Page 151 of Blood of Hercules
“Fuck, I love you,” Patro whispered, voice brimming with emotions. “So much.” He licked his lips, then nuzzled his face into the larger man’s lap.
Achilles stared down at him—chest heaving—and he cradledPatro’s head like he was precious as Achilles played with his hair. He used the bottom of his shirt to wipe gently at Patro’s face.
“I love you more,” he signed slowly.
His actions were tender and delicate, a harsh contrast to his frantic thrusting.
There was something heartbreaking about the two of them. Something impossibly intimate.
Patro gazed up at Achilles with adoration.
The big man leaned over and rested his cheek against his forehead, like he wished he could give him a kiss.
“I love you so much,” Patro repeated hoarsely, arms wrapping around the other man’s waist.
Achilles nuzzled his head and played with his hair.
Quietly, I tiptoed back into my room, chest heaving, stomach twisting, as I struggled to understand what I’d just seen.
I face-planted onto the bed with my arms spread wide.
Soft music washed over me in a gentle hum.
“Nyx, I think I get what you mean,” I whispered into the covers. “About the violence being... romantic, and about the—devotion.”
There was no response.
Nyx slept peacefully.
Little did I know that statement would come to haunt me.
In ways I couldn’t even begin to fathom.
That night, I dreamed of a hand around my ankle, two skeletal monsters whispering to each other, and dark promises. In the background Charlie was shivering in a cardboard box, begging me to come home.
I woke up sobbing.
Chapter 17
The Menagerie
Alexis
“Remember—do not approach an animal, unless it approaches you,” General Cleandro said as he led the seven of us that were left deeper under the mountain, down the winding rock stairs. “There are ancient beasts in the menagerie thatwillmaul you if they feel threatened.”
Thank God.
Approach all the animals until one puts me out of my misery—got it.
General Cleandro walked faster into the dark hall. “These are not your normal animals,” he said ominously. “They are carefully bred predators with creature ancestry—but... just because they are distantly related to sentient beings... does notmean they have intelligence.”
So the animals were stupid but powerful.
They sound like most Spartans.
The general picked up his pace like he was trying to lose us in the cramped tunnel, which would have been funny if I wasn’t one of the idiots trying to follow him.
“If an animal attacks you,” he said ominously, “you have the right to defend yourself or exact vengeance, but no one else can interfere.”
