Bonds of Hercules (Villains of Lore, #2)(8)
“You don’t understand,” I said through gritted teeth. “It wasn’t like that. The Olympians … the oppression.”
She rolled her eyes and waved her hand dismissively. The ten-carat diamond we’d gifted her danced on her finger.
Don’t attack your wife.
I held my hand out for her patiently. “Just come with me.”
Don’t kidnap her.
“You trapped me,” Alexis said hoarsely. “Stalked me like an animal. Tortured me with your messed-up powers—”
“YOUR POWERS ARE STRONGER NOW TOO,” I shouted, losing all control. “Wake up. The marriage law would have applied to you too, princess. You also benefited from this arrangement—I’m trying to be a better man for you.”
“I NEVER ASKED YOU TO BE ANYTHING!” she screamed.
I shoved my knuckles into my mouth to stop myself from saying something I’d regret.
When I finally regained control of myself, I choked out, “I’m sorry for trapping you … the stalking … marriage … kidnapping. I’m going to be better.”
“And the body p-parts in the boxes?” she whispered.
I narrowed my eyes. “What about them? Those disgraces of men touched you against your will. What the fuck did you expect me to do?”
“Literally anything else,” she said. “Except butchering them!”
I scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous, Alexis.”
She gasped like she was struggling to breathe.
I continued. “I still don’t understand why you rejected the jewels. Were they not up to your standards? Augustus said humans once revered the Hope Diamond. He thought you’d appreciate the history. Did you want something nicer?”
Alexis covered her mouth and made a choking sound as her face turned purple.
I softened my features. “We’ll be better men for—”
“This is j-just physical,” she blurted.
I blinked.
Icy fury doused me.
“What … the fuck did you just say to me?”
Alexis tipped her head back, jaw set.
Blood continued to streak down her cheeks as she set her chin stubbornly, refusing to cower before my rage. I would have been impressed if I wasn’t so fucking furious.
“Say it again,” I said quietly. “I fucking dare you.”
She bared her teeth, eyes flashing. “It’s just physical.”
I lunged.
3
THE HUNTED
ALEXIS
Kharon gripped my arms.
Sun streaks from the Montana dusk accentuated the sharp cut of his disturbingly handsome features.
The skeleton ink on top of his right hand extended to his shoulder in a sleeve. It ended where layers of painful scar tissue began. His chest was a mess of circular welts.
What happened to him? Whatever could leave so many lasting scars on an immortal was truly heinous.
Blood was splattered across his striated naked torso and the deep V of muscle on his lower stomach disappeared into the top of his cargo pants, framing a thin dark trail.
Humans called Chthonics dark gods for a reason.
This was the reason.
Face flaming with heat, I struggled to breathe. Apparently, I wasn’t asexual; I was just into tattooed, violent, Machiavellian men. A fate worse than death.
Gathering my courage, I searched for my voice.
“Release m-me,” I whispered.
Icy eyes flashed with danger. “Or … what?” Kharon asked mockingly.
I took a deep cleansing breath.
Pop. Pop.
Kharon inhaled with shock.
He slowly lowered his gaze to my hands—the Spartan gun Hades had gifted me was smoking.
Kharon’s lips thinned.
I’d missed.
Seconds bled into minutes as we sized each other up, me (shooter) and Satan (sadly, not shot).
The field was eerily quiet.
“Use both hands, carissima,” Kharon finally said, his voice husky. “You want to hold the gun out in front of you and aim for my torso.”
He widened his stance and mimed pointing an imaginary gun at my heart.
“Pow,” Kharon whispered, his fingers flexing like he pulled a trigger.
Blood was streaked across his parted lips.
He smiled cockily. “In emergencies, try to lock your elbows so the recoil doesn’t throw you off—”
I pulled out the Taser Persephone had gifted me and slammed down on the black button.
It was an emergency; my husband was an ass.
Kharon dropped like a rock.
Every vein on his body protruded as he writhed on the grass and his body lit up with bright blue streaks of electricity.
“Good.” He choked out. “Job.” Gasp. “That.” He made a horrible, strangled sound. “Also works.”
I slapped at the black button, trying to turn it off.
Kharon grunted as the voltage increased.
I hit the Taser, trying to stop the current.
Kharon grinned, convulsing helplessly on the ground.
“Wahoooo!” Nyx shouted, as she woke up and slithered around my waist. “Yes. Electrocute him to death. We have no mercy on our enemies.”
A lot was happening (none of it was good).
Kharon made another awful, pained sound and rolled around, tensing as the blue streaks of electricity flashed across his skin.