Page 179 of Bonds of Hercules
Fluffy Jr. whimpered with distress, and I acted on instinct, dropping to my knees on the floor, covering his face, as I glared up at the two reporters.
“Hercules—what’s wrong with your protector?” one shouted.
I winced at the loud feedback in my ear.
“He’s fine,” I said defensively, hating the way they were looking down at him with disgust.How dare they judge.
Kharon and Augustus shielded us with their bodies.
“Don’t speak to our wife,” Augustus ordered, his voice dangerous. “Leave. Now.”
“Or we’ll make you.” Kharon pulled up the hood of his cloak.
Lights flashed in quick succession as the reporters backed away. “Are you aware that the video of you slicing off your ear and giving it to Hercules has gone viral with the humans?” one asked provocatively. “Are you concerned humans will view us as barbaric because of your …extremeaction?”
Kharon clenched his jaw. “No. I don’t give a fuck what they think. I’ll domuchworse for my wife … Nothing is off-limits.”
The reporters stepped back. Lights flashed.
“Do you want to make a statement?” the other asked.
“Yes,” Kharon said icily. “I’d cut off my fucking head and give it to Alexis if that’s what she needed. I’d also cut offyoursif that’s what she wanted.” He chuckled darkly.
The reporters visibly paled, but they kept their cameras held high.
“Did you have something to do with Medusa’s escape? She’s your sister,” the female reporter taunted, refusing to be intimidated. “We heard a rumor that the Chthonics broke her out of the Underworld, and you all are harboring her—”
“That’s false.” Augustus rolled his shoulders back. “You should know how …dangerousrumors can be.”
Kharon cracked his knuckles.
“We got all we need,” the one reporter said with a glare. They turned their cameras to the Olympian table.
I sagged with relief, still kneeling beside my protector.
Sparta was exhausting. Everyone was sohostile.
Augustus offered me his hand.
I laid my fingers in his and our marriage bond sparked inside my sternum.
All three of us gasped.
Calluses scraped against my skin, and for a second, he did nothing but flex his much warmer hand around mine as he stared down at me.
Augustus yanked me up to my feet.
“Uh … wow,” I said eloquently.
Their expressions didn’t change.
If you ever need to make an awkward situation more uncomfortable, I’m your girl.
I leaned across Kharon to grab a glass from a tray—he rested his hand on my lower back, and my skin prickled with awareness—I threw the ambrosia back.
Once again, the liquid burned my throat deliciously and I let out a moan of enjoyment.
Augustus swore under his breath, and I peered over at him in confusion; his eyes smoldered, jaw tensed.
