Dulled 26

Chapter 26 

Selene was already there, sitting at the far end of the table, her presence as quiet and 

commanding as ever. She didn’t look up as he entered, didn’t acknowledge his arrival. 

He hated it. 

She never acknowledged him. Not truly. 

Ares moved toward the table, his footsteps heavy, his mind clouded with anger he couldn’t 

shake. He could feel her gaze on him now, even if she didn’t meet his eyes. He didn’t care. 

“Food’s cold,” he muttered, his voice harsh. 

Selene finally lifted her gaze, her eyes locking onto his for a brief moment. There was 

something in her gaze something too understanding. Something that made his chest tighten. 

“I’ll warm it up,” she said quietly, standing. 

“No,” he snapped, his voice rising. “I don’t want anything from you. Not today. Not ever.” 

Her expression didn’t change, but Ares saw the faintest flicker of something behind her eyes 

something that might have been pain. 

But she didn’t show it. She didn’t respond. 

He reached for the plate, his hands trembling with frustration as he forced himself to sit. The 

cold eggs, the dry toast they all mocked him, reminded him of the life he had once had, the life 

he had lost. 

“Charlotte would have made sure the food was hot,” he said suddenly, the words slipping out 

before he could stop them. 

Selene froze, her hand stilling in mid–air as she turned to look at him. 

“Ares,” she whispered, her voice a quiet plea. 

But he didn’t stop. 

“Charlotte was the one who always took care of me. She knew how to make things right. You” 

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12:03 Sun, Oct 12 

Chapter 26 

he cut himself off, his words choking in his throat. “You’re not her.” 

There it was the bitterness. The anger. It had all been building up inside him for weeks, and 

now, it spilled over like a dam breaking. 

“I’m not her.” Selene said, her voice steady but tinged with something deeper. “I know that. But 

I’m still here, Ares. I’m still trying.” 

He looked at her, and for the first time, he saw the hurt in her eyes the vulnerability she had 

hidden so well. 

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For a long moment, neither of them spoke. 

Then, Selene turned away, walking silently back to the kitchen. She didn’t flinch at his words, but Ares saw the way her shoulders sagged slightly before she disappeared from view. 

He sat there, the weight of what he had said settling over him like a blanket of regret. 

And deep down, he knew he wasn’t just angry at her. He was angry at himself. 

But he couldn’t say it. Not yet. 

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THE PHOENIX’S REVENGE