Marduk kissed him one last time before Akad parted the clearing. Then Marduk lay on his back in the grass, breathing in the fresh mountain air. Waves of happiness rolled over him. He had finally done it; he’d finally made Akad his. He had hated pressuring Akad, but in light of the pain Akad’s father had inflicted on him, Marduk couldn’t imagine Akad enduring the Order’s torture. This made him feel even better about what he had done. Akad was no longer a virgin, so the Order wouldn’t touch him.
Marduk finally rose from the grass, dressed, and headed toward the temple. Dread of what was to come curled in his gut. Shamash had specifically ordered that Marduk invite Akad to the lower hall. The gods of the Order would be gathering for the occasion, but Marduk would be arriving empty handed. It was likely he would face punishment, but as long as Akad was out of their reach, he was willing to suffer whatever they threw at him.
When he entered the lower hall, Marduk was greeted by deities mingling in the doorway. Memories of his first day in the Order invaded his mind. It was his induction party all over again, but this time they were expecting Akad. Making his way through the deities, Marduk scanned the room for Shamash. This was it. He had to break the news to Shamash that there would be no induction. He had to tell Shamash what he’d done; that he’d fucked Akad, ruining him for the Order.
After seeing no sign of Shamash, Marduk walked down the hall to the bedchambers. Candle-light glowed in the first room on the left, and he stopped, remembering that this was where the Order had laid claim to him. This was the room where he’d seen Aya sitting on Seth’s lap. Marduk walked in, his heart pounding. Shamash would likely destroy him when he broke the news. Marduk stepped past three deities conversing in the doorway. Inside, he saw a low table surrounded by large chairs. A fire burned in the fireplace behind them. Then his heart froze. Akad, his love, was sitting in a chair before him. He was already there.
“No.” Marduk stumbled backward, and was immediately caught by a god behind him.
“Marduk,” Shamash said in his ear. “So glad you could come. Maybe you can go warm our guest’s lap.”
“No,” Marduk repeated, breaking free from his grasp. “Why is he here? I didn’t ask him to come here.”
“Don’t be rude,” Shamash said, grabbing Marduk by the arm and dragging him toward Akad.
When Akad met his gaze, Marduk’s heart almost gave way.
“Akad,” Marduk said, “You shouldn’t be here. You should leave.”
“Marduk,” Shamash interjected. “That’s no way to treat our guest. I invited him so he has every right to be here.”
“No, Shamash, you don’t understand. He can’t be here. He’s not a ... you can’t....” Shamash tightened his grip on Marduk’s arm, his regard darkening.
“Why don’t you go take a seat, Marduk.”
“No, Shamash. You can’t do this. I fucked him!”
Rage burned in the great god’s eyes. “Who did you fuck?” demanded Shamash. The room suddenly went silent, and Marduk could feel Akad’s eyes bore into him.
“Anu-Akad,” Marduk breathed. “I fucked Anu. He’s not a virgin.”
“Is that true, Anu? You let this god fuck you?” Shamash asked, turning toward Akad.
Then Marduk met Akad’s gaze, and his entire existence collapsed. The shock in Akad’s eyes turned to hatred that burned straight through him. Without a word, Akad rose from his seat, and shoved his way past Marduk and Shamash.
“Akad, please,” Marduk called after him. He broke free from Shamash, chasing after Akad, but Akad kept going without looking back.
“Akad ... please let me explain,” he pleaded as Akad disappeared through the lower hall entrance.
“Akad, stop.” Marduk followed him into the corridor, the torchlight barely illuminating Akad’s form. Akad stopped abruptly, swung around, and punched Marduk in the face. Marduk’s back hit the wall, absorbing the shock, and he slid to the ground. No one had ever hit him that hard. Then, Akad’s hands were on him, pulling him up, and slamming him into the wall.
“Akad, please ... I can explain.”
“What is there to explain, Marduk?” Akad said, rage flickering in his eyes. “How could you possibly explain what you just did? I can’t believe I trusted you!”
“Akad, I did it to save you. They were going to —”
“Shut up, Marduk!” Akad slammed him against the wall again. “There’s nothing you can say to make what you did right. I trusted you, and you betrayed me the first chance you had. Do us both a favor and stay the fuck away from me!” He released Marduk’s tunic and turned to walk away, but Marduk grabbed his arm.
“Please, Akad. I love you.”
“Fuck off!” Akad yanked free from Marduk’s grasp and stormed away. Marduk crumpled to the floor, pain ripping through him. He had done everything he could to save Akad, but he’d still lost him. He had saved Akad from the Order at the cost of their love.