Bonds of Hercules (Villains of Lore, #2)(62)

Thunder cracked.

Everyone in the room froze.

Kharon opened and closed his mouth, no sound coming out.

“Alexis,” Augustus said with menacing softness, his gaze locked on Nyx. “Please tell me that snake doesn’t have purple eyes … because that would mean you’re pointing a venomous echidna at us like it’s a gun.”





22


ENEMIES WHO CRAWL FOR YOU




ALEXIS

Nyx rose higher, opal fangs distended and glistening with venom.

“Is this … enough of a weapon for you?” I asked sarcastically. “Husbands.”

A single droplet of blood spilled from the corner of Augustus’s eye, tracking down his scarred cheek. “Put the venomous beast down,” he said slowly. “And step away.”

I brought Nyx up to my lips and kissed her head.

“No.”

Kharon lunged forward like he was going to dive across the table, but Augustus grabbed the back of his collar and yanked him away.

“We need to save her!” Kharon said.

Augustus glared at me like he didn’t know what to make of the situation. “How long have you had a … pet echidna?” He choked over the last word like it physically pained him to say it aloud.

I shrugged. “Forever.”

Augustus inhaled deeply. “Of course you fucking did.”

Kharon pulled away from Augustus, straightening his cloak and crown, serrated hunting knife still in his hand; a raised patch of scar tissue where his ear used to be.

“That’s a class seven dangerous beast.” Kharon’s voice was so deep it was barely more than an animalistic growl. “It’s ranked as dangerous as Titans.”

He slashed his knife through the air.

Whatever he saw on my face made his eyes narrow. “Do you even know—” Kharon overenunciated each word “—what class seven means?”

I shook my head no, curious to see how he’d mansplain Nyx to me.

Kharon glared at Nyx with pure disgust. “Class seven beasts are designated kill on sight—it’s a crime to harbor one in Sparta, a threat to the safety and well-being of all sentient life, penalized with a lifetime of imprisonment in the Underworld.”

Augustus’s scowl deepened.

“Echidnas are uncontrollably dangerous,” Kharon continued mercilessly. “Their toxin can kill full-grown Spartan children and put adults into comas … forever.”

Spartan boys screamed as they fell away from me, dying in the sand of a gladiator stadium.

Nyx’s head lowered, her eyes not meeting mine as she gently squeezed my arm. Black scales disappeared as she went invisible.

“I’m so sorry, kid,” Nyx hissed quietly. “I should have told you. I just … You could talk to me and my kind is almost extinct. I was … lonely.”

I tried to remember what she’d said about being bonded. I’d assumed she’d meant she was someone’s protector. What if it was something else? Was she bound by a Spartan oath? Was it something more sinister?

“Put the echidna down,” Kharon said. “Just put it down and we’ll handle it. No questions asked.”

Nyx made a wounded sound.

Head spinning, I sat down in the chair and leaned back with a shaky exhale.

“That’s it,” Kharon said. “Now just take the echidna off your arm and put it on the table. You’re doing great.”

“No questions asked?” I whispered.

Kharon nodded. “No questions asked.”

Dragging my hand over Nyx’s scales, I pulled my forearm to my chest, my left arm positioned in front of her protectively.

“No questions asked.” I chose my words carefully. “It’s a good thing then—” I leveled a glare at all the men across the table. “That none of you saw anything.”

Kharon slapped his hand on the table. “Alexis—give me the monster.”

Covering her with my arms, I said, “Never. Drop it … Or else.”

“Are you threatening me?” Kharon seemed flabbergasted.

I arched an eyebrow mockingly. “Obviously, Karen.”

He clenched his jaw, looking equally impressed and furious.

Nyx sniffled.

Augustus met my gaze, his face stony. “Is that what you want? Are you sure, Alexis?”

I nodded.

Lightning flashed.

Augustus took a deep steadying breath. “Fine—it’s settled.” He paused pointedly. “We will respect her wishes. None of us saw anything. If anyone dares say differently—” he glanced down at Patro and Achilles “—I’ll gut you myself.”

“But it’s not fucking safe,” Kharon argued.

Augustus glared at him. “We didn’t see anything.”

Warmth filled my chest.

Deeds, not words.

Kharon tipped his head back and closed his eyes. “Fine.”

“Let’s move on to the purpose of this meeting.” Augustus straightened and pulled a familiar vial of blood out of his pocket. “They want you to murder us—wife?”

Lightning flashed again and shadows flickered through the dark dining room, as Patro and Achilles struggled in their chairs.

Augustus held the vial up—blood sloshed back and forth. My blood.