Page 166 of Blood of Hercules
Zeus frowned. “Interesting.”
Is it really?
Awkward silence spread between us.
He grimaced and looked at something over my shoulder, unable to hold my gaze.
It was so darn predictable—my own blood found me lacking.
Father John said the only father that mattered was God. Charlie said we were better off without our birth parents, and he would have already signed at Zeus to get lost (with a lot more creative language).
I snickered at the thought.
Zeus’s frown deepened. Lines creased golden skin, which shone a lighter shade of mine.
I ate the last piece of meat off the plate before he could take it.
Gray eyes sharpened. “Are you eating enough? Why are you so skinny? My stock are usually built strong and wide, not so?—”
“Tall?” I offered as he said, “Wimpy.”
I choked on the food.
The man before me had never hidden food vouchers in a cardboard box while counting down the days until he could eat, and it showed.
He raised a golden brow. “Why are you like this?” His nose wrinkled with disgust.
He waited for an answer.
Oh, it’s not a rhetorical question? Rude.
“No clue,” I lied, dragging the cheese knife across the plate so I could get the leftover bits.
Phantom pain shot in my wrists. Old cigarette burns ached on my torso.
Zeus’s lips pursed as he watched the knife scrape loudly.
I sucked on it and glared.
He took one long-suffering breath, then pulled at his diamond cuff links and sat up straighter.
“You’ll need etiquette lessons after the crucible,” he said.
He spoke like it was a foregone conclusion, my survival andmy need to learn the rules of high society.
I grunted eloquently.
“However, I’mnotsurprised about your test scores,” Zeus said, either unaware of my body language or uncaring. “The House of Zeus is known as one of the brightest Houses for a reason, that a... mutt like you could score so high is a further testament to our genius. You should be proud.”
Our genius? When did this become a group project?
Zeus smiled widely, eyes glinting with excitement. “All of Sparta is talking about the first female mutt in centuries, who beats the other initiates—with her fists and her scores.”
My knife clattered.
I do what?
Golden curls shook as Zeus puffed up his chest. “Keep this up and there will most certainly be a place for you in our House. Who knows”—he grinned—“I might just train you alongside my heir.”
