Page 51 of Blood of Hercules
Zeus droned on. “If an initiate survives the crucible until the January Citizen Initiation Ball and the graduation ceremony the next morning, then they will be an immortal citizen of Sparta. Their mentors will be named generals... and given a seat in the Spartan Federation.”
He cleared his throat.
“If an initiate is Chthonic, which there aren’t any this year, they will be enrolled in the Assembly of Death at the graduation ceremony.”
They definitely don’t know the boy who saved me is Chthonic.
I looked over at him, but he was staring down at his blood-covered hands with a wide-eyed shell-shocked expression.
His secret wasn’t mine to tell.
At least there wasno chanceI’d end up in the Assembly of Death and I most likely wouldn’t survive until January.
A silver lining.
Yay. Lucky me.
A wolf growled at my feet, but I didn’t look down.
“Kid, why is that dirty mongrel growling at you?” Nyx’s voice hissed, and I slumped with relief because she sounded healthier.
Patro’s grip on my bicep was the only thing that kept me standing. “Get it together.” His voice was sharp, like a serrated knife.
“You’re okay?” I asked her quietly.
“Of courseI’m okay.” Nyx coughed. “Stupid boy knocked me out—it takes more than a child to kill me,obviously.”
Warm scales slithered across my neck in a suffocating hold, and a forked tongue licked tears off my face. “Uh—kid... why are theCrimson Duostanding next to you?”
“They’re my mentors,” I whispered.
Patro dropped my arm and shifted closer so our sides were touching. “Stop mumbling nonsense to yourself and stand up straight.”
I inched away from him.
He inched closer.
“You’re screwed,” Nyx said in a matter-of-fact tone. “That man isnotwell. You can see it in his eyes. He wants to devour you. Violently.”
I grimaced.
Charming.
Zeus glanced at me. “Initiates, you will spend the next two weeks living and healing with your mentors as they prepare you for the crucible. Additionally, over the next year, you will spend three days every two weeks training and strategizing with them.”
Scales slid across my neck, and Nyx said, “I don’t see this ending well.”
A manic snort escaped my nose.
“What’s so funny?” Patro’s voice was icy.
Did he even have to ask?
I was half-naked in front of hundreds of Spartans standing next to the Crimson Duo—who alreadyloathedme for being Olympian—and Zeus was talking about how we’d be spending copious amounts of time together.
“Initiates, your adrenaline will wear off soon,” Zeus announced, power sparking off his golden skin.
“Mentors, heal them and lead them—and remember...”He raised his hands to the crowd. “Immortality is not a right, it is a privilege!”The coliseum chorused in unison with him.
