Bonds of Hercules (Villains of Lore, #2)(113)
The last standing Typhon whirled in a circle, its eye remaining on Kharon, who was stalking around it with his bow cocked, waiting.
It didn’t squawk.
Time stretched, but the beast never opened its beak wide.
It was smarter than the others—it had learned.
Instead, it flung its head to the side, caustic spit shooting from the crack of its beak.
Kharon jumped—the crowd screamed as he narrowly avoided the danger.
Hell and Hound climbed off the second Typhon and crouched low, positioning themselves at the last creature’s back. Kharon tensed in front of it.
All three of them were waiting, cornering the giant beast.
Kharon slowly reached back for another arrow.
The Typhon spit again as it exploded forward, and Kharon jumped straight upward to meet it. With a mighty heave, he slammed the arrow down through the top of the beast’s skull.
Agonizing pain boiled across my chest, and I saw stars.
Someone gasped nearby.
But I could barely see through a haze of pain and squinted lashes. Thud. The beast collapsed to the sand, and Kharon rolled away. His hounds jumped up on the carcass, green blood splattering as they finished it for good.
Everything blurred.
The crowd gasped. I couldn’t see why.
I squinted at the sand, focusing through the throbbing agony.
Kharon staggered up to his feet, clutching the side of his pink chest—his toga had burned away, revealing boiling, blistering skin—the saliva dripping from his chest.
Fuck, he needs to get medical attention.
My uninjured chest throbbed in tandem.
We needed medical attention.
The crowd quieted, waiting to see if he’d fall.
Kharon raised his silver bow with his good arm—and pointed it at Artemis.
He took a bow.
Cheers erupted as those who had remained to watch the fight applauded and stomped, loving the theatrics of it all.
I leaned forward and tried not to pass out.
Run and get help, you fucker. Hurry.
Casually, like his skin wasn’t melting to the bone, Kharon took his time sauntering out of the arena.
I was going to kill him.
Skin boiling, I staggered to my feet. I needed to make sure he got help.
Movement flashed in my peripheral vision, and I tried not to vomit as I clutched my chest.
Drex and Charlie were motioning frantically as they bent over … Alexis?
My wife was slumped back in her seat, clutching at her chest, face pale, mouth open wide as she struggled to breathe.
No.
My world turned upside down.
Everything slowed as I stumble-crawled toward her. Shoving the boys aside, I pulled down her toga, inspecting her sternum for wounds.
There was nothing.
No.
Her eyes were glazed over, face tight with excruciating pain.
“You …” My voice sounded garbled, like it had come from someone else, far, far away. “It can’t be.”
I blinked—I was partially lying beside Alexis in a collapsed heap. I didn’t remember moving.
Her lashes fluttered, face full of agony.
“You … feel it … too?”
In slow motion, Alexis nodded, curling in on herself.
“FUCK.”
Someone tried to pull me away from her, and I threw a blind punch, agony strumming, hot lava dripping down my front.
“KHARON … HELP!” I bellowed, trying to get him to understand as she twitched with torture beside me.
Hades smacked me across the face.
I didn’t feel a thing.
The pain across my sternum was too great.
His expression was frantic as he pulled me close. “What’s happening to her? Explain what’s …”
His voice warped in and out as I sank toward unconsciousness, then clawed out: Help Alexis, help Alexis, help Alexis. The repeating thought was the only thing keeping me awake.
“Augustus, explain what’s …” Hades shook me back and forth.
Poco climbed up and rubbed at our hearts like he was trying to help.
“EXPLAIN RIGHT NOW WHY MY DAUGHTER IS IN PAIN!” Hades bellowed straight into my face, his words piercing through the haze.
“Kharon—” I gasped. “Our bond … feel … his pain … him … help.”
Hades’s eyes widened with panic, and his edges blurred—Crack—he leapt away.
He’ll fix it.
That was what I needed to be doing, but I could barely move.
I heaved onto my side—Alexis’s face hovered near mine.
We rasped together.
Suffering.
Crimson splattered on her forehead as it dripped from my eyes.
“I love you,” I mouthed, unable to speak, the edges of my vision turning pitch-black.
She grunted in agony. “Love you … too.”
Nails digging into stone, I reached for her face.
I couldn’t stop, I needed to fix this, I needed to help her.
Alexis was counting on me.
I would save my wife, or I would die trying.
Kronos save us both.
42
THE HUNTER
KHARON: SGC DAY 11
Every inch forward was a million miles.
Sizzle.
Flesh boiled and bubbled, melting away as sand and stone blurred around me.