Ares's words completely froze Winona. A tremor ran through her chest, a whirlwind of emotions: anger, disbelief, and a strange, unnamed feeling she didn't want to admit to.

"Ares, what is it you want to talk about?" Her voice was barely a whisper, strained with tension.

Instead of answering, Ares kept closing the distance between them. His gaze was intense, unwavering, a steady look that seemed to peel away every layer of Winona's denial.

"Winona," he murmured, his voice low and ...