Page 10 of Bonds of Hercules
He was my hunting partner.
It wasn’t romantic between us—we hovered on the narrow border between friendship and unequivocal devotion—Alexis was the new glue that bridged the gap.
“You won’t win,” Patro taunted in a singsong voice at our heels. “Alex hates you.”
Fuck him.
I’d once considered him my brother.
Patro chuckled darkly.
Not anymore.
Augustus glared back at the approaching Chthonics, murder in his gaze—blood dripped from his eyes like tears—it was a new development.
Ever since the marriage bond settled into place, our powers had been more volatile. Stronger, but more painful.
We got everything we ever wanted, and it was torment.
Up ahead, a few hundred feet away, two fluttering dark cloaks ran through the woods.
Are they even trying?
Alexis and Drex were moving like snails. It was only a marathon, for fuck’s sake; it wasn’t even that long.
Messy golden curls flashed.
Alexis looked back over her right shoulder, eyes widening with fear—one dark, one white—locked on me.
Electricity exploded through my chest as our bond lit up.
Alexis’s face twisted with pain. She stumbled, turned forward, and barely avoided colliding with a tree.
“Be fucking careful!” I shouted. “Watch where you’re going.”
“Don’t worry about him, mydarling mentee,” Patro called out mockingly. “Achilles and I are here for you!”
Hermos shouted something to Agatha, and a safety clicked off.
Augustus turned back in slow motion, his black eyes widening with sheer horror.
Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop.
Muzzle flashes lit the night as bark exploded.
Drex staggered.
Two bullets lodged in his arm.
Alexis grabbed him by the front of his toga and dragged him forward as they zigzagged wildly through the trees.
Their lead was disappearing.
Forty feet.
Patro screamed something and Agatha yelled back; both sounds were swallowed by the wind.
Alexis jerkily yanked Drex closer, draping one of his arms over her shoulders. She half ran, half dragged him through the dark woods. His arm was bleeding all over her.
