Bonds of Hercules (Villains of Lore, #2)(40)

Augustus didn’t falter. A muscle in his jaw ticked, the only sign that he was in pain, as he continued to stalk forward, a stoic behemoth.

When we made it to the edge of the grassy park, two figures stepped forward in the rain, blocking us.

Augustus clutched Alexis tighter to his chest.

I grabbed my gun.

“What are you doing with her?” an elderly woman demanded. Her chest was drenched in blood and she swayed like she was seconds away from passing out.

“Lucia, be careful. They’re Spartans,” an old man warned her.

“I don’t care what they are.” She glared at me. “Where are you taking her?” Her voice warped strangely in my missing ear.

Augustus gaped down at her.

Humans didn’t approach Spartans. Ever.

“Excuse me?” I asked, stunned by her hubris.

Another woman stepped up next to her and pointed at Alexis. “She saved us—so what are you doing with her? Answer the question. We won’t let you hurt her.”

I chuckled sarcastically. “She’s our wife. She’s none of your concern.”

More people sidled forward, standing behind the idiots blocking our path. They crossed their arms and scowled up at me like I was the problem, not one of the men who’d just saved her.

“Move aside.” I raised my gun.

I’d mow them down for the audacity of thinking they had a right to her.

“Put your weapon away.” Augustus’s voice was clipped as he shook his head at me.

The world hissed in the downpour as I slowly lowered my weapon but didn’t re-holster.

Fine, I’ll just kill them all with my bare hands.

Augustus cleared his throat, tension melting off his face, as he donned his mask—the nice guy, the eldest heir, the leader.

“Don’t worry, folks.” His voice rang with sincerity as he addressed the growing crowd.

Dozens more people spilled out from side streets and buildings to block our path. Where the fuck did all these humans come from?

There were so many of them. It was disgusting.

“On my honor as the eldest heir of the House of Ares,” Augustus said. “I promise that I’m taking Alexis Hert, heiress to the House of Hades, to get medical treatment. No harm will come to her under our care. I solemnly swear, she is ours to protect.”

Forever.

The elderly woman huffed as she peered at my missing ear suspiciously.

I glared back.

She frowned. “She’s better than the rest of your Spartan lot—you never care about us. Not like she did … She’s different.”

She made the sign of the cross with her gnarled finger.

“Angelus Romae,” a man called out from the crowd, his voice shaking like he was addressing someone of greatest esteem.

The Angel of Rome.

Augustus bowed his head respectfully.

The crowd parted for him, and as we walked forward, humans of all ages reached out and lightly touched Alexis.

They spit on the bound Titans, and a few even kicked them.

Cameras flashed.

“Angelus Romae!” Humans chanted with hero worship as we moved forward. Instead of dispersing, people flooded out of crumbling buildings, lining the rainy streets.

Skin prickling as I limped forward, I studied Alexis’s features.

The humans weren’t wrong.

Even in the rain, her golden hair curled around her head like a halo. She looked like the paintings of their divine creatures.

The problem was the humans were calling her their angel, and I’d claimed her first; the only person I’d share with was Augustus.

Everyone else could go choke.

I bared my teeth to the crowd, growling with my hellhounds at anyone who touched her.

The chant grew louder, and the urge to scream at them to shut the fuck up increased.

For now, the humans could pretend she was their hero.

They would learn.

At the end of the cobbled street, a loud crack echoed. Smoke billowed.

A figure stood in the ruins of a townhome. Fresh blood was smeared across the brick wall, sheltered from the rain by a broken slab of concrete.

We halted.

Augustus clutched Alexis tighter against his chest and she grumbled incoherently.

The figure walked forward out of the shadows.

“How dare you show your face here!” Augustus shouted, his face twisting with fury.

Achilles took a step toward us, eyes wide as he stared at Alexis. Rain dripped off his muzzle.

“You abandoned her.” Blood streaked down Augustus’s face, washing away in the rain. “You left her TO DIE!”

Achilles took a guilty step back, shoulders rounding.

Augustus straightened to his full height, the sharp planes of his face ruthless and unforgiving. “You disgust me, brother.”

Crack.

Achilles leapt away, eyes haunted with regret.

He deserved far worse.





14


THE ELDEST HEIR




AUGUSTUS

Adrenaline burned me alive.

How dare Achilles show his face after he abandoned her.

The House of Ares, the House of War, had no place for cowards.

Stomping forward through the pouring rain, I navigated the side streets of Rome.

I needed to get her medical care. You should have given her to Achilles to take to safety.