Page 15 of Bonds of Hercules
I expected silence.
Alexis’s head whipped around, her two-colored eyes boring through me with intensity.
Blood dripped down her cheeks from where she’d cut herself on tree branches—curls stuck out in every direction—her face twisted with dark emotions.
“You betrayed me.”
Shaking my head, I held out my arm for her to take. “No—Imarriedyou.”
Alexis’s voice was cold as ice. “Was it worth hurting me … just for your p-powers? Did you get everything you wanted?”
“Youdon’tunderstand,” I said through gritted teeth. “It wasn’t like that. The Olympians … the oppression.”
She rolled her eyes and waved her hand dismissively. The ten-carat diamond we’d gifted her danced on her finger.
Don’t attack your wife.
I held my hand out for her patiently. “Just come with me.”
Don’t kidnap her.
“You trapped me,” Alexis said hoarsely. “Stalked me like ananimal. Tortured me with your messed-up powers—”
“YOUR POWERS ARE STRONGER NOW TOO,” I shouted, losing all control. “Wake up. The marriage law would have applied to you too, princess. You also benefited from this arrangement—I’m trying to be a better manfor you.”
“I NEVER ASKED YOU TO BE ANYTHING!” she screamed.
I shoved my knuckles into my mouth to stop myself from saying something I’d regret.
When I finally regained control of myself, I choked out, “I’msorryfor trapping you … the stalking … marriage … kidnapping. I’m going to be better.”
“And the body p-parts in the boxes?” she whispered.
I narrowed my eyes. “What about them? Thosedisgracesof men touched you against your will. What the fuck did you expect me to do?”
“Literallyanythingelse,” she said. “Except butchering them!”
I scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous, Alexis.”
She gasped like she was struggling to breathe.
I continued. “I still don’t understand why you rejected the jewels. Were they not up to your standards? Augustus saidhumans once revered the Hope Diamond. He thought you’d appreciate the history. Did you want something nicer?”
Alexis covered her mouth and made a choking sound as her face turned purple.
I softened my features. “We’ll be better men for—”
“This is j-just physical,” she blurted.
I blinked.
Icy fury doused me.
“What … the fuck did you just say to me?”
Alexis tipped her head back, jaw set.
Blood continued to streak down her cheeks as she set her chin stubbornly, refusing to cower before my rage. I would have been impressed if I wasn’t so fucking furious.
