Page 34 of Bonds of Hercules
I gathered every ounce of courage I possessed.
“There’s no concrete evidence against Ceres and she s-swears she wasn’t involved,” I said. “I’m v-vouching for her. She’s innocent.”
Augustus slashed his hand through the air. “I was finding evidencebyinterrogating her … That’s the entire Kronos damned point! It’s not safe for you and Helen to be around her.”
I held myself still.
“I agree with Alexis.” Helen raised both her hands in a placating gesture at the men. “No evidence has been found, and you both already interrogated her … You didn’t find anything, right?”
Kharon covered his mouth like he was stopping himself from saying something he’d regret. He’d been doing that a lot lately.
Long, tense seconds stretched.
Augustus bared his teeth. “Thenwhy… is there blood on your face?” His eyes narrowed as he stared at me.
I touched my cheek, heart racing with fear that I’d been caught.
Ceres whimpered behind me.
Think, Alexis.
Shaking my head, I yanked up the sleeve of my nightgown.
Augustus and Kharon stilled as I revealed the deep marks I’d itched into myself in my sleep.
“Nightmares,” I blurted.
Augustus closed his eyes and tensed like he was struggling to regain control.
“Whyare you having nightmares?” Kharon asked accusingly.
I arched my brow at him.
He had the decency to blush.
Augustus cleared his throat. “Where … would Ceres even stay?”
“Next to me,” Helen answered immediately, just as we’d hastily planned. “She can stay in the room that’s connected to mine. There’s plenty of space.”
“That’snotsafe,” Augustus said through gritted teeth, veins protruding from his forehead.
Poco climbed up to the top of his head and carefully separated three strands of his hair.
Wait, can the raccoon braid?
Helen tipped her chin back and leveled her brother with a glare, emerald eyes on fire. In the shadowy night, she looked like a mini Aphrodite.
“You can have your soldiers watch her,” Helen snapped. “You know, the ones that pretend to be servants … butfollowme around.”
Augustus didn’t bother to deny it.
Well, that explained why they stalked around the villa looking like they’d rather snap a neck than do housework (relatable).
Kharon took a deep, steadying breath.
“The girls can look after themselves,” he said through gritted teeth. “We should … let them decide what to do.”
All of us gaped at him.
