Page 192 of Bonds of Hercules
“It’s annoying, isn’t it?” I said. “When someone doesn’t give afuckabout how you feel.”
Titus shook his head, bodies streaming faster around us as more people tried to run inside the room.
“I know what I did was wrong!” He pointed at my crown. “It’s important to the House of Dionysus that we have good relations with the House of Hades and—”
“So yourHouseis making you do this?” My smile fell and brow furrowed in (mock) concern. “How pathetic.”
The scarlet crept up his face. “Why are you acting likethis? You never used to talk so much. You were quiet and you didn’t—”
“Don’t you dare.” I batted his hand away and raised my own finger to his nose. “Don’t pretend you knowanythingabout me. Just b-because I didn’t say it aloud didn’t mean I wasn’t thinking it.”
He ran a hand roughly through his messy red hair. “It’s just you’re not listening to what I’m trying to … Wait, what were you thinking back then?”
I leaned closer. “I used to wish that you weredead.”
“Excuse me?” He recoiled as he stared at my eyes, which must have filled with blood. “What did you just say?” he asked. “You’re the heiress to the House of Hades! You can’t just speak like that. Where’s your honor and—”
“Walk away before you embarrass yourself further. I’ll never forgive you because—” I stabbed my finger into his chest “—Idon’tfucking want to.”
Rock music blared around us.
Mozart would have hated this.
I smiled wider.
Titus sputtered with outrage. “You Chthonics really are all fuckingcrazy.” He made a face. “You probably helped them free Medusa—you’re allmurderouspsychopaths.”
I tipped my head back and laughed.
From his aghast expression, he didn’t think this was how our conversation would go.
There was a commotion around us as three Olympians were physically thrown out of the way to make room.
“There you are,” Augustus said. “We’ve been looking for you.”
Kharon stiffened as he realized who I was talking to. “Is he harassing you?” he asked quietly, his voice filled with promises of carnage. “Do you need me to … handle him?”
Titus recoiled again, holding up his hands in a surrender gesture.Pathetic.
“No.” I led Kharon and Augustus away into the crowd. “Iwas harassing him.”
Augustus shook his head, but the corners of his lips pulled up.
Kharon smirked down at me with pride. “Excellent work.”
For the first time in days, I smiled and I actually meant it.
“A toast!” Zeus shouted a few feet away. The music stopped with a metallic screech and everyone in the room fell silent.
Zeus grabbed a drink off a tray and held it up.
“To the younger Chthonics starting their rounds tomorrow.” The glass of ambrosia sparked in his hand. “May you prove yourselfhalfas competent as your impressive House leaders.”
His gaze roamed over the room and landed on me.
Still smiling, I didn’t look away.
Gray eyes narrowed with confusion, like he didn’t know what to make of me.
