Ares peaked through the crack of the door he barely opened. It was dark except for the bluish light that seemed to dance along the walls. With the quietest walk he could muster, he limped his way down the hall and toward the living space.

The television played an odd late-night talk show, the sound a couple of steps above mute. Eliza slept, stretching the length of the couch. The light from the television cast strange shadows on her face. Occasionally, the whole room would light up and all he could see was the peace in her relaxed features. She was a vision in the late hours.

His reason for leaving his room was forgotten as he diverted toward the sleeping woman. He sat down on her coffee table, careful of his wounds, and stared at her. His shadow hid her face from the light, but she still looked calm. Ares found himself brushing her tangled hair away from her cheek. His hand didn't leave her. He would have to find a way to thank her for everything. The worry that consumed her stare when he showed up bloody and battered was something he thought he'd never see. Behind her tough exterior, she had a caring soul.

Eliza shifted to lie on her back. She turned her face away from Ares, nudging her nose against the back of the couch. His hand hovered in the air after he jerked it away from her face. He had little desire to be the cause of her rousing. His desire to anger the little spitfire was evaporating quickly. Ares didn't want her to hate him any longer and if that meant he'd have to suppress his eagerness to rile her up, he'd do it. Eliza would finally want him around.

Stifling a groan, Ares stood. He grabbed the blanket bunched at Eliza's feet and did his best to cover her body with it. There was an urge to lean down and leave a small kiss to her temple, but he'd have to wait for his body to heal. Bending over would guarantee to wake her. He'd tumble right onto her. He didn't want that. So, instead, he limped back to his temporary room.

The thirst he had for water was quenched at the mere sight of his partner at peace. Something told him that their affiliation with each other would get very interesting.

A few weeks went by. Ares was finally healed enough to help with hunts again, though Eliza refused to let him be a part of the capturing. She didn't want him hurt again.

Ares made no move to leave her apartment, but Eliza didn't seem to mind too much anymore. She seemed to watch his every move, concern always a beacon in her stare. Ares made sure to be nicer. His snide remarks lessened. He always smiled at Eliza and thanked her for a multitude of things she did for him in a single day.

She didn't want to admit it, but she dreaded the moment she would have to send him back home.

The reason for Ares showing up that fateful day, looking like he was run over by a stampede, was never told to Eliza. She wasn't sure she wanted to know who did that to him. Ares could hold his own during a fight, but those people who hurt him... he didn't stand a chance.

It wasn't until she went to a small coffee shop one morning that she began to wonder about the enemies Ares had.

She sipped her tea and read about Greek gods, ignoring the pedestrians walking by her table outside when a man sat at her table. Her eyes met the chocolate of his and she scanned over his features. His skin was tan, and his hair was a golden brown, hinting at many hours in the sun. There was a smirk on his thin lips that made her feel like she was a conquest to him rather than a human being. He wore a red V-neck t-shirt, rusted blue jeans, and black boots. She half expected a leather jacket to be in his arms.

"I've been watching you for a little while and you look a little lonely." His voice was gruff and more of a tenor compared to Ares' baritone.

Eliza reacted with a scowl. "I'm perfectly fine on my own, so please let me read." Her eyes went back to the pages of her book.

He didn't make a move to leave. Instead, the stranger pulled her book down to stare at the contents of the page. "Ares, god of war. Interesting. Do you enjoy reading about mythology?"

"I'm not sure. I'd like to continue reading this in peace so I can find out. Please, go away."

"My name is Teel, by the way."

Irritated, Eliza sighed and slammed her book shut. "Why can't you understand that I want you to leave? I have no interest in making small talk with a man who thinks every woman alone is seeking attention. Go find a different unfortunate soul who will fall for your tricks."

Something flashed in his eyes. Anger, maybe. Eliza didn't have a chance to find out because Ares arrived from behind the stranger. She felt relief until the two men locked eyes. Electricity sparked in their glare. They knew each other.

"Terence." Ares' jaw flexed. His eyes were cold.

"Hello, Ares. I was just speaking to this woman here when you showed up," Teel smiled, reaching over to touch my knee under the grated table.

I was quick to stand up with my things and join Ares at his side. Teel glanced between us, realization crossing his face.

"So, this is the woman you nearly died for. Elizabeth Kane." Teel's smiled turned into a sneer. "I didn't realize you were in cahoots with the best bounty hunter on Mars."

Eliza's mind was racing. Ares almost died for her? Was that why he came to her home looking like he went to hell and back more times than a human ever should? Did Teel hurt Ares?

Eliza suddenly took the man's shirt collar into her fist and pulled him to his feet. Her face neared his and she glared. "You deserve to be tossed out of the atmosphere to die for what you did to him. Anyone who helped deserves to lie with maggots and scum. Stay away from me and stay away from Ares. Next time, I won't leave without maiming you."

She threw him back into his seat, not caring that it toppled over. The table she was sitting at toppled on top of him. Turning on her heel, she marched past Ares and kept going. There was no destination in mind.

Ares watched her in awe. No one was brave enough to stand up to Teel and his gang of idiots, but she did. All because he made the rash choice to start a fight with them when he heard the way they talked about her. It was a shame that bounty hunters didn't get the notifications for Teel's gang. Most hunters couldn't bring one of them in, let alone the whole crew. Special forces dealt with gangs like them.

It didn't take long for the sound of Ares' footsteps to reach Eliza. Her eyes remained on the sidewalk in front of her. Frankly, she was embarrassed she reacted so boldly. Before Ares got hurt, she would have ignored it, but knowing that man and his friends nearly killed the annoying man next to her broke her composure.

"They're going to come after both of us now," Ares said, matching her quick pace. "We'll have to watch our backs."

"Do they know where you live?" she asked.

Ares thought about it. "Probably. I used to work with them, the Scorpions."

She heard the name before. They were a ruthless gang that owned the darker parts of Nemesis. Donovan spent a lot of time helping the military get information on them. Unfortunately, they were still at large.

"For your protection, we'll have to move you to my apartment. Don't get excited because this is serious. I'll ask Donovan and Lauren if they can go by and pick up your stuff and bring it over." Eliza looked up at Ares, "We will have to stay at a hotel tonight to make sure we're not being followed."

"Eliza," he started. "We don't have to go to those lengths to protect ourselves."

She stopped and faced him. "Do you remember the shape you were in lying outside my door? If that man is right, you were near death. Who knows what would have happened if you didn't come to me; if Donovan wasn't there to help? We are going to take every precaution we can."

"Okay. We'll do it your way. How are we going to get clothes and things for a hotel stay?" Ares crossed his arms over his chest, watching the area around us.

Eliza actually smiled at him. "I think it's time we visit the general store."