Page 193 of Bonds of Hercules
Remember, daughter, no one fears the sane.
Two could play at psychological warfare.
I winked.
35
THE REAL GAMES BEGIN
ALEXIS: SGC DAY6
Drex huffed on my right, and Charlie leaned against my left side, his other arm wrapped around Helen.
It was a blustery day in the Dolomites Coliseum. The sands were empty, anticipation crackling through the air, and dense, towering clouds hung so low they almost touched the electric lines of the dome.
Lightning struck far off in the distance, bright white lines branching to the ground.
There was a long pause, then thunder rolled. “I feel ill,” Drex said with a groan.
“Me too.” I nodded. “I’m not ready.”
“Personally, I’m very excited,” Nyx hissed as she slithered around my waist. “I can’twaitto get into the arena and bite people.”
Not relatable.
Fluffy Jr. whimpered at my feet, and I tried not to look at the distended hump on his back that now had a faint blue hue.Noway am I bringing him out to fight.He was clearly sick and needed to recover from … I didn’t know what.
Drex’s knee knocked against mine as he fidgeted with nerves. “We’resodead,” he groaned. Toucey sat on the floor behind his legs, squawking as Poco tried to poke at him.
I mimed choking myself and Drex laughed (whimpered with manic enthusiasm).
Kharon made a loud, harsh noise behind me.
Peering over my shoulder, I immediately regretted looking—Kharon’s eyes were narrowed into slits, nostrils flaring as he stared at where Drex’s knee knocked against mine. Augustus frowned beside him.
Thunder boomed, closer.
“Sorry for your loss,” Augustus said harshly.
“Uh, what … loss?” I asked.
Augustus looked at Drex pointedly.
Drex paled and swayed in his seat like he was going to pass out.
Wait, did he just threaten to kill Drex?
A few minutes ago, when Charlie asked if I’d sit beside him, my husbands had said they understood that I needed to be with my brother.
Now I’d never seen two people who lookedlessunderstanding in my life.
Apparently grown men and teenage girls had one thing in common: they took seating arrangementsveryseriously.
Charlie linked his arm through mine and I snuggled into him. If he felt Nyx’s scales as she slid out from being squished, he didn’t show it.
“I’ve heard rumors,” Helen whispered across him. “Zeus is going to interrogate each of you personally after your rounds … Are you nervous?”
“No.” I forced myself to shrug. “It will be fine.”
