Page 141 of Bonds of Hercules
“Why?” Nyx asked as she slithered down my arm.
“Because it’stoomuch and I—”
“Didn’t you agree just yesterday to give Kharon a chance?” Nyx cut me off.
“I mean … I didn’t kill him?”
“Exactly,” Nyx hissed. “Accept the pretty jewelry. Don’t be ungrateful—it’s tacky.”
My fingers stilled.
She had a point.
I dropped my hands, determination filling my gut.I can forgive my husbands and prove myself to Sparta.
Either I was turning over a new leaf, or I was completely delusional. Only time would tell (it was definitely the latter).
Drex smiled with relief when I stepped out the door. He grabbed my arm and dragged me through the gilded villa. Fluffy Jr. barked and ran beside us while Toucey flew above our heads, his metallic feathers grazing the high ceiling.
We came to a stop in the bustling atrium.
Everyone turned to me.
The leaders and heirs were all present, including Helen and Charlie. The only person missing was Ceres. At least she would be safe in the villa, protected from the Olympians.
Persephone and Hades smiled at me with pride—I smiled back at them.
In contrast, the side of my face prickled under the heavy weight of Achilles’s and Patro’s death glares. From their expressions, they werenothappy with me.
On the other side of the room, Kharon smirked with pure male satisfaction as he stared at the jewelry on my neck.
“Who are you all looking at?” Nyx hissed. “Creeps.”
“Let’s go,” Hades ordered.
Why are Augustus’s right knuckles wrapped?
Everyone placed their hands in.
“Domus,” Aphrodite shouted.
Crack.
Smoke rose—protectors crouched low at our feet with anticipation—the tunnel of the Dolomites Coliseum towered around us.
I’d been here before.
Stone vibrated and dust fell as people stomped above our heads. Most of Sparta would be in attendance today.
“Amor fati, memento mori … Amor fati, memento mori!” chanted through the air.
Remember death, love your fate.
I reached into the layered loose folds of my toga and clutched the cold metal of my emotional support calculator.
Nyx slithered tighter around my arm.
Fluffy Jr. picked up a rock with his mouth and crunched down on it.Yep, that’s a horse.
