Page 55 of The Brothers Bane

He urges me back onto the path. We head up the steps to the dining hall porch, where we find Ele waiting patiently, looking on with concern. She doesn’t say anything when we reach her; she just gives me a tight hug and a warm smile, then grips my hand in hers to lead me inside.

The hall is bustling with the sounds of cutlery and conversation. We weave through the crowd until we reach the queen’s table—a place I’ve only ever admired from afar. Ele nudges me gently as we approach. “Don’t worry,” she whispers with a wink. “Mom doesn’t bite.”

We take our seats, and I can’t help but feel out of place amidst these legendary women who have faced down gods and monsters. My gaze falls on Hippolyta, whose piercing eyes meet mine as if she’s weighing my very soul, but she only nods in acknowledgment and returns to a conversation with one of her sisters.

I’m too hungry to let myself obsess over what she thinks of me, so I focus on stuffing my face with the delicious food.

“I’ve been watching you train these past two days,” Hippolyta says after a while, breaking through the chatter about the day that floats around us while we eat.

My cheeks warm under her scrutiny. “I’ve never been the most athletic,” I admit. “Art has always been my focus.”

Hippolyta nods thoughtfully, then gestures to my shoulder. “Did you design your tattoo?”

“Yes,” I reply, feeling a flicker of pride. “It took a lot more time to ink than it did to draw, though.”

As if sensing that it’s the subject of the conversation, my tattoo comes to life; a tentacle reaches out to pluck a morsel from Ele’s plate and delicately places it in her mouth. Laughter erupts around the table as surprise lights up Ele’s face.

“Nice party trick,” Mel says, appearing from the kitchen with a couple six-packs of their local brew. Her sister Pen is behind her with frosty mugs that the pair of them begin to fill. The other diners have mostly filtered out to enjoy the free time they’re allowed in the evenings. Aside from a pair of women tasked with clean-up, our group is the only one remaining.

As we drink and talk, Hippolyta and her sisters share stories that weave together their past and present—battles fought, wisdom gained, sisterhood strengthened. They speak of love lost and won, of struggles that have shaped them into the formidable warriors they are today.

By the time Alcides and I rise to say goodnight, my heart feels heavy, yet buoyant—a contradiction born from the sense of belonging that has taken root within me since arriving here. I’m starting to wonder if the freedom I sought was an illusion. If what really matters is community like this, maybe being tied down isn’t all that bad after all when you’re with people who matter to you—and who you know will have your back no matter what.

The sunset is half a red orb on the horizon as we stroll down the garden paths to the edge of the compound where Alcides’ cottage is tucked away. We’re both silent, my mind a tangle of thoughts and worries triggered by the things I learned today.

At the sight of the bed, my exhaustion catches up to me. I flop down with a groan, draping a forearm over my eyes. At the slight tug on my feet, I look down to find Alcides unlacing my boots.

“You don’t have to do that.”

He smirks. “No, but you look like you’d sleep in them if I don’t.”

I sigh at the ceiling, half to let out tension and half enjoying the feel of his hands on my feet. Once he gets my boots and socks off, he sits, holding my feet on his lap as he begins massaging one with his big hands.

“Tell me what worries you, Nemea. I can sense some of it, but I can’t read your mind unless you let me in.”

“I’m just thinking about how they all care so much about each other here. They takecareof each other.” I bite back the rest because I’m still not sure I can articulate it well enough to make sense. My worry that I’m not equipped to take care ofthem. And I should be.

Because it is my fault that all this happened. The Titans escaped because of something I did. So like it or not, I’m responsible. I’ve put them in an impossible position in their attempt to fix the fallout from my fuckup.

Alcides’ warm hands on my feet seem to massage some resolve into me. The more he rubs, the clearer the answer becomes, but the more it makes me want to burst into tears.

I tamp it down and sit up, then straddle his lap. I’ve seen Campe disappear her conjured clothing, so I give it a shot, closing my eyes and mentally exuding a measure of magic through my pores.

Alcides’ approving murmur and the sensation of his big hands sliding over my bare hips tells me it worked. “You’re getting stronger,” he says.

“Thanks to all of you.” I bracket his jaw with both hands and stare into his eyes. “I would not be who I am without you. I know it’s only been a handful of days, but I feel like a lifetime has passed. You’re in my blood, in my bones, and in my heart. Whatever happens, I will always have you inside me.”

He frowns, but before he can speak, I kiss him, tenderly at first, then harder when he responds. His tongue sweeps between my lips and he lets out a deep groan, embracing me as if it hasn’t been only a matter of hours since we last made love.

I manage to get his shirt off before he spins us, pinning me to the bed with his hips against mine while he sucks each of my nipples until I’m panting with need. He stands then, kicking off his boots and slipping out of his pants. Night has fallen, and we haven’t lit any lights, but I can still see him clearly, his physique accented by darker shadows.

Does Erebus watch in moments like these? Is he here now? I am careful not to reach for him but the moment the thought crosses my mind, the quality of the darkness changes.

Alcides cocks his head, turning it slightly as if listening for a sound that isn’t there. Only silent shadows surround us, but they’re so dark now in places they almost have weight. I reach for one and touch velvet blackness that slides beneath my hand like an affectionate cat.

“You know you shouldn’t be here,” Alcides admonishes.

“Who will know but you if I remain a shadow?”Erebus whispers into my mind. Alcides’ smirk tells me I wasn’t the only recipient of the message.

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