Bonds of Hercules (Villains of Lore, #2)(39)

Even for a Spartan, even for a Chthonic, she’d suffered grievous injuries, and yet she was somehow still breathing.

I’d never seen anything like it.

She’d single-handedly fought off two Titans that could fucking fly. It was mind-boggling.

Achilles and Patro were also missing, which meant they’d abandoned her.

If they aren’t already dead, they will be soon.

Alexis gasped brokenly and I used the hem of my shirt to wipe away the gore around her ear.

Tracing my finger over the stitches, I inspected it closely for signs of rejection—the pale skin color was already turning bronze. Her body was accepting it.

I could do nothing but kneel beside my wife as I waited, shaking, my tears mixing with rain.

Alexis rolled onto her side and coughed jerkily.

My heart stopped as I stared down at the damage on her back. It was so much worse than I’d initially thought—skin flapped unattached and the white knobby bones of her spine were visible. Her back was torn to absolute shreds.

There wasn’t enough skin to even pretend to stitch up.

“Don’t move!” I ripped my shirt off and pressed the fabric against her ruined flesh.

“Shut u-up.” Alexis struggled in the mud.

I tried to stand to stop her, but I slipped and fell to the ground with a grunt. The Titan we’d captured in South America had left talon marks through my thighs, and for some reason my back was also hurting. I had more wounds than I’d realized.

“How—” Alexis coughed as she turned her head. “You know … come … here?”

Rain dripped from her long lashes.

“We were always coming back for you.”

Hell and Hound sat down next to her, whining as they nuzzled at her side.

It didn’t escape my notice that neither of them were worried about helping me.

Alexis laughed weakly, her ruined back shaking. “Good … doggies.”

The deadly class six beasts wagged their bony tails, preening under her attention, licking her face as she giggled.

Alexis coughed, blood dripping from her lips. “Save … yourself … leave … me.”

Our mud-covered faces were inches apart.

Something dark and sinister awoke inside me. “Do you know who I am?” I asked.

Her gaze darted to the bloody side of my head, and she blanched.

We were physically connected, forever.

Perfect.

“I’m yours,” I said as the rain roared around us. “You can break my legs, but I’ll still crawl after you. If you’re injured, I will carve myself to pieces to make you whole … every … single … time. This is not a temporary arrangement. We will be together. Forever. Or I’ll be dead.”

Two-colored eyes widened.

“Do you understand what I’m saying, princess?”

Her breath hitched.

“Tell me that you don’t feel it.” I leaned closer—our mouths touched. There was nothing sexual about the kiss; it was all possession and rage. “If you don’t feel it, I’ll give up,” I whispered against her lips. “I’ll still protect you, but I’ll stop … trying.”

I breathed in, inhaling her, like a dying man.

Her pupils dilated.

“I … feel it,” she said quietly. “But it d-doesn’t … mean anything.”

I opened my mouth against hers, tongue sweeping out. Devouring.

Her tongue fought back.

“What the fuck is wrong with you two?” Augustus shouted. “Why do I keep finding you like this? You’re both kissing as you bleed out?”

I dropped her chin like it burned.

Long seconds passed as Augustus studied us in the rain. His hair was drenched, sticking to his arms and back like a second skin, and Poco sat on his shoulder shivering.

He shook his head. “Can either of you stand?”

“No,” I said, at the same time Alexis whispered, “Maybe.”

We glared at each other.

Augustus took a deep steadying breath. “None of us are in any shape to leap—we have to get to a safe house.”

There was a loud whine, then a monstrous creature nuzzled Alexis’s face.

I reached for my gun.

“Don’t … Fluffy Jr.”

I gaped at the white beast, which now had the build and height of a small horse, but the body of a dog. A strange lump protruded from its back.

“What the fuck happened to him?” Augustus asked, aghast.

“Just … growing.”

Great, my wife is a lunatic.

Before I could lecture her on animal safety, Augustus nodded like he was steeling himself for something.

“Let’s go,” he said. “I know a safe house in this city—I’ll carry you both.”

Alexis looked at the three Titans chained around his waist with disbelief.

I nodded in agreement. The House of Ares was the House of War for a reason. Its heirship was earned through unfathomable pain and endurance.

A few minutes later, mud splattered as Augustus stomped forward.

He held Alexis against his chest bridal style, I leaned against his arm for support, and chains clattered as he dragged three Titans behind him.

Alexis mumbled as she lulled in and out of consciousness.