Page 2 of The Brothers Bane

Alcides takes a breath, measuring his words carefully. “You can protect her here. I’ve heard stories about this place over the centuries. How you take in damaged women and rehabilitate them, protect them from abusers, and help them learn to protect themselves—respect themselves. Nemea needs your protection.”

“Hey,” I say, frowning. “I’ve got plenty self-respect.”

He shifts his gaze to me. “You asked for my help. I’m giving it to you.”

We hold each other’s gazes for a second, sharing a charged look that makes me wish I’d had a chance to bond with him so we could have a telepathic link like I do with the others.

I want to reach for them now, but don’t, afraid that opening the door to my sanctuary might allow Vesh to find me.

“Cut her bindings,” Antiope says, gesturing to one of the other women, who steps close as she unsheathes a large hunting knife from her belt, then squats in front of me.

As she cuts my zip ties, I take in my surroundings for the first time. We’re in a large cinderblock barn with high rafters and horse stables around the perimeter. Balconies wrap around above the stables, and a few women lean on the wooden railing looking down, all similarly clad in dark, utilitarian clothing like they’re mercenaries or soldiers. The far end of the space beyond Alcides is wide open, and occupied by what appears to be a fighting ring.

The woman kneeling in front of me finishes cutting my bindings, eyeing me warily.

“What is this place?” I ask her.

The woman glances over her shoulder. “It’s a barn.”

I narrow my eyes at her, and she smirks. “Nemean Boxing Club, officially. Unofficially, it’s a women’s shelter, a vineyard, a winery and brewery, and a pot farm, plus a survival training camp.”

“And her?” I ask, rubbing my wrists and glancing sidelong at Antiope, who stands watch with arms crossed while Alcides and I are released. They only cut his ankles free of the chair, though, leaving his wrists bound. Two other women flank him and pull him to his feet.

“Antiope, also known as Princess Battleaxe. I’d say her bark is worse than her bite, but it really isn’t.”

“I meantwhatis she? She and Alcides seem to go back centuries. I know he’s a demigod.”

“You’re not mortal. Don’t you know already?”

I stare back blankly, hesitating to admit my mundane origins and lack of knowledge about this world I’ve been thrust into. “Uh… pretend I don’t.”

“We’re Amazons.”

2

Nemea

Amazons.

The moment she utters that word, I’m overwhelmed by loathing and dread. The name only incites the dark memories of how my hometown was effectively indentured to a colossal corporation that commodifies the humans toiling in its distribution hubs. I was one of those humans from the time I could work without it being considered child labor, until I had enough money scraped together to buy a bus ticket at age twenty-four and get the fuck out. I didn’t care where I went, only that I put the place behind me.

The urge to flee resurfaces, pressing in. A tightening feeling winds around my torso, unsettling in its intensity, before I recognize it’s my ink shifting on my skin as though trying to shed itself from my flesh. Thunder growls above. The woman loosening my bonds glances up before fixing her sharp gaze on me.

“We’re the good guys, Nemea,” she says. “You’re safe with us.”

I wince and tamp down my chaotic power, mentally soothing my tattoo at the same time. Before the name was associated with an oligopoly—or even a river—it had another, more ancient association, the one for which the river was named. I really wish I could enlist Rachel’s help in the St. George School library to read whatever information exists about these women. Everything I know came from a comic book.

“I know. I’ve just got some baggage. Where are they taking him?” I lift my chin to the wide-open doorway the other women, led by Antiope, escorted Alcides through a moment ago.

“To meet with the boss, as requested.”

“Hippolyta’s the boss, right?”

“Yes. She’s our queen.”

“So… how worried should I be?” The knot in my gut won’t subside, partially because of the tight hold I have on my magic, which might cause too much destruction if I let it slip again even a fraction.

The woman chuckles and steps back. “You’re hisfate, or so he says. So I’d say you have nothing to worry about. My sister’s been over him for centuries, but it was a pretty one-sided affair anyway. He left even though she offered him an escape from his labors. It was foolish of him not to stay, in my opinion. But I guess he didn’t believe he’d find atonement without completing every last challenge. Between us, I hope he found it.” She steps back and turns, gesturing for me to follow.

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