Page 1 of The Brothers Bane

1

Nemea

“Who are you, and why are you here?”

It’s a woman’s voice, smooth and lightly accented. I’ve barely come to after being unconscious for who-knows-how-long. I turn my head toward the demand, straining to see through the dark fabric of the bag over my head. It’s rough against my cheek and smells of fresh bud, which is oddly calming. My wrists are bound, the hard plastic of zip ties digging into my flesh.

I’m about to answer when Alcides’ voice cuts in.

“You know who I am, Antiope. I have a bargain for Hippolyta. She’ll want to talk.”

There’s a soft, derisive snort and a handful of other chuckles around me that cease after a sharp, “Shh!”

“You really think afterall this time, she’ll want to see you? You are a fool, Herakles.”

I wince at the use of that name. “Don’t call him that.”

Footsteps approach from the side, and I crane my head to follow the sound as they come around to the front. The bag is snatched off my head, the scent of pot replaced by the warring aromas of hay, manure, and sharply pungent body odor. A dark-haired woman with wise amber eyes and a scar cutting through one eyebrow bends down and peers into my face.

“And what isyourname, then?”

I clench my jaw, holding her steady stare, unblinking. “Nemea.”

Her eyebrows shoot up, and she straightens and crosses her arms. She’s tall and olive-skinned, with hair shorn close to her skull everywhere except the top, where it stands in unruly spikes. She’s clad in black cargo pants, a black tank top, and combat boots. I abstractly think she and Cassandra Vincent would have a lot in common.

“Nemea,” she drawls, cocking her head at me and narrowing her eyes as she looks me over. “I don’t believe you, but okay.”

“It’s actually my name, and Alcides ishisname,” I snap. A tremor cascading through the earth beneath us causes the lights above to swing like pendulums. I grit my teeth and clench my eyes shut, willing the magic back.

“Whoa, don’t piss her off, Antiope,” comments one of the other women.

“I’m sorry,” I say when I open my eyes. But she’s eyeing me with a measure of respect now.

“Sorry, she says.” She snorts again then looks at the others as if it’s a joke. “Where did you come from, Nemea? And why are you keeping company with this thieving bastard?” She jabs a thumb over her shoulder at Alcides, who is bound to the chair across from me, bag still secured over his head.

“I didn’t steal it,” Alcides grumbles. “She gave it to me.”

“You think I’m talking about the fucking belt, don’t you?” Antiope says over her shoulder. “You took my sister’s self-respect when you left. It took hercenturiesto get over you. Now you show up with your new hussy and want to chat. Why should I do anything but kick you the fuck out?”

“You brought me to yourex?” I ask, incredulous.

“Take this fucking bag off my head so we can talk, Antiope,” Alcides snaps. “I’m not here to fight. Nemea needs your help. I’m here to bargain for you to give it to her—the belt in exchange for protecting and training her.”

Antiope turns and snatches the bag off his head, leaving his hair a wild mess. He blinks rapidly, gaze darting around the room before landing on me. He does a quick scan before some of his tension eases. The relief in his eyes at seeing me whole makes me want to go to him. I try to rise, only to find my ankles are bound to the chair legs.

“Protect her from what—the four Titans who somehow got loose of their prison? Or something else? Tell me everything and I’ll consider bringing you to my sister to talk. You might start by explaining why you left in the first place and where you’ve been all this time.”

“Hippolyta knew I was a mess when we were together. I was in no state for a relationship. I’m not trying to excuse how I behaved—I was an asshole—but I needed to complete the fucking labors so I could move on with my poor excuse for a life. When I was done, I dug myself a deep pit and hid in it, at least until Tartarus found me and gave me a purpose. I’ve been working for him since then.”

Antiope cocks her head while she listens, not a shred of sympathy showing. Then she tilts her head to me. “And where does she and your uninvited visit fit in?”

Alcides stares at me for a beat, swallows, then looks Antiope directly in the eyes. “She’s my fate, Antiope. And she needs a place to stay thatisn’tTartarus, because he tried to trap her inside his prison. But she can’t go home because it isn’t safe for her anymore. Chaos is seeking her. Her power is too raw and untamed, but if she’s trained she can potentially tip the scales against the Titans when we face them. But if the Titans learn of her existence too soon and her link to Tartarus…”

“What is her link to Tartarus?” she digs.

“They’re all my mates,” I interject, tired of being left out of the interrogation. “All the guards, and Vesh too.”

A chorus of murmurs erupt from around us, some shock, some awe. Some oddly pitying.

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