Bonds of Hercules (Villains of Lore, #2)(138)

Patro rolled his eyes.

“Alexis would also like to attend,” I blurted.

Alexis dropped my hand, and I was too panicked to give her an apologetic smile.

Kharon and Augustus leaned forward beside her, both of them hitting me with a death glare.

I felt nothing.

Survive.

You need to survive.

Patro and Achilles are going to hurt you and—

“It’s an Olympian university. Chthonics are historically not allowed to enroll!” a Spartan in a small laurel crown shouted from a few rows back.

“Yeah!” more Olympians chorused back.

Jeers echoed.

Kharon’s expression twisted as he sized me up, sadness in his blue eyes. He’d been acting strange ever since last week when Alexis had revealed how she’d freed me.

Alexis said it was because he was my brother, but I didn’t understand. Spartans rarely formed familial attachments—our culture was all about power and competition.

“What are you doing?” Alexis whispered out the side of her mouth.

They’re going to hurt me.

“Education is good,” I said quickly. “You’ve said it was always your dream to go to a Spartan university. Now you can get your mastery in mathematics. We can be together.”

We can be safe.

She blinked as she stared at me like she was in shock.

“Alexis—is this true?” Hades asked, his voice rising above the clamor. I clutched her hand tightly.

Alexis closed her eyes for a few seconds, but when she opened them, her expression was determined. “Yes—I would like to attend,” she said, giving me a small smile.

Warmth exploded in my chest, and the strange light above her head flared brighter.

Kharon made a choking sound.

I threw my arms around her. “Thank you,” I repeated into her curly hair. Alexis hugged me tightly.

Safe.

You’re going to be safe.

It’s all going to work out and you can—

“It is decided,” Athena said. “The Crimson Duo will room with Medusa. She will not leave your side. You will shadow her and protect her.”

Patro leveled me with a glare—slowly he dragged his pointer finger across the front of his throat, handsome face contorting with malice.

“Moving on to our next order of business,” Athena said calmly, unaware that she’d just sentenced me to death. “The federation is still investigating leads as to why the Titans are mutating. So far, our efforts have found nothing.”

“You’ll regret this,” Patro mouthed silently.

I made a face back.

I already did.





50


CORRUPTION




ALEXIS

As I leapt away from the federation meeting, waves of relief washed over me.

Candlelight cast ambient shadows along the villa’s decorative amphoras and olive trees.

I’d chosen this exact hall because I liked the marble sculpture in the corner—a naked man leaned against a wooden club, covered in a lion skin. His eyes were downcast, conveying exhaustion, and behind his back, he held two golden apples.

I met the man’s weary gaze with my own.

He’s tired, but he’s still standing.

The last few weeks had been a blur of worrying over Medusa. I hadn’t had much time to focus on anything or anyone else.

She was finally free.

We did it.

I was so grateful for how it all played out, I could curl into a fetal position and never move again.

Outside the hall windows, Lake Como reflected the Milky Way. I’d heard a ridiculous rumor that before the apocalypse, humans had lost the stars. A world without them was unfathomable.

Tonight, the lawn was serene under moonlight, and the electric fence had been taken down—the threat level was once again low.

When I left hours ago, Nyx and Fluffy Jr. had decided to stay back with Helen and Drex in her room. My throat felt bare without scales around it.

Crack.

Two shadows stretched across the marble at the end of the hall.

I’d just been with them, but we’d been surrounded by people; this was different.

We were alone.

“My sweet honey—I’m home,” Kharon rasped in a mocking, singsong voice. Augustus stood beside him, eyes sparkling.

Of all the places in the villa they could have leapt to.

They’d come straight to me.

It reminded me of the nightmares that I was having again—ever since the SGC, the grim reaper stood above me at night, watching me sleep.

Dress shoes echoed across the marble as they headed toward me.

Kharon sauntered; Augustus walked with clipped precision.

The real headline of The Falcon Chronicles should have read: “Two Deviant Chthonic Royals Seduce Unsuspecting Prudish Woman.”

I could have told them all about it.

Spiky ruby crowns sparkled.

Kharon wore a tattered black cloak, Augustus an air of heavy responsibility.

Both looked divine in white button-down shirts, sleeves rolled up to their elbows. Leg holsters stretched across their thighs, loaded with weapons.

Augustus’s tie was loose, like he’d been pulling at it, a sliver of his bronze chest visible.

Red was splattered across Kharon’s shirt.