Page 208 of Bonds of Hercules
The four mammoth wolves pounced—long yellow fangs bared, ears flattened to their skulls—they soared through the rain, straight toward Achilles.
I screamed with the crowd.
Achilles turned.
He dodged in a blur.
Two of the wolves overshot him, and Nero clashed with the third, rolling in the wet sand.
Chilling growls echoed as the two beasts fought.
Achilles didn’t pause to watch.
Moving with shocking speed, he drove his kitchen knife straight through the fourth wolf’s neck, then he slammed the creature down into a puddle with his other hand.
Blood and water sprayed across his muzzle.
A few feet away, Nero ripped out the neck of the wolf fighting beneath him.
The stadium cheered, but there was no time to celebrate.
The remaining two wolves were already back on their feet, sprinting toward Achilles—one crouched low in front of the other, protecting its neck.
Achilles watched them approach, the knife spinning between his fingers. Nero bared his teeth as he stood over the defeated wolf.
Neither man nor protector moved.
They waited.
Yet again, the two beasts leapt straight at them—Achilles shot up into the air, kicking one at Nero as he grabbed the other with his bare hands.
Crack.The wolf fell limp beside Achilles as he landed in the sand. Its neck was snapped.
Nero once again rolled through the sand, teeth snapping, as he fought the last one.
Achilles stalked over, and quicker than my eye could follow, he slammed his tiny knife straight through the last wolf’s skull.
Nero got to his feet and howled.
Achilles stood heaving beside him, leather concealing his face.
The fight had barely lasted a few minutes.
Stones vibrated as the stadium leapt to its feet. “Take off the muzzle … take off the muzzle … take off the muzzle!”
Nyx hissed in unison as she slithered around my stomach.
I gave Drex an incredulous look as he also joined the chant.
“What?” he shouted over the screams. “I’m intrigued.”
Rain roared as it fell harder, painting the world dark.
The stomps increased. “Take off the muzzle … take off the muzzle … take off the muzzle!”
Again, the trap door slowly lifted—the second round had begun.
Tall pale skin flashed as four blond men walked out, each wearing an oversized brown garment that was much too large for their lithe frames.
