“What, not dead?” Margot asked, raising an eyebrow. “You can never be sure, with all the new technology these days. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a few undead walking among us.” Maybe that was why the Capitolites wore so much make-up. Margot smiled at her private joke. All the while, she kept her eyes tracked on Ares as he went up the stairs. Habit.
She knew at some point soon she should invite him to come in and not force him to stay outside in the cold with her. She held off for a minute, though.
“I’ve gone five years dodging those invitations.” Margot said, a flicker of pride flashing across her face, almost reminiscent of the arrogant career she used to be. “I think I can last a few more. I’ll hedge my bets. It’s a nice offer, really, but…” She trailed off, knowing he was right: best to go quietly, eventually. That’s what she did with everything else, certainly. But the idea of sitting through a wholesome family dinner nauseated her just a little.
Ares rolled his eyes at her, but the smile was there. Margot wasn’t the easiest to get along with, but he did attempt to be a good mentor to hr. She had proven to him in a way that Alex and Serenity hadn’t at one point that she could make it. She was the only one of his tributes that survived that he had full faith in and actually survived. It was weird to think that there was a point where he didn’t believe that his own girlfriend could make it out alive, but it happened, and that conversation was awkward to have.
“Five years? She hasn’t pulled you in by the hair yet? Consider yourself lucky,” Ares said with a raised brow and a wider smile as he leaned his head down a little to stare back at her. “Seriously. Get out of the house once in a while. You and Fell are the worst about that. We’re a prideful District. We should show it more.”












