I’m afraid of death.

Ozri began to cry as Lana carried him, with Ozar riding on the shoulders of Torak. It was a checkmate against Ares. Having all three of his children about would make it difficult for him to move too far away from them, and there was no chance in hell that he would allow them to be in danger even for a moment.

Lana was quite the shrewd woman. Ares hadn't expected her to outplay him in such a way. Terrifying indeed. Today he would need to be extremely careful, not only due to his wounds, but because his children were with him.

Runar slapped him out of his thoughts with her tiny little hand.

"Oi, sausage fingers, wha-" Ares cleared his throat. "Runar, nooooo, no hitting daddy," Ares said. He then leaned in to blow a raspberry into her neck and then he kissed all over her face and she squirmed under his grasp, giggling and squealing before she finally gave into him. Ares brushed her hair and then rubbed the back of it. He pushed her head to his chest and she relaxed against him.