Bonds of Hercules (Villains of Lore, #2)(144)

Shit.

Achilles wrenched the door open, blocking the empty room with his body.

“We’re fucking,” I said as I joined him. “Sorry—we got a little carried away.”

Together, we didn’t let them see inside.

Poco sat perched on top of Alexis’s head, gnawing on her curls, and her oversized protector was prancing down the hall with the potted end of a decorative olive tree sticking out of its mouth (I had no words). Augustus and Kharon were draped around her, their arms strewn across her shoulders possessively.

I scoffed. They’re so whipped, it’s embarrassing. I would never be so obsessed with a woman.

Alexis was my mentee, and sure, I’d thought we could be more. I’d wanted to give us a chance, so I’d done the unthinkable—I’d tried. But she’d made it clear whose side she was on.

My chest tightened.

I hated how betrayed I felt.

Alexis smiled at me, her cheeks flushed with satisfaction, two different-colored eyes bright and unguarded for the first time since I’d met her. Poco hissed.

I wasn’t so selfish that I couldn’t admit to myself that the three of them suited each other.

At first, they’d been a fucking disaster. They were all so similar, different shades of stoic suffering that was beyond exasperating.

But now, they’d found their wedded bliss.

Stomach heavy with dread, I tried to ignore what that meant for Achilles and me. We’d still have to get married to a stranger who’d try to ruin us with their petty jealousies. They’ll try to take Achilles away from you.

No one would ever marry someone for immortality and be happy playing second fiddle to me, but that was the only option we had left.

Bile filled my throat at the mere thought.

I’d pitch myself off this villa’s roof before I loved anyone half as much as I loved Achilles.

He felt the same.

It was why I’d tried so hard to make something happen with Alexis. That, and she wasn’t as annoying as most people. A part of me still genuinely considered her a friend. Not that I’d admit it aloud.

Augustus narrowed his eyes. “Interesting—keep it down.”

“Of course, brother,” I said smoothly.

He raised his eyebrows at me. We’d never had a particularly close relationship, but I respected his ability to stay calm in the face of Sparta’s perpetual bullshit.

Achilles slammed the door shut in their faces.

Poco screeched belligerently.

Their footsteps receded.

Achilles turned to me and adjusted the obscene bulge in his cargo pants.

No one has ever been as handsome.

He studied my face with intensity. Ever since I’d been interrogated during the SGC, he’d been struggling with possessiveness and separation anxiety.

We were already unhealthily codependent on each other, but it had somehow gotten worse.

He’s so perfect.

I reached for Achilles’s muzzled face, and he tilted his head, leaning into my reverent touch.

Going up on tiptoes, I pressed a kiss to the hollow on the front of his neck, warm, heated skin tensing beneath my touch.

He gripped my hips, pushing himself flush against me. I groaned, licking at him.

Smoke from his muzzle wrapped around us.

He smelled like carnal sex, fire, and everything I’d ever wanted.

He’s a dream come true.

“Can you maybe wait to do that? Also is there a reason you’ve cornered me again? Or do you just want me to watch?” a throaty feminine voice asked with annoyance. “I don’t think I’m into that. Also, are you prone to outbursts and random acts of violence? If so, I think you have a diagnosable condition called—”

I wrenched away from Achilles, his intoxicating taste still tingling on my tongue.

I’d gotten distracted from what we were doing in here—getting answers.

“Do you ever shut the fuck up?” I asked, with genuine confusion, because from what I’d seen, she didn’t. Ever.

Medusa scoffed.

I enjoyed silence, preferred it, and she rambled constantly.

She was the opposite of Achilles in every way.

“No.” Medusa clutched her left arm, eyes narrowing as her long black hair shifted, three monstrous snakes rattling. “I will not be quiet just because you can’t stand the fact that you’ve been threatening an innocent woman for weeks like a cowardly—”

I laughed. “Oh please—you forget who you’re talking to. I read people, that’s my power, and I know for a fact that you’re still hiding things. Drop your innocent act.”

Medusa stomped toward the door.

I blocked her.

“Move out of my way,” she demanded. “I’m done with this crap. Corner me again, and I’ll bite you.”

Her snakes rose up around her head, rattling louder.

A lesser man would have been cowed by her display of power—one Gorgon snake was intimidating, three was a hideous show of might. Achilles and I both studied them with open curiosity.

We’d always been intrigued by dangerous things.

Medusa shifted.

I stepped with her.

Smirking, I glared down my nose at her.

She was no match for me.

I would discover what she was hiding and prove to the world that she couldn’t be trusted.