Page 133 of Blood of Hercules
“Take better care of yourself,” he snarled. “Or—I’ll have to take action. This can’t continue.”
Since it was completely unclear what “this” he was referring to, I gave him a hesitant smile.
He growled and stomped away, then slammed the library door shut behind him.
Well, that went well.
I slumped over, groaning as my face throbbed.
With the two Spartan generals (power-hungry fascist dictators who were definitely suffering from undiagnosed mental disorders) gone, there was a collective sigh of relief in the library.
We rejoiced over our avoidance of certain doom.
Yay, not being murdered in a fit of rage. Wahoo. God is good.
“Wow, kid,” Nyx hissed as she slithered up my body. “That washot. Did you feel that tension? I can’t breathe.”
“First—you’re delusional,” I whispered. “Second, you’re a snake. Do you even have lungs?”
Nyx hissed, “First, I do—rude. Second, please, I’m awoman, and it’s obvious that manwants to do depraved things to you. Thank Kronos, finally a worthy suitor. I was getting worried you were going to die a virgin. It would have been so embarrassing for our family’s honor.”
I choked.
What family honor?
“Hey, what’s wrong with celibacy?” I asked under my breath. “I told you, Carl Gauss is the only man for me. Youknowthis. Also, you’ve officially lost it—Augustus hatesme.”
“I never said he didn’t hate you.” Nyx tightened around my throat. “That’s obvious, that man LOATHES you, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to murder you—in bed. If youknowwhat I mean.”
Unfortunately, I did. Kinda. But in a very real sense, I had no clue what she was talking about.
I cleared my throat in disbelief and dribbled saliva attractively onto the table.
“You’re crazy,” I said to Nyx as I tried to wipe the bloody spit away with my arm, and just spread it around, making a bigger mess.
“You’re an idiot,” Nyx scoffed, and I took the high road (pinched her until she shut up).
Sometimes violencewasthe answer.
Drex made a noise as he sat down across from me.
“What just happened with Augustus?” His eyes were wide, expression confused. “Why was he whispering to you like that? Do you—interact with him outside the crucible?”
I scoffed. “No, that would behorrible.”
He kept looking at me weirdly. “He seems very—proprietorial over you.”
Not him too.
Shaking my head, I waved my hand dismissively. “It’s just because my mentors are Chthonics. All of them are s-super worried about them becoming generals. They’ve created a very stifling, unhealthy environment. The old boys club. Ya know.”
What am I even saying?
Drex did not look like he knew at all, but he shrugged and opened his textbook.
“Here.” I coughed. “Let me explain,” I whispered roughly, air whistling through my crushed nose, as I pushed my textbook toward him.
Drex’s head snapped up. He looked up at me like I was his savior.
