Page 103 of Styx

If anyone were to ask me,

I would say it was his hands.

His fingers that were destined

to hold weapons, crush bones,

strong, powerful, but also

somewhere within his veins

there lay a tenderness I could see.

When his molten-gold eyes met mine,

the secrets of a thousand suns

simmered inside them.

He was built to lift mountains,

and each muscle, each plane

of his body told the story of strength.

I cleared my throat – Be careful, Asteria –

and asked him with caution,

‘How can I help?’

A Proposition

Perses smiled at me and said softly,

‘I think we find ourselves in a common

predicament. I have noticed Styx

is close to you. I am close to my brother too.

This decision to wed them

was decided between our fathers,

and my brother is dutiful.

But what I would like…’

He lowered his voice as he looked

in the direction of the door.

‘I would like to see him content,

instead of simply dutiful.’

I contemplated his words