Olympus calls him ruthless. Violent. Exiled. Dangerous.
But legends rarely tell the whole story.
For centuries the God of War has been blamed for every blood-soaked battlefield across the mortal and divine worlds alike. Yet behind the rumors and whispered accusations lies a far more complicated truth.
Although his affair with Aphrodite is legendary, Ares was the only Olympian—aside from his famously virgin sisters—who never married.
Until now.
And that wife may be the key to a prophecy Olympus fears more than war itself.
It was with some trepidation that I sat down with Ares—not on Olympus, but on a quiet island in the Mediterranean, his own private Eden.
The God of War did not rise to greet me. He sat upon a throne of bone overlooking the sea, dark eyes watching the horizon as though nothing else existed or mattered.
Ever mindful of whose presence I was in, I asked questions some others might have shied away from.
His answers were… illuminating.
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Interviewer:
You’ve been called ruthless. Violent. Exiled. Dangerous. How would you describe yourself?
Ares:
First, as you can plainly see, I am devilishly handsome.
(the stunning smirk that followed told me he knew exactly what effect he had)
After that… I am someone who knows what he wants and goes after it.
Often by any means necessary.
Interviewer:
Not to push you but, about your exile? Olympus cast you out. Do you regret what happened?
Ares:
Regret? So useless, mortals wallow in it like pigs in mud. Why should I regret anything? I am as innocent of the charge now as I was the first time they called me murderer.
Murder is a cowardly act and I am no coward. If you wish to kill someone, meet them in battle.
Interviewer: I am surprised by the clear disdain in his dusky voice.
History records you as a cold-blooded killer? Is that not the definition of murder?
Ares:
History tells me many lies about me. I never murdered anyone. I never raped a woman. I did not invent war. That was you, the mortals. I am no warmonger. I am a warrior. I understand the blood price paid, I honor it, I respect it. But I am not the cause of it.
⚔”I did not invent war.
That was you, the mortals.
I am no warmonger.
I am a warrior.”
— Ares ⚔
Interviewer: With his smoldering eyes squared on me suddenly making me feel vulnerable as I sit alone with him on this island. I see… I said struggling to find my voice for a moment…, let’s move on. When you first met Alena, did you see a woman…or a weapon?
Ares:
The first I saw her I thought she was a dying hag spit out by the sea unto my shore to gasp her last. Obviously, I was wrong about that. Though perhaps I was not completely surprised.
(a faint smile crosses his full lips bringing a sparkle to those dark eyes)
Have care how you speak of my wife. She is not a weapon. She is the love of my life, and I waited thousands of years for her. Some promises take longer to fulfill than others.
Interviewer:
Zeus wanted her in chains. In return, he offered to lift your exile and return you to Olympus. What made you decide she would never wear them?
Ares:
My father has never been as important as he likes to believe. He holds no power over me. I decided Alena would not go unaccompanied to Olympus the second my brother,…Apollo…was sent to demand her presence.
(the smile faded as if something sour had crossed his tongue)
If they want something that badly, trust me, they are up to no good. I would not allow them to strip Alena of her freedom to settle an ancient grudge.
⚔“She is not a weapon.
She is the love of my life…
and I waited thousands of years for her.”
-Ares⚔
Interviewer:
Ancient grudge? Wasn’t Zeus searching for who murdered Artemis? Your sister? Didn’t you want justice for her?
Ares:
Justice? Yes. That wasn’t what Zeus and Apollo wanted. They wanted revenge, even if they took it out on another innocent victim of Cernunnos.
Interviewer:
Speaking of Cernuous, I understand before you killed him that he made a prediction about your son, Raven. Zeus made an even more ominous one. What would you do if Zeus ordered you to kill Raven, your son?
Ares
(the God of War smiles coldly)
My name is not Abraham. I do not give credence to the rantings of bitter old gods who would say anything just to get under my skin.
Interviewer:
Are you saying you would defy an order from your father, the God of Gods? Wouldn’t that mean war with Olympus?
Ares:
Such an order would be my father declaring open war on me…again. On my family.
(Ares purses his lips and on his throne of bones he leans forward with an icy stare)
No one takes what is mine. I will protect it at all costs.
If my father tries such a foolish thing, or anyone should be so… mistaken… I will show them the true meaning of war.
(a faint smile appears on his devilishly handsome as he slowly sits back again)
⚔ ⚔ ⚔
⚔”No one takes what is mine.
I will protect it at all costs.”
-Ares⚔
My time with the God of War over, I left his serene island with my blood as cold as the sea air. Something stirs here and when it wakens it may well regret tangling with Ares.
One thing is clear: Ares is not the bloodthirsty monster we were all led to believe. He is far more complicated than that. Sitting upon his throne of bones, I found him to be intelligent, loyal and defiant. Filled with a quiet but unshakable devotion to the family he has for these last handful of centuries.
If the prophecies whispered through Olympus are even partly true, the war between the gods may only be beginning.
What will that mean for the mortal world?
Editor’s Note:
Although repeatedly asked to do so, Olympus declined to respond to the accusations made in this interview.
The story of Ares, Alena, and Raven unfolds in the For the LOVE of WAR saga—an epic dark fantasy romance of gods, prophecy, passion…without apology.
Begin the journey with Book One: The Heart of War.
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Lisa Beth Darling 