Page 189 of Bonds of Hercules
The shadows speared each Cyclops through their back, straight through their heart.
Blood sprayed as the Cyclopes dropped like rocks—dead—with a thunderous boom.
A horrible thought struck me, and I peered up through my lashes at Kharon.
His features were hard, eyes haunted.
That’s his father.
SGC DAY5
Augustus and Kharon sat close beside me. It was Aphrodite’s round.
Our thighs were pressed together.
The three of us hadn’t spoken since yesterday when Erebus had wielded his shadows on the sands.
Now we were back for more.
Aphrodite sauntered out into the arena.
She wore a Spartan helmet. Her long braids were covered in crystals, which sparkled as she leaned down and deposited her house cat–sized sphinx protector at the edge of the sandy ring.
She patted its head, like she was making sure it stayed out of the battle.
Then she stood back up and moved to the center of the sand with a golden ax slung casually over her shoulder.
“Fuck me, you sexy bitch!” a male screamed nearby, and the entire section erupted in laughter. Sexual innuendos and other lewd propositions were shouted with increasing frequency.
Aphrodite appeared completely unbothered as she waited for the steel gate to rise and release the Cyclopes.
The sky was mostly overcast, but humidity made my toga stick uncomfortably to my skin.
Anticipation mixed with electricity.
Everyone in the arena was leaning forward in their seats, waiting to see what Aphrodite—the most beautiful woman to ever walk the earth—would do.
She was nicknamed the Goddess of Sex because her Chthonic power was in her saliva. One kiss, and a person was a slave to her, mindless with agonizing sexual desire.
From the heckles echoing around the stadium, a lot of men would gladly volunteer to be her victim.
Helen sat ramrod straight ahead of me, her legs bouncing. She glanced back over her shoulder at Augustus, worry on her face.
“She’ll be fine,” Augustus said smoothly, but his eyes crinkled. “Don’t worry.”
Helen nodded and turned around. Charlie slung an arm around her and squeezed.
A few seats down, Patro nodded in agreement, but his eyes were also full of concern, and Achilles rubbed his back.
She’s their mother.
Helen looked like a younger version of her, and Patro was the masculine equivalent. They both had her breathtaking, almost sculpturesque beauty.
In contrast, Augustus took mostly after Ares in coloring and looks. His features were harsher, more biting.
I jolted in my seat as I realized Augustus and Patro were technically also half brothers. From the way they acted, you’d never know.
In contrast, Augustus and Achilles seemed to have some sort of brotherly bond. From the snippets they’d shared, the two of them had grown up together in the House of Ares.
