank to his knees, grabbing the hem of the ankle-length toga of the priestess, and bowed his head low.

"Don't hurt him. Iphigenia, I beg you, don't hurt him," he cried, and the first tears left the corners of his eyes, slowly running down along his pale cheeks. "I will do whatever you command me, only I beg you to spare his life and let him go free."

"From the beginning you should know your place and obey," she said with satisfaction, watching the young man cower before her. She snatched her robe from his hand with such force that he lost his balance and fell on the stone-lined path, injuring his delicate hands.

"I beg you," he howled, raising his gaze to her sapphire eyes.

"Know my mercy. The Spartan will get away with his life, but you are to politely come with me to Corinth and take an oath of undying devotion to the king," she demanded, without even deigning to give him a fleeting glance, keeping her head proudly raised. "Now move, because we must wash away the sin you committed," she growled and kicked him in the ribs to hurry him along, then, without waiting for his reaction, moved toward the main gate, where the royal guard was waiting for them.

Arete sprang from her seat in a second and ran up to Taehyung, who was lying on the ground. She grabbed his hands and slowly helped him up. Seeing the despair painted on his face, she pulled him close in her arms.

"Go to the temple and tell him that I love him," he sobbed, snuggling his face into the hollow of her neck. "And that I will always be, and if he loves me too, ask him not to try to save me. I won't forgive myself if he gets hurt because of me."

"Taehyung, surely there is another way out..."

"Shh," he interrupted her and disentangled himself from her embrace to look into her heartbroken green eyes. "This is the only thing I ask of you, Arete. Promise me that you will make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."

"I promise," she choked out barely, as those words refused to pass through her clenched throat.

"Thank you, I love you," he said, kissing her forehead, then without looking back, he set off in the footsteps of the high priestess.

Arete stood until Pearl disappeared from her sight between the king's waiting envoys to go to his palace located in the center of Corinth. Moments later, she covered the distance separating her from the temple and finally burst like a storm into its interior.

"Warrior of Ares," she spoke up, drawing the attention of a man staring at a statue of the goddess. "Taehyung was captured by Iphigenia," she added much more quietly, and her words like daggers drove deep into the infatuated heart of the Spartan, whose roar of despair mixed with rage spread throughout Acrocorinth, alerting all the gods to the danger and breaking the heart of Pearl, who was being tugged toward the palace, by the royal guard.

My Pearl... Please, forgive me.

Translated by Ayashee11

JustVtine:

We learned the story of Taehyung. Son of Eros, grandson of Aphrodite and Ares. Were you surprised as much as our Spartan? Or did anyone guess the truth?

There are hard times ahead for our boys. Will Jeongguk listen to Taehyung's request and allow him to sacrifice his freedom for his life? Or will he keep his promise to Ares and bring the Pearl back to port safe and sound?

Thank you for reading 💜