Bonds of Hercules (Villains of Lore, #2)(137)

Years in prison really did numbers on a person’s reputation.

Maybe I’ll win them over with my natural charm?

Oh wait—I have none.

When I’d been put under an age stasis at twenty-one, I was known as the “talkative bookworm who sees things and everyone mostly ignores.” I woke up in a world where The Falcon Chronicles labeled me a “violent, powerful, dishonorable snake-scum traitor in league with Titans.”

It would have been iconic, if I wasn’t too busy having panic attacks as memories of the guards rose up and— Don’t think about them.

Don’t think about what they did to you.

During my lovely (hellacious) imprisonment, Gorgon relations had deteriorated, Titans had somehow mutated with wings, and war was brewing.

I leaned against Alexis, feeling unmoored. A calming, competent energy wafted off her, and, in her presence, it felt as if everything would work out. She respected me, listened to me, believed me. She valued what I could do.

Unlike the Olympians who framed me and the guards who— Don’t you dare think about it.

Alexis squeezed my hand like she could feel my spiraling thoughts.

She was my only tether to safety.

She stood between the panic attacks, the deep abyss of pain that I held in pieces around my heart, and the dark thoughts.

Alexis Hert was my hero.

“What do you propose?” Athena raised her brow as she stared at Hades. Ares and Artemis both leaned forward and murmured something in his ears.

I froze as the latter glared over at me.

Mommy? I chuckled to myself, then stopped because it wasn’t helping my “crazy” reputation. Artemis disowned me as soon as I popped out with snakes, so I’d never really known the woman.

From the glares she was sending my way, I was lucky for it.

Hades nodded at them, then turned back to Athena. “The Chthonic leaders,” he said with an air of authority, “will allow her to attend with the stipulation that two bodyguards are allowed to attend with her. They will board with her and stay by her side twenty-four seven for protection.”

Bodyguards?

Shivers trailed down my spine as memories strangled me.

There was nothing good about a guard.

Athena pursed her lips like she was considering it. She looked up at the rows of the amphitheater. “Does anyone have an objection to this proposal?”

Murmurs increased, more taunts of “snake scum” were shouted (unoriginal), but no one raised their hand.

Most likely because all the Chthonic leaders had turned around and were glaring up at the rest of the federation with expressions that promised war.

Since the peace between Olympians and Chthonics was extremely strained after Zeus’s revelation (I could already smell the trench foot and hear the battle chants), they probably weren’t bluffing.

Athena looked back to Hades. “Who do you recommend?” she asked.

Hades slowly smirked. “The Crimson Duo.”

There was a long moment—then loud conversation erupted.

Alexis blanched beside me.

“Who’s that?” I asked, as someone shouted something from the back row.

I wasn’t up-to-date with the modern Spartan lingo because of my violent imprisonment. The age stasis ensured I wasn’t conscious for the incarceration—and was physically only twenty-one—which was why my powers were still weak in their development.

Somehow, even though my body had been in stasis, my mind remembered … everything.

There was also the horrible throbbing pain in my left arm that I refused to show anyone.

Don’t think about it.

“The Crimson D-Duo is …” Alexis trailed off like she was afraid to say it.

There was a commotion to my left. “No,” Patro said a few seats down. “We refuse to—”

What is he talking about?

He was silenced by a hand over his mouth—DEATH was tattooed across the restraining knuckles.

There were dangerous men, and then there were violent men. The distinction was crucial.

Achilles and Patro were the latter.

I’d never met anyone so volatile in Sparta, dark creature or Chthonic.

There was something especially unhinged about this new generation.

Patro had cornered me about a dozen times in the villa. Whenever people weren’t looking, he’d trap me against a wall and tell me he knew I was playing a game.

Now, he glared over at me.

Emerald eyes met mine, pure hate blazing in their depths.

Fear wrapped around my throat as I realized just what was happening here.

Oh … my … Kronos.

“They’re the Crimson Duo?” I said to Alexis. “Why are they called that? Is it because Achilles’s eyes are red or is it something to do with blood? Maybe a play on—”

“Yes, you will!” Aphrodite shouted as she pointed at her son. “You will obey orders.”

Patro nodded curtly.

Please, Kronos, no.

This can’t be.

They’re going to hurt me just like the—

“Perfect,” Athena said. “That matter is handled—Medusa will enroll at ROU with Patro and Achilles as her bodyguards this September. I’m sure they can obtain a mastery in …” Her eyes narrowed as she sized up the two dangerous Chthonic men. “War studies.”